Respiratory, Skin, and Eye Infections – Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering major terms, diseases, structures, and mechanisms from Chapters 16–17 on respiratory, skin, and eye infections.

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, and epiglottis; warms, humidifies, and filters air.

Lower Respiratory Tract

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

Paranasal Sinuses

Four pairs of hollow cavities lined with mucus-secreting membranes that warm, humidify, and filter inhaled air.

Sinusitis

Inflammation and swelling of sinus membranes causing congestion and pressure; mucus becomes bacterial breeding ground.

Pharynx

Throat region that acts as gatekeeper between respiratory and digestive tracts.

Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the pharynx caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergens.

Epiglottis

Cartilage structure that seals off airway during swallowing to prevent aspiration.

Epiglottitis

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

Mucociliary Escalator

Ciliated mucous membrane system that traps debris and sweeps it toward the mouth to keep lungs clear.

Alveolar Macrophages

Immune cells residing in alveoli that remove debris and pathogens not caught by mucociliary escalator.

Stridor

Wheezing or loud breathing sound associated with a blocked or narrowed airway.

Pneumonia

Inflammation of the lung air sacs (alveoli) where gas exchange occurs.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath.

Common Cold (Acute Respiratory Infection)

Self-limiting viral infection marked by sore throat, runny nose, cough/sneeze, fatigue, low-grade fever.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Enveloped RNA virus (Paramyxoviridae) with subtypes A & B; major cause of lower respiratory disease in infants.

HPIV (Human Parainfluenza Virus)

Virus causing cold-like illness in adults and croup, bronchitis, or pneumonia in infants and elderly.

Adenovirus Infection

Respiratory virus producing sore throat and cold-like symptoms.

Influenza

Respiratory illness resembling severe cold; most strains bind ciliated upper-tract cells, some infect lungs.

Antigenic Drift

Random mutations in influenza HA/NA spikes that help virus evade immunity.

Antigenic Shift

Major genetic reassortment in influenza that produces new antigens and can lead to pandemics.

COVID-19

Disease caused by ssRNA virus SARS-CoV-2; flu-like symptoms, binds ACE2, spread by droplets/aerosols.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Rodent-borne viral illness whose initial phase can progress to pulmonary edema.

Otitis Media

Middle-ear infection often following a cold; mucus buildup and blocked eustachian tube allow bacterial growth.

Strep Throat

Streptococcal pharyngitis with throat inflammation, swollen cervical nodes, low-grade fever, and exudate.

Scarlet Fever

Strep complication featuring red sandpaper-like rash and strawberry tongue due to toxin-induced capillary dilation.

Diphtheria

Corynebacterium infection with bull neck, low fever, and pseudomembrane in airway from toxin-killed tissue.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Bordetella disease with cold-like stage, paroxysmal coughing attacks from toxins, then convalescent phase.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Mycobacterium infection; most cases become asymptomatic latent, noncontagious infection.

Pneumococcal Pneumonia

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

Mycoplasma (Walking) Pneumonia

Mild, slowly developing pneumonia; up to 20 % asymptomatic.

Chlamydophila Pneumonia

Respiratory infection starting with sore throat, progressing to cough lasting up to 6 weeks.

Legionnaires’ Disease

Legionella infection with high fever and severe atypical pneumonia; bacteria survive inside phagocytes.

Psittacosis

Chlamydia psittaci illness with muscle aches and neck/back stiffness; survives within phagocytes.

Q Fever

Coxiella burnetii infection showing high fever and varied symptoms; forms spore-like structures for persistence.

Tularemia

Francisella tularensis disease with sudden fever, lymph node swelling, dry cough; pathogen escapes phagosomes.

Skin

Largest organ forming first-line defense; hosts diverse normal microbiota on different skin types.

Primary Lesion

Skin abnormality directly associated with a specific disease process; helpful diagnostically.

Secondary Lesion

Skin change developing from a primary lesion; less specific to a disease.

Rash

Widespread eruption of skin lesions that may or may not cause symptoms.

Chickenpox

Varicella-zoster infection causing fever and itchy vesicular rash; virus later becomes latent.

Shingles

Reactivation of varicella-zoster producing painful unilateral vesicular rash.

Malaise

General feeling of unwellness or discomfort without clear cause.

Pruritic

Itchy.

Supportive Therapy

Treatment aimed at relieving symptoms (rest, fluids, pain meds) rather than curing disease.

HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus-1)

Virus causing painful lip vesicles; becomes latent in trigeminal ganglia and reactivates periodically.

Measles

Morbillivirus causing fever, Koplik’s spots, and descending red rash; induces syncytia formation.

Febrile Seizures

Convulsions triggered by fever, usually brief and generally harmless but alarming.

Congenital Rubella Syndrome

Birth defects (deafness, blindness, heart issues) in infants whose mothers contract rubella in first trimester.

Fifth Disease

Parvovirus B19 illness with cold-like symptoms and ‘slapped-cheek’ maculopapular rash.

Roseola

HHV-6/7 infection with sudden high fever followed by trunk-centric pink rash; may cause seizures.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Enterovirus infection causing fever, mouth sores, and blistering rash on hands and feet.

Lymphangitis

Inflammation of lymphatic vessels, often seen as red streaks under skin.

Leukocytosis

Elevated white blood cell count usually associated with infection.

Necrotizing Fasciitis

Rapidly spreading ‘flesh-eating’ infection with severe pain, fever, and toxin-driven tissue destruction.

Wound Infection (Pseudomonas)

Inflamed, green-pigmented wounds; pathogen forms biofilms, makes exotoxins, and resists disinfectants.

Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa)

Painful outer-ear infection; Pseudomonas enzymes and biofilms enable persistence.

Gangrene

Clostridial infection causing tissue death, foul discharge, gas bubbles, and possible shock.

Dermatophytes

Fungi that infect skin, hair, or nails (e.g., ringworm agents).

Cutaneous Candidiasis

Candida albicans skin infection producing intensely itchy red rash; organism digests keratin for invasion.

Lysozyme

Tear enzyme that breaks down bacterial cell walls.

Lactoferrin

Tear protein that binds free iron, limiting bacterial growth.

Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva; viral forms watery, bacterial forms pus-laden with crusty lids.