ANATOMY OF THE RESPIRATORY TRACT

Nose and Nasal Passages

Paranasal sinuses
1. Upper Respiratory Tract
Pharynx
Portion of the Larynx above the
vocal cords

Portion of the Larynx below the

2. Lower Respiratory Tract vocal cords
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles

3. Lungs can be included in the lower respiratory tract or as separate entity

and include
Respiratory Bronchioles
Alveolar ducts
Alveolar sacs
Alveoli

Marking
Vocal folds or cricoid cartilage
 Common cold
Influenza
The common upper respiratory
infections Rhinosinusitis
Otitis media
Pharyngitis
Tonsillitis
Laryngitis
Epiglottitis

Tracheitis
Bronchitis
The common lower respiratory infections Bronchiolitis
Pneumonia
 DIAGNOSTIC FINDINGS AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FOR UPPER
RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS

Condition Key Diagnostic Treatment

Findings
Common cold Runny nose, cough, Symptomatic treatment, antibiotics
sore throat, sneezing, are not recommended
nasal congestion
Influenza Abrupt onset of fever, Influenza vaccination for prevention
headache, myalgia, Supportive care
malaise Initiation of antiviral therapy within
48 hours of symptom onset may
decrease illness duration by 1 day
(antiviral therapy such as
neuraminidase inhibitors,
oseltamivir (Tamiflu and
zednamivir))
Acute Nasal obstruction, Watchful waiting in mild cases.
Rhinosinusitis Anterior or posterior Amoxicillin for severe or complicated
purulent nasal bacterial rhinosinusitis
discharge, facial pain,
cough, decreased
sense of smell
Acute Otitis Acute onset of Amoxicillin 80-90 mg/kg per day in 3
Media symptoms, presence of divided doses
middle ear effusion,
signs of middle ear
inflammation
Pharyngitis and Sore throat, fever, Mostly viral 90% of adults and 70%
Tonsillitis absence of cough of children Symptomatic treatment
Bacterial cases group a
betahemolytics streptococcus
Ten day course of penicillin
Erythromycin if allergic to penicillin
Or
Amoxicillin, azithromycin, and first
generation cephalosporin
Laryngitis Loss or muffling of Mostly viral
voice, sore throat, Amoxicillin for bacterial
cough, fever, runny
nose, headache
Epiglottitis Dysphagia, voice Intravenous combination of 3rd
change, tachycardia generation cephalosporin and an
(Heart rate >100 beats antistaphylococcal agent active
per minute), drooling, against methicillin resistant
fever, subjective staphylococcus aureus or
shortness of breath, intravenous monotherapy with
tachypnea (Respiratory ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, or
rate >24 breaths per ampicillin/sulbactam
minute), stridor,
respiratory distress,
leaning forward
 DIAGNOSTIC FINDINGS AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FOR LOWER
RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS

Condition Key Diagnostic Treatment

Findings
Acute bronchitis Cough, phlegm Mostly viral
and Tracheitis production Symptomatic treatment
Antimicrobial treatment advised in
patients with increasing cough,
dyspnea, and increased production
of purulent sputum
Treatment amoxicillin 500 mg 8
hourly for 5 days or Amoxicillin 500
mg plus Clavulanic acid 8 hourly for
5 days