Respiratory Tract Infections, Neoplasms, and Childhood Disorders

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on respiratory tract infections and related disorders.

Upper respiratory tract

The part of your breathing system that includes your nose, throat (oropharynx), and voice box (larynx).

Lower respiratory tract

The deep part of your breathing system, including the lower airways and lungs.

Common cold

A mild sickness caused by a virus in the upper part of your breathing system. Most adults get 2-3 colds yearly.

Influenza (The Flu)

A serious sickness caused by a virus that affects your breathing system. It changes often (mutates).

Pneumonia

A lung sickness where parts of your lungs get swollen. It can be caused by germs or other things.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A serious sickness caused by a germ (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). It mainly affects the lungs but can infect any body part.

Rhinitis

Swelling inside your nose that makes you sneeze, feel stuffy, and have a runny nose.

Sinusitis

Swelling of the sinuses (air-filled spaces in your face), causing pain, like a worse rhinitis.

Acute rhinosinusitis

A short-term sinus sickness (rhinosinusitis) caused by viruses, bacteria, or both. It lasts 5-7 days, up to 4 weeks.

Chronic rhinosinusitis

Sinus sickness (rhinosinusitis) that lasts longer than 12 weeks.

Fungal infections of the lung

Lung sicknesses caused by fungi. For instance, histoplasmosis changes into a yeast form inside humans.

SARS-CoV-2

The virus that causes illnesses like COVID-19. It spreads when you breathe in tiny droplets from an infected person.

Neuraminidase (NA)

A chemical on flu viruses that helps new virus parts break free from cells.

Hemagglutinin (HA)

A protein on the outside of flu viruses that sticks to your cells, helping the virus infect them.

Latent tuberculosis

TB bacteria are in the body but inactive, meaning no sickness signs are shown.

Active tuberculosis

When your body's defense system can't control TB, leading to sickness and symptoms like coughing up blood.

Lung cancer

A severe type of cancer that starts in the lungs, mainly split into small cell and non-small cell types.

Bronchogenic carcinoma

Any cancer that starts in the bronchi (main breathing tubes); it covers different kinds of lung cancer.

Paraneoplastic syndromes

Body-wide problems caused by cancer, but not from the tumor spreading. Can include hormone or nerve issues.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)

A breathing problem in premature babies because they lack enough 'surfactant', a liquid that helps lungs work.

Epiglottitis

A serious infection that makes the epiglottis (lid over your windpipe) swell, blocking air to the lungs.

Acute bronchitis

A sudden infection of the bronchial tubes (breathing tubes), often caused by viruses or allergies.

Nasal flaring

Nostrils spreading wide when breathing, a sign of breathing trouble, especially in babies.

Grunting

A soft groaning sound made when breathing out, often a sign of breathing trouble in children.