PHR 940 Block 3 Differential
Test Study Guide
Where is the left alar? - ANSWER outermost curved portion of the nose on left side
Where is the right alar? - ANSWER outermost curved portion of the nose on right side
Regarding physical examination of the nasal passages, how do nasal exam physical
findings differ between viral upper respiratory infection (URI)/common cold and allergic
rhinitis - ANSWER Exam reveals red and inflamed nasal passages; if nasal discharge is
visible, it is typically mucopurulent and thicker than the discharge seen in allergic
rhinitis, and is usually whitish, grayish, or pale yellowish. In allergic rhinitis, the nasal
exam shows pale, bluish or purplish nasal mucosa, possibly with cobblestoning on the
turbinate, also may have hypertrophied turbinate. Discharge is thin and watery.
Allergic rhinitis nasal drainage characteristics? - ANSWER Thin and watery.
Viral upper respiratory infection (URI)/common cold nasal drainage characteristics? -
ANSWER mucopurulent (combination of watery and slightly purulent)
Acute bacterial sinusitis nasal drainage characteristics? - ANSWER copious amounts,
purulent, darker in color and thicker consistency than allergies or viral URI
What are symptoms of Strep throat or other bacterial pharyngitis? - ANSWER typically
presents acutely with isolated symptoms affecting the throat only (redness, swelling,
intense sore throat) and +/- fever
What are symptoms of Mono? - ANSWER presents with sore throat, fever, fatigue,
myalgias, tender cervical lymphadenopathy that is gradual in onset over a period of
weeks
What are symptoms of Common colds or URIs associated with viral pharyngitis? -
ANSWER Inflamed, red, and sore throat, possibly with post-nasal drainage but not white
patches of exudate. Typical associated viral symptoms are also present, such as cough,
fatigue, nasal congestion or rhinorrhea, malaise, myalgia.
T/F: Disease prevalence refers to the proportion of a population who currently have the
disease at this moment in time, whereas incidence refers to the rate of new cases that
develop over a specified period. - ANSWER True
T/F: A test sensitivity of 98% means that 98% of the time the test will be positive in
patients that have the disease, and 2% of the time, the test will yield a false negative. -
ANSWER True
, You purchased a flu test with a sensitivity of 90%. If 1000 people in your community had
the flu, how many people should test positive using the test you purchased?
a. 10
b. 90
c. 100
d. 900 - ANSWER d. 900
T/F: Positive and negative predictive values of a test are dependent upon sensitivity and
specificity but are also influenced by disease prevalence. - ANSWER True
It is the peak of flu season, and you test a patient who clinically appears like they have
the flu. The test result comes back negative. Using the concepts of PPV and NPV, which
of the following statements is true?
a. Since the PPV is lower when disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned
about the possibility of false positive results.
b. Since the PPV is higher when disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned
about the possibility of false positive results.
c. Since the NPV is lower when disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned
about the possibility of false negative results.
d. Since the NPV is higher when disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned
about the possibility of false negative results. - ANSWER c. Since the NPV is lower when
disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned about the possibility of false
negative results.
Many symptoms of influenza and COVID overlap. However, which of the following
symptoms, if present in a patient, would be more suggestive of COVID?
a. Nasal congestion and rhinorrhea
b. Difficulty breathing
c. Body aches
d. Cough and sore throat
e. Loss of taste or smell - ANSWER e. Loss of taste or smell
T/F: Relative to influenza, it can take longer for COVID symptoms to manifest and
patients with COVID can be contagious for longer periods. - ANSWER True
T/F: The complications of influenza and COVID are similar; however, blood clots and
multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children are additional complications that are
associated with COVID. - ANSWER True
Test Study Guide
Where is the left alar? - ANSWER outermost curved portion of the nose on left side
Where is the right alar? - ANSWER outermost curved portion of the nose on right side
Regarding physical examination of the nasal passages, how do nasal exam physical
findings differ between viral upper respiratory infection (URI)/common cold and allergic
rhinitis - ANSWER Exam reveals red and inflamed nasal passages; if nasal discharge is
visible, it is typically mucopurulent and thicker than the discharge seen in allergic
rhinitis, and is usually whitish, grayish, or pale yellowish. In allergic rhinitis, the nasal
exam shows pale, bluish or purplish nasal mucosa, possibly with cobblestoning on the
turbinate, also may have hypertrophied turbinate. Discharge is thin and watery.
Allergic rhinitis nasal drainage characteristics? - ANSWER Thin and watery.
Viral upper respiratory infection (URI)/common cold nasal drainage characteristics? -
ANSWER mucopurulent (combination of watery and slightly purulent)
Acute bacterial sinusitis nasal drainage characteristics? - ANSWER copious amounts,
purulent, darker in color and thicker consistency than allergies or viral URI
What are symptoms of Strep throat or other bacterial pharyngitis? - ANSWER typically
presents acutely with isolated symptoms affecting the throat only (redness, swelling,
intense sore throat) and +/- fever
What are symptoms of Mono? - ANSWER presents with sore throat, fever, fatigue,
myalgias, tender cervical lymphadenopathy that is gradual in onset over a period of
weeks
What are symptoms of Common colds or URIs associated with viral pharyngitis? -
ANSWER Inflamed, red, and sore throat, possibly with post-nasal drainage but not white
patches of exudate. Typical associated viral symptoms are also present, such as cough,
fatigue, nasal congestion or rhinorrhea, malaise, myalgia.
T/F: Disease prevalence refers to the proportion of a population who currently have the
disease at this moment in time, whereas incidence refers to the rate of new cases that
develop over a specified period. - ANSWER True
T/F: A test sensitivity of 98% means that 98% of the time the test will be positive in
patients that have the disease, and 2% of the time, the test will yield a false negative. -
ANSWER True
, You purchased a flu test with a sensitivity of 90%. If 1000 people in your community had
the flu, how many people should test positive using the test you purchased?
a. 10
b. 90
c. 100
d. 900 - ANSWER d. 900
T/F: Positive and negative predictive values of a test are dependent upon sensitivity and
specificity but are also influenced by disease prevalence. - ANSWER True
It is the peak of flu season, and you test a patient who clinically appears like they have
the flu. The test result comes back negative. Using the concepts of PPV and NPV, which
of the following statements is true?
a. Since the PPV is lower when disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned
about the possibility of false positive results.
b. Since the PPV is higher when disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned
about the possibility of false positive results.
c. Since the NPV is lower when disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned
about the possibility of false negative results.
d. Since the NPV is higher when disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned
about the possibility of false negative results. - ANSWER c. Since the NPV is lower when
disease prevalence is high, you should be concerned about the possibility of false
negative results.
Many symptoms of influenza and COVID overlap. However, which of the following
symptoms, if present in a patient, would be more suggestive of COVID?
a. Nasal congestion and rhinorrhea
b. Difficulty breathing
c. Body aches
d. Cough and sore throat
e. Loss of taste or smell - ANSWER e. Loss of taste or smell
T/F: Relative to influenza, it can take longer for COVID symptoms to manifest and
patients with COVID can be contagious for longer periods. - ANSWER True
T/F: The complications of influenza and COVID are similar; however, blood clots and
multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children are additional complications that are
associated with COVID. - ANSWER True
