BGD Flashcards
occupational contact dermatitis
irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and contact urticaria.
symptoms Dryness (involvement of the web spaces between the fingers is often the first sign) Redness Itchiness Soreness Scaling and flaking Splitting and cracking Blistering
Irritant contact dermatitis
Causes
Repeated exposure to water, including hand washing and scrubbing
Skin cleaners, antiseptic washes, detergents, liquid and bar soaps
Drying of the skin using paper towels
Heat from hot water
Sweating, especially when wearing occlusive gloves for extended periods of time
Glove powder
Low humidity: hands often get drier in winter
Allergic contact dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a delayed type of allergy that causes dermatitis on areas of the skin exposed to allergens. Allergy is very individual: one person may be allergic to a substance that another person can use without problems.
ACD can occur at any time, after someone has been using the same product for many years or for just a few weeks. Dermatitis generally develops some hours or even 1-2 days after contact with the allergen, but does not occur the very first time an individual is exposed to the substance. People may not have had a history of allergies before and in fact are probably less likely to be ‘allergic’ types. The clinical features of ACD cannot be reliably differentiated from ICD.
ACD will often complicate pre-existing ICD, when the skin barrier has become damaged. Once an allergy to a substance has developed, it is generally lifelong.
Common causes of ACD in healthcare workers include:
Rubber glove ingredients, such as thiurams and carbamates, which are required for the elastic properties of disposable gloves.
Preservatives such as formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing preservatives used in products such as skin cleansers.
Ingredients in hand cleansers and surgical scrubs such as coconut diethanolamide, an emulsifying agent, found in many hospital skin cleansers, especially hand washes
Antiseptics such as chlorhexidine, although fortunately this allergy is rare
Colophony (rosin) is the usual cause of sticking plaster allergies in patients
Domestic exposures to many other allergens present in skincare products and liquid soaps, including fragrances, as well as contacted through hobbies and other activities
Special note: The preservative methylisothiazolinone (MI) is currently causing very high rates of ACD. All healthcare workers with contact dermatitis should check the ingredients of their own products and avoid it where possible. Methylisothiazolinone may be found in some liquid soaps, shampoos, sunscreens, hair products, moisturisers and disposable wipes, particularly baby wipes.
Patch testing diagnostic for ACD
Contact Urticaria (including Latex Allergy)
Contact urticaria is a different type of allergic skin reaction, occurring immediately rather than being delayed. Allergy to latex, or natural rubber protein, is a form of contact urticaria and healthcare workers are exposed to latex in many brands of disposable gloves but also in other medical products.
Powdered latex gloves also increase the risk for latex allergy as the powder facilitates the transfer of the latex allergen to the skin and also aerolises it, so latex proteins that have attached to the powder can be inhaled, or enter the skin via cracks and splits in the skin.
Signs and symptoms of latex allergy:
An itchy, red rash within minutes of contacting latex
Hives or welts on the skin
Runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and sometimes asthma
Burning, itching, tingling and swelling from latex contact on mucous membranes
Diagnosis
Blood tests (for allergen specific IgE, formerly known as RAST) is used to diagnose latex allergy, as well as another form of allergy testing, prick testing, which is completely different to patch testing. Prick testing is commonly used by allergists to diagnose immediate hypersensitivity reactions in the investigation of asthma, hay fever and food allergies.
Treatment
The treatment is avoidance of all latex products. Nitrile gloves are a readily available latex-free alternative. Vinyl gloves are also latex-free, but may not offer adequate protection against bodily fluids. Latex-free reusable gloves are also available, made from nitrile or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which may be useful for home.
Pain management in labour
Panadol/Panadeine in early labour
Pethidine
Inhalation Therapy
Epidural Block
APGAR scoring
Measure at 1 minute & 5 minute (if 5 minute score is <7 do a 10minute test) Heart rate: Respiratory effort: Muscle tone: Reflex Irritabiity: Color:
COCP
synthetic oestrogen (Ethinyloestradiol, Mestranol, oestradiol) (provide regular and predictable bleeding pattern) + progesterone
Progestogen only hormonal contraception
minipills contraceptive implant Injectable: DMPA Progestogen IUD 3-month progesterone vaginal ring -> use during lactation
Derivation of progestogen
17-acetoxyprogesterone: cyproterone acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, nomegestrol acetate (NOMAC)
19 nor-testosterone: Norethisterone, dienogest, levonorgestrel, desogestrel, etonogestrel, gestodene
spironolactone: drospirenone
Drospirenone
useful for anti-androgenic and diuretic properties
Desogestrel/Gestodene/Norelgestromin/CPA
counter androgenic s/e
dienogest
anti-androgenic
Nomegestrol acetate
mildly anti-androgenic
Progestogenic s/e
androgenicity may increase acne, hirsuitism and affect mood
increase in LDL and decrease in HDL
insulin resistance/glucose metabolism
anti-proliferative effect on endometrium -> protects endometrium and affects pattern of bleeding
Norethisterone, dienogest, nomegestrol acetate can suppress endometrium so much -> absent bleeding
Steroid receptors
high numbers in breasts and genitourinary tract
- Androgen receptors
- Oestrogen receptors
- Progesterone receptors
Progesterone (mechanism)
- suppress LH surge -> prevents ovulation
- thickens cervical mucus
- thin the endometrium making it unsuitable for implantation
Oestrogen (mechanism)
- suppress FSH -> prevent maturation of ovarian follicle
- enhance effect of progesterone
- stabilise the endometrium
Progestogens (contraindication)
Porphyria
steroid dependent cancers
pregnancy
Oestrogen (contraindication)
- previous DVT or pulmonary embolus
- stroke and heart disease (both valvular and ischaemic)
- heavy smokers over 35-years-of-age
- diabetes with associated vascular disease
- severe liver disease
- steroid dependent cancers
- migraine with aura
- pregnancy
- lactation (<6 months post-partum) as may suppress milk production
oestrogen-related symptoms: positive
no mid cycle peak/less endometrial stimulation -> results in lighter bleeding
- synthetic oestrogen induces production of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in liver which binds androgens and prevents them acting on receptors: decreased acne
oestrogen-related symptoms: negative
- breast tissue proliferation may lead to discomfort, breast enlargement
- fluid retention may lead to bloating, oedema, headaches
- increase in SHBG may result in decreased libido
- effect on clotting factors = increased risk of thromboembolism and CVA
Taking Combined Pill
- immediate contraceptive cover if active pill taken on day 1-5 of bleeding (day 1 for estradiol pills)
- can be started later but will need to use additional contraceptive cover for one week
- missed pills:
- if less than 24 hrs take as soon as remembered and no need for additional cover
- if more than 24 hours remembered, additional cover required for one week
- if pills missed in last week of pack, packets should be run together and placebo pills missed
Pill failures
9% in real life (1-2% theoretical) due to missed pills
- effectiveness affected by: vomiting and diarrhoea, drugs used to treat epilepsy, TB & HIV hypericum (St Johns Wort)
- daily commitment difficult 25-50% discontinue in first 12 months
Extended use regimens: Seasonique
Seasonique:
84 days of 30ugms ethinyloestradiol/50ugms levonorgestrel (equivalent to 4 ordinary packets) followed by one week of 10ugms of EE alone which bleeding occurs
- 4 menstrual periods a year
- irregular bleeding more common
- no need to have monthly bleeding - can run most pill packs together to avoid bleeding (but not phasic pills)
Continuous COCP use
safety = 12 months
Lybrel: 20mcgm of EE & 90mcgm of levonorgestrel
Oestradiol pills: Qlaira
- estradiol valerate (natural oestrogen) and dienogest
- multiphasic - 2 placebo pills
- less hepatic effect than LNG pills - less increase in SHBG
- lipid effects comparable to newer pills
- complex missed pill/switch regiment
