Common infections Flashcards
Presentation and symptoms
Presentation of Chicken pox and symptoms
- Fluid-filled vesicles (spots) |Raised ->Crust over
- Distanced
- Very itchy
- Spread via droplet inhalation
SYMPTOMS:
* Fever
* Loss of apetite
* Aches and pain on the joints
* Extremely itchy
Presentations of Rubella and symptoms
also known as German measles
A viral infection that…
* Starts at the face
* Red/pink rash
* Slightly raised
* Swollen glands - Head and/or neck
* Is a notifiable disease
SYMPTOMS:
* Cough & runny nose
* Fever
* Aching joints / pain
Immunised by the MMR vaccine
MMR vaccine
A vaccine for mumps, measles and rubella.
- Always ask if a patient presenting a rash has had the vaccine.
Presentation of Measles and symptoms
A viral infection that…
* Initially starts behind the ears or on the face.
* Spread to the trunk.
* Flat, red spots.
* Spots may become joined together (around the collar bone usually)
SYMPTOMS:
* Cough & runny nose
* Fever
* Red, sore, watery eyes
* Sneezing
* Not itchy
Immunised by the MMR vaccine.
Cold sores
Presents as…
* Fluid-filled blisters -> Crust over
* Usually on/around the lips
* anywhere on the face.
CHARACTERISED by…
* A tingling/itching feeling BEFORE the blisters appear.
Presentation of impetigo and symptoms
Presents as…
* INITIALLY: Fluid-filled vesicles that rupture and weep.
* BECOMES: Yellowish-brown crusted lesions. {Crusty patches}
* Starts on the face and CAN spread to other areas.
* The crusty lesions can grow.
SYMPTOMS:
* Itchy (can be painful)
Presentation of Mumps and symptoms
Presents as…
* Characterised by painful swellings in the side of the face.
* Most contagious a couple days BEFORE and AFTER symptoms develop.
SYMPTOMS:
* Joint paint
* Headache
* Fever (can occur BEFORE swelling)
Immunised by the MMR vaccine
Glass test
Presentation of shingles and symptoms
Secondary chicken pox
Presented as…
* Blotchy rash (usually on ONE SIDE of the body)
* Become itchy blisters that ooze fluid
* Later dry out and scab.
SYMPTOMS:
* Sensetive
* Pain
* Not necessarily itchy
* Headache
Presentation of scabies and green flags
Presents as itchy raised spots on the majority of the body except the back.
Green flags:
* Itchy especially at night
* Itch exacerbates after warm bath
* Family/friends reported itching
* Living conditions overcrowded
Scabies treatment and advice
Apply Permethrin 5% cream once weekly for 2 weeks.
* All family should be treated
* Apply all over the body
* Should be washed off after 8-12 hours
* Reapply if hands are washed within 8 hours
* Decontaminate bedding/clothing/towels by washing at >60c + dry cleaning
Crotamiton 10% cream to help post-treatment itch
Eczema presentation and symptoms
Presents as itchy, cracked and sore skin usually at the hands and flexure of limbs.
Green flags:
* History of asthma or allergic rhinitis
* Dry skin in past 12 months
* Worsening in the winter
Eczema treatment and advice
- Generous application of an emollient
- Topical corticosteroid - Hydrocortisone 1%
- Betamethasone vaelrate 0.025% if moderate
Advice: Avoid scratching and use corticosteroid sparingly
Eczema red flags
Unlikely if…
* No itch present
* Crusting, postules
* Systemic symptoms: fever, malaise
* Defined edge to rash
* Thick, scaly lesions
Contact dermatitis presentation and symptoms
Contact dermatitis is usually caused by an external aggravant. It presents as itchy, blistered, dry or creacked skin. Sometimes it may be vesicular.
Contact dermatitis red flags
Unlikely if..
* No itch
* Systemic symptoms: fever
* Yellowing & discharge
* No obvious aggravant
Contact dermatitis treatment and advice
Treatment:
* Generous use of emollient
* Topical corticosteroid
Advice:
* Avoid scratching
* Use emollients regularly
* Avoid aggravant
Ringworm
Itchy red/silver, circular lesions. Often clear centrally.
Ringworm treatment
Topical imidazole cream
Advice:
* Avoid scratching to minimise spreading
* Children can go to school
* Wash towels & bedsheets regularly
Bacterial conjunctivitis presentation
Presents as/with…
* Purulent discharge (yellow/green)
* Swelling of eyelids
* Eyes stuck together when waking up
* Starts on one eye
* Generalised redness
Bacterial conjunctivitis treatment
It can be self-limiting within 7 days but if no improvement after day 3 then give Chloramphenicol eye drops 0.5% and continue until 48 hours after infection hsa cleared.
Advice for bacterial conjunctivitis
Advice:
* Store eye drops in fridge
* Do not rub eyes
* Avoid make up
* Dispose of old make up
Bacterial conjuctivitis red flags
- Water discharge -> Allergic conjunctivitis
- Pain
- Photophobia
- Sudden onset
- Impaired vision
Allergic conjunctivitis presentation
Presents with/as…
* Watery discharge
* Discomfort
* Swelling
* Generalised redness
Itch can be described as ‘stinging’ or ‘burning’ sensation
Allergic conjunctivitis red flags
- Purulent discharge
- Pain
- Photophobia -> viral conjunctivitis
- Sudden onset -> viral
- One eye
- Impaired vision
Allergic conjunctivitis treatment and advice
Non-pharmaceutical management:
* Avoid allergens
* Avoid eye rubbing
* Apply cold compress to the eyes
If it persists..
* Localised treatment -> Sodium Cromoglicate eye drops
* Systemic teratment -> Cetrizine
Stye presentation
- Localised redness
- Localised swelling to one area on one eyelid
Stye red flags
- Generalised redness -> Conjunctivitis
- Pain
- Generalised swelling
- Impaired vision
Stye treatment and advice
Stye is self-limiting and often spontaneously so. Apply warm compress to draw out infected pore. If symptoms presist: Propanidine eye drops
Viral conjunctivitis presentations and symptoms
Present with…
* Sudden onset foreign body sensation
* Red eyes
* Light sensetivity
* Watery discharge
Threadworm symptoms
- Intense perianal itching (worsens at night)
- Disturbed sleep
- White worms visible in faeces
Threadworm treatment and management
Mebendazole 100mg once and then again after 2-3 weeks.
* Treat all household members
* Keep good hygiene for that period
* Wash and disinfect all towerls, beddings clothes
* Children can go to school
Tapeworm symptoms
- Large worm visible in faeces
- GI disturbanecs: vomiting, diarrhoea
- Recently travelled abroad
- Change in apetitte
Roundworm treatment and advice
Referal to doctor.
Advice:
* Wash fruits & vegetables
* Cook meats thoroughly
* Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet
* Wear pyjamas or underwear to bed to minimise scratching
Roundworm symptoms
- Whole worm in faeces
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Severe abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Can be asymptomatic
- Recent foreign travel
Tapeworm treatment and advice
Referal to doctor
* Hydrate frequently with fresh bottled water
* throroughly wash hands
* Wear pyjamas or underwear to bed to minimise scratching
Hemorrhoids symptoms and presentation
Swollen veins in your lower rectum with symptoms including…
* Itching/burning sensation
* Dull aching pain on defacation
* Fresh blood on stool or toilet paper
* Constipation
* Duration less than 3 weeks
Hemorrhoids treatment
It is self-limiting but can take…
* Topical steroid cream - Hydrocortisone
* Antiseptics
* Short term laxatives
* local anaestetics - Lidocaine
Hemorrhoids advice
- See GP if symptoms have not improved in one week
- Maintain good anal hygiene
- Maintain good fibre, water intake and exercise (constipation help)
What can you take for a dry cough
Demulcents such as Honey & lemon or glycerin or methylcellulose
What can you take for a productive cough
Expectorants such as Guaifenesin
Vaginal cadidiasis (Thrush) symptoms
- White ‘cottage cheese-like’ discharge
- Thick discharge
- Itching, irritation sensation around vagina
- Stinging during urination & sex
Treatment for thrush
Topical or pessary Clomatrizole
* Refer if under 16, over 60
* Refer if diabetes
* Pregnancy -> Clomatrizole 1% / 2% cream
* Clomatrizole can damage latex condoms - be advised
Bacterial vaginosis symptoms
Usually caused by use of new product or extensive use of products
* Grey/white discharge
* Fishy-smelling
* No itch or soreness
Bacterial vaginosis treatment
- Advize avoidance of irritant products
- Refer to GP for antibiotics
Trichomonasis symptoms
- Yellow/green discharge
- Fishy smelling
- Soreness, itching, swelling
- Pain and discomfort when urinating/having sex
Trichomonasis treatment
- Refer to GP for metronidazole
Cystitis symptoms
- Burning sensation upon urination
- Dysurea (frequent urination)
- Dark/cloudy, strong-smelling urine
- Lower back pain
Cystitis treatment
- Advize that it is self-limiting…if not cleared within 3 days see your GP for antibiotics
- Paracetamol for pain management
- Stay hydrated
