Respiratory, Skin, and Eye Infections – Chapters 16 & 17 Vocabulary

Key vocabulary from Chapters 16 (Respiratory System Infections) and 17 (Skin & Eye Infections) covering major anatomical terms, diseases, mechanisms, and clinical terminology.

Respiratory System

Body system that brings in oxygen and removes carbon dioxide; most common portal of microbial entry.

Upper Respiratory Tract

Mouth, nasal passages, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, epiglottis; warms, humidifies, filters air.

Lower Respiratory Tract

Larynx, trachea, bronchioles, lungs, alveoli; directs air to lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Paranasal Sinuses

Four paired, mucus-lined cavities that warm, humidify, and filter inhaled air; mucus and cilia clear debris.

Sinusitis

Inflammation and swelling of sinus membranes causing congestion and pressure; mucus trapping may foster bacterial growth.

Pharynx

Throat region; gateway between the respiratory and digestive tracts.

Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the pharynx, usually from viruses, bacteria, or allergens.

Epiglottis

Cartilage flap that seals airway during swallowing to prevent food entering lungs.

Epiglottitis

Inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis that can rapidly block the airway.

Mucociliary Escalator

Ciliated mucus lining of lower airways that traps debris and sweeps it toward the mouth.

Alveolar Macrophages

Immune cells in lung alveoli that remove debris and pathogens not cleared by cilia.

Stridor

High-pitched wheezing or loud breathing from a narrowed or blocked airway.

Pneumonia

Inflammation of lung alveoli; often presents with fever, cough, dyspnea.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Common Cold (Acute Respiratory Infection)

Self-limiting viral infection with sore throat, runny nose, cough; spread by droplets, contact, fomites.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Enveloped paramyxovirus (types A & B) causing bronchiolitis, pneumonia, especially in infants.

Human Parainfluenza Viruses (HPIV)

Paramyxoviruses that cause cold-like illness and croup; more severe in infants and elderly.

Adenovirus Infection

DNA virus attack on respiratory tract with sore throat and cold-like symptoms.

Influenza

RNA orthomyxovirus infection resembling severe cold; binds ciliated URT cells, some strains invade lungs.

Antigenic Drift

Gradual accumulation of point mutations altering influenza HA/NA spikes, enabling immune evasion.

Antigenic Shift

Abrupt reassortment producing novel influenza antigens capable of causing pandemics.

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 infection with diverse flu-like signs; virus binds ACE2; spreads via droplets/aerosols.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Rodent-borne hantavirus illness that can progress to pulmonary edema and respiratory failure.

Otitis Media

Middle-ear infection often following colds when eustachian tube blockage traps mucus; common in children.

Strep Throat

Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis with throat inflammation, exudate, swollen nodes, usually no cough.

Scarlet Fever

S. pyogenes toxin-mediated illness with sandpaper rash and strawberry tongue.

Diphtheria

Corynebacterium infection causing bull neck and gray pseudomembrane in airway from toxin-killed tissue.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Bordetella infection with cold phase then paroxysmal coughing; pertussis toxin drives inflammation.

Tuberculosis (Latent)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection where most individuals harbor non-contagious, asymptomatic bacteria.

Pneumococcal Pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae lung infection with sudden high fever, chills, rust-colored sputum.

Mycoplasma (Walking) Pneumonia

Mild, slow-developing pneumonia; up to 20 % asymptomatic.

Chlamydophila Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia starting with sore throat, progressing to weeks-long cough; bacteria survive inside phagocytes.

Legionnaires’ Disease

Legionella pneumophila infection causing high fever and severe atypical pneumonia; thrives within phagocytes.

Psittacosis

Chlamydia psittaci zoonosis with muscle aches and neck/back stiffness; intracellular survival aids persistence.

Q Fever

Coxiella burnetii disease with high fever and varied symptoms; forms spore-like structures enabling chronic infection.

Tularemia

Francisella tularensis illness with sore throat, lymph node swelling, sudden fever; escapes phagosomes.

Skin (Integument)

Largest organ; first defense barrier with resident microbiota in epidermis, glands, hair follicles.

Lesion

Localized change/abnormality in skin; may be harmless or diagnostic.

Primary Lesion

Lesion directly associated with a specific disease process, useful for diagnosis.

Secondary Lesion

Lesion that evolves from a primary lesion or external factors; less diagnostic.

Rash

Widespread eruption of skin lesions; can be symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Fever with itchy vesicular rash; VZV enters via respiratory route, later becomes latent in nerves.

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Painful unilateral vesicular rash from reactivation of latent VZV in sensory nerves.

Malaise

General feeling of discomfort or unease without clear cause.

Pruritic

Itchy; inducing a desire to scratch.

Supportive Therapy

Symptom-relief treatment such as rest, fluids, pain control, not curative.

HSV-1 (Oral Herpes)

Herpes simplex virus causing painful lip lesions; establishes latency in trigeminal ganglia.

Measles (Rubeola)

Paramyxovirus illness with fever, Koplik’s spots, descending red rash; virus forms syncytia and suppresses immunity.

Febrile Seizures

Convulsions triggered by fever, usually brief and benign.

Congenital Rubella Syndrome

Birth defects (deafness, blindness, heart issues) in infants whose mothers had rubella early in pregnancy.

Fifth Disease (Erythema Infectiosum)

Parvovirus B19 illness with ‘slapped-cheek’ rash; mild but can cause anemia or miscarriage.

Roseola

HHV-6/7 infection with sudden high fever then pink trunk rash; may cause febrile seizures.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Coxsackievirus illness with mouth sores and rash/blisters on hands & feet; virus mutates rapidly.

Lymphangitis

Inflammation of lymphatic vessels appearing as red streaks under skin.

Leukocytosis

Elevated white blood cell count, commonly seen in infection.

Necrotizing Fasciitis

Rapidly spreading ‘flesh-eating’ infection; severe pain, swelling, systemic toxicity from multiple bacterial enzymes/toxins.

Wound Infection (Pseudomonas)

Green-pigmented wound with possible fever and sepsis; pathogen forms biofilms and resists disinfectants.

Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa)

Painful outer ear infection with drainage; often due to Pseudomonas producing exotoxins and biofilm.

Gangrene

Tissue death with pain, swelling, foul odor; Clostridium endospores enable survival in harsh conditions.

Dermatophytes

Group of fungi that invade keratinized tissues causing ringworm, athlete’s foot, etc.

Cutaneous Candidiasis

Itchy red rash from Candida albicans; yeast uses adhesins and keratinases to invade skin.

Lysozyme

Tear and saliva enzyme that breaks bacterial cell walls.

Lactoferrin

Iron-binding protein in tears and other fluids that deprives microbes of iron.

Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of eye conjunctiva; viral forms watery, bacterial forms purulent with crusty lids.