surface exudates said to be more purulent than bacterial
clinically not possible to distinguish btw viral & bacterial tonsillitis
Rx
Abx
penicillin or erythromycin (if pen allergic)
10 days
to eradicate strep (thus prevent rheumatic fever)
no longer indicated in UK
rheumatic fever is rare
avoid amoxicillin
can cause maculopapular rash if tonsillitis is due to EBV
for severe cases
hospital admission
IV fluid admin
if unable to swallow solids or liquids
analgesia
for recurrent tonsillitis
tonsillectomy
Nota:
other indications for tonsillectomy
-peritonsillar abscess (quinsy)
-obstructive sleep apnoea (adenoids also normally removed)
NB: large tonsils aren't in themselves an indication for tonsillectomy- many kids have large ones & they shrink spontaneously in late childhood
reduces no of episodes of tonsillitis by 1/3 (from 3 to 2/ yr)
Rx
Abx
penicillin or erythromyin
for severe pharyngitis
Acute otitis media
epidemiology
most kids'll have min 1 episode
commonest at 6-12 mths old
up to 20% will have 3 or more episodes
infants & young children are prone
Eustachian tubes
short
horizontal
don't work well
Presentation
ear pain
fever
otoscopy
tympanic mb
red
bulging
loss of normal light reflection
acute perforation of eardrum
sometimes
pus visible in external canal
Pathogens
Viruses
RSV
Rhinovirus
Bacteria
Pneumococcus
non-typeable H. influenzae
Moraxella catarrhalis
Complications
serious but uncommon
mastoiditis
meningitis
of recurrent AOM
otitis media w/ effusion (glue ear/serous otitis media)
presentation
asymptomatic
but decreased hearing maybe
eardrum
dull
retracted
fluid level often visible
Ix
tympanogram
flat trace
pure tone audiometry
conductive hearing loss
distraction hearing test
reduced hearing in younger kids
epidemiology
v common btw 2-7 years old
peak incidence btw 2.5 & 5 yrs
commonest cause of conductive hearing loss in kids
interfere w/ normal speech development
-> learning difficulties
usually resolves spontan
Rx
grommets
OME intefering w/ normal speech development
kids w/ recurrent URTIs and chronic glue ear that don't resolve w/ conservative measures
adenoidectomy
more long term benefit
adenoids harbour orgs within biofilms that spread up Eustachian tubes
w/ reinsertion of grommets
after grommet extrusion
tonsillectomy + adenoidectomy
Nota:
also indicated for obstructive sleep apnoea
for recurrent otitis media w/ effusion w. hearing loss
esp if reinsertion of grommets considered
Treatment
Analgesia
paracetamol/ibuprofen
regular
up to a week until acute inflammn resolves
most cases resolve spontaneously
Abx
shorten duration of pain
don't reduce risk of hearing loss
Amoxicillin
prescribe but
parents to use only if child remains unwell after 2-3 days