Acute and Emergency Dermatology Flashcards
What is the largest organ in the body?
Skin
Consequences of skin failure relates to function, what does failure of the skin to be a mechanical barrier to infection cause?
Sepsis
Consequences of skin failure relates to function, what does failure of temperature regulation cause?
Hypo or hyper-thermia
Consequences of skin failure relates to function, what does failure of the skin to balance fluid and electrolytes lead to?
Protein and fluid loss
Renal impairment
Peripheral vasodilation
What is erythroderma?
Descriptive term rather than a diagnosis:
- “Any inflammatory skin disease affecting >90% of the total skin surface”
What are some causes of erythroderma?
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Drugs
- Cutaneous lymphoma
- Hereditary disorders
- Unknown
What are the principles of erythroderma management?
- Remove any offending drugs
- Fluid balance
- Good nutrition
- Temperature regulation
- Oral and eye care
- Anticipate and treat infection
- Manage itch
- Disease specific therapy, treat underlying cause
What is an example of a mild drug reaction?
Morbiliform exanthema (rash)
What is morbiliform exanthema?
Rose-red flat (macular) or slightly elevated (maculopapular) eruption, showing circular or elliptical lesions varying in diameter from 1 to 3 mm, with healthy-looking skin intervening
What are examples of severe drug reactions?
- Erythroderma
- Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)
- DRESS
What does SJS stand for?
Stevens Johnson Syndrome
What does TEN stand for?
Toxic epidermal necrolysis
What drugs can SJS or TEN be secondary to?
- Antibiotics
- Anticonvulsants
- Allopurinol
- NSAIDs
What percentage of epidermal detachment occurs with SJS?
<10%
What percentage of epidermal detachment occurs with TEN?
30%
Which of SJS and TEN affects a larger surface area?
TEN
What are the clinical features of SJS?
- Fatigue, malaise, arthralgia (pain in a joint)
- Rash
- Maculopapular, target lesions, blisters
- Erosions covering <10% of skin surface
- Mouth ulceration
- Greyish white membrane
- Haemorrhagic crustings
- Ulceration of other mucous membranes
What are the clinical features of TEN?
- Often presents with prodromal febrile illness
- Ulceration of mucous membranes
- Rash
- May start as macular, purpuric or blistering
- Rapidly becomes confluent
- Nikolsky’s sign may be positive
What is the management of SJS/TEN?
- Identify and stop culprit drug as soon as possible
- Supportive therapy
What is the prognosis of SJS/TEN?
SJS - 10% mortality
TEN - 30% mortality
What scale is used to determine how severe SJS or TEN are?
SCORTEN
What does a greater SCORTEN score increase?
Mortality
What does SCORTEN scale consider?
What are some long term complications of SJS/TEN?
- Pigmentary skin changes
- Scarring
- Eye disease and blindness
- Nail and hair loss
- Joint contractures
What is erythema multiforme?
Hypersensitivity reaction usually triggered by infection