Types of Inflammation Quiz

Types of Inflammation

• Acute Non-suppurative inflammation
  • Catarrhal inflammation: Mild acute inflammation of mucous membranes, resulting in mucus-rich exudates. Examples include inflammation of the nose, larynx, trachea, stomach, appendix, and gall bladder.
  • Fibrinous inflammation: Acute inflammation with fibrin-rich exudate. Examples include inflammation of serous cavities (pericardium, pleura, peritoneum) and alveoli in acute lobar pneumonia.
  • Membranous inflammation: Severe inflammation of mucous membranes, characterized by pseudomembrane formation. Examples include diphtheria and bacillary dysentery.
  • Allergic inflammation: Inflammation due to antigen-antibody reactions, characterized by excessive edema fluid, eosinophils, and necrosis. Examples include eczema, urticaria, and allergic rhinitis.
  • Necrotizing/hemorrhagic inflammation: Severe acute inflammation caused by highly virulent bacteria, viruses, or fungi, marked by necrosis and hemorrhage. Examples include plague and herpes simplex encephalitis.

Acute Suppurative Inflammation

• Localized: Inflammation resulting in pus formation confined to a specific site. Examples include abscesses, boils, and carbuncles.
• Diffuse: Inflammation resulting in pus formation spread throughout the tissue. An example is cellulitis.

Chronic Inflammation

• Granuloma: Chronic specific inflammation characterized by the collection of immune cells (macrophages and giant cells) around a pathogen or foreign body, often in a circular pattern.

Pathogenesis of Fibrinous Inflammation

• Increased vessel permeability leads to fibrinogen-containing exudate deposition.
• Common sites include serosal linings of pericardium, peritoneum, and pleura.
• Can lead to adhesions.

Pathogenesis of Membranous Inflammation (related to Clostridium difficile)

• Yellow pseudomembrane formation on colonic mucosa.
• Caused by Clostridium difficile.
• Prolonged antibiotic use (e.g., clindamycin) disrupts gut flora, enabling C. difficile overgrowth.

Feed-back Quiz

• Key characteristics of allergic inflammation should be identified
• Mechanisms of pseudomembrane formation should be analyzed

Suppurative Inflammation

• Definition: Inflammation characterized by pus formation.
• Causes: Pyogenic or pus-forming organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus.
• Inflammatory cells: Large numbers of neutrophils that release proteolytic enzymes to create pus.

Abscess

• Definition: Localized collection of pus.
• Pathogenesis: Bacteria and toxins cause liquefactive necrosis of tissue, localization aided by fibrin threads.
• Pyogenic membrane: Peripheral zone of the abscess containing congested blood vessels, bacteria, neutrophils and fibrin.
• Pus: Fluid containing dead and living bacteria, neutrophils, exudate, and necrotic tissue.

Sites of Abscess

• Subcutaneous tissue, liver, lung, brain.

Localized Suppurative Inflammation

• Boil (furuncle): Localized, superficial pus-filled lesion.
• Carbuncle: Larger, deeper infection; comprised of multiple communicating abscesses.

Carbuncle

• Large, suppurative infection, usually in individuals with compromised immunity; common at the nape of the neck, scalp, and buttocks.
• Composed of multiple interconnected abscess cavities.
• Infection is resistant, with fibrous septa isolating regions.
• Symptoms involve multiple points of skin opening.

Abscess: Treatment and Complications

• Treatment: Surgical excision removing the abscess cavity and pyogenic membrane.
• Complications:
  • Spread of inflammation to lymph nodes
  • Chronic abscess
  • Ulcer, sinus, fistula
  • Bacteremia, sepsis, pyemia

Ulcer, Sinus, Fistula

• Ulcer: Loss of surface epithelium.
• Sinus: Infected granulation tissue tract connecting abscess cavity to the outside, ending in a closed blind end.
• Fistula: Infected granulation tissue tract connecting abscess cavity to another cavity or two.

Cellulitis

• Definition: Diffuse suppurative inflammation (pus throughout the tissue).
• Cause: Streptococci bacteria that release enzymes (streptokinase and hyaluronidase) that spread and liquefy tissue.
• Sites: Common in lower limbs' subcutaneous tissue.
• Clinical presentation: Large, diffuse, red inflammation with serosanguinous fluid release.
• Key difference from abscess: Cellulitis involves diffuse spread of inflammation, whereas abscess presents as a localized collection of pus.

Fate of Inflammation

• Resolution: Return of tissue to normal. Involves clearing stimuli, mediators, and inflammatory cells.
• Suppuration: Pus formation.
• Chronic inflammation: Persistent inflammation may lead to angiogenesis, chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis. Pathological tissue response is characteristic.
• Spread: Inflammation may spread to nearby tissues and organs

Effects of Bacterial Infection

• Bacteremia: Bacteria in the blood.
• Septicemia: Presence of large amounts of virulent bacteria in the blood.
• Sepsis: Severe, life-threatening response to infection, where the body's own response damages tissues and organs.
• Pyemia: Type of sepsis marked by multiple abscesses forming in various organs. Staphylococcus aureus is a primary causative agent.

Test your knowledge on various types of inflammation including acute non-suppurative inflammation. This quiz covers key characteristics, examples, and distinctions between catarrhal, fibrinous, membranous, allergic, and necrotizing/hemorrhagic inflammation. Perfect for students and professionals in the medical field looking to enhance their understanding.