DISORDERS OF THE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT
Choanal Atresia
- bony growth obstruction that may
either be bilateral or unilateral.
- Infants with this develop signs of
respiratory distress at birth or
immediately after they quiet down
- Assessed by holding infants mouth
closed then gently compressing first
one nostril then the other.
- Treatment is local piercing of the
obstruction or surgical removal.
Acute Nasopharyngitis
- Common cold
- Toddlers have an average of 10-12 colds
per year, adolescent and school age 4-5
- Intubation period of 2-3 days
- Rhinovirus, coxsackievirus,RSV,
adenovirus, influenza virus
- Symptoms; nasal congestion, watery
rhinitis, low grade fever. Children under
18 yrs should not be given with aspirin
bc dev of reye symdrome
Pharyngitis
- throat inflammation
- 4-7 yrs old
- May be bacterial or viral
1. Viral Pharyngitis
-adenovirus
- enlarged regional lymph nodes
-analgesics, acetaminophen, ibuprofen
- warm heat on external neck
2. Streptococcal Pharyngitis
-Group a beta hemolytic streptococcus
- can lead to cardiac kidney damage
-more severe
- 10 day course oral antibiotic
Retropharyngeal Abcess
- Infected lymph nodes
- Infants snore with respirations
- May hyperextend head
- Mouth will be suctioned to remove
secretions
- If surgery, placed on Trendelenburg
position
Tonsilitis
- Infection of palatine tonsils
- Adenitis ”adenoid/pharyngeal tonsils”
- Describe swallowing as painful
- High fever and lethargic
- Common in school age
- Antypiretic for fever, analgesic for pain,
10 day antibiotics
- Tonsillectomy – ligating tonsil or laaser
surgery
- Never done while organs are infected
- If surgical site is bleeding, elevate
childs head to reduce vascular pressure
- First 24 hours is the most dangerous
period
Epistaxis
- Nosebleed
- Occur during respiratory illnesses
- Upright position w head tilted slightly
forward
- Apply pressure to the sides of nose
- Epinephrine at bleeding site to constrict
blood vessels
Sinusitis
- Infection/inflammation of sinus cavities
- Antipyretic, analgesic, antibiotic
- Minor illness
-
Laryngitis

- Larynx inflammation
- Rest voice for at least 24 hrs
- Excessive use of voice

Congenital Laryngomalacia

- Infants laryngeal structure is weaker

than normal
- Stridor sound
- Must stop sucking frequently, feed
them slowly

Croup

- Laryns, trachea, major bronchi

inflammation
- Steam, hot shower

Epiglottitis

- Epiglottis inflammation
- bacterial or viral
- mild upper infection symptoms
- never attempt to visualize the epiglottis
directly with tongue blade or obtain
throat culture
- leukocytosis on lab results

Aspiration

- frequent in infants and toddlers

- subdiaphragmatic abdominal thrust(
not for infants bc risk of liver rupture)
- back thrust for infant. 5 quick back
blows, if not expelled turn supine chest
thrust with 2 fingers

Bronchial Obstruction

- oil on popcorn and nut can cause lipid

pneumonia
- bronchoscopy, NPO for at least 1 hour