Contagious rashes

Question 1

What’s this?

Answer 1

MEASLES

• Cough, coryza, conjunctivitis
• Then macpap rash that spreads from head to feet
• Kopliks spots pathognomic
• Incubation: 7-14/7
• Main concerns: acute encephalitis (1/1000) and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (progressive neurodegen CNS disorder that begins about 11 years after infection. Blindness (seen in developing countries due to low Vit A.

Question 2

What’s this?

Answer 2

ROSEOLA / HHV6

• Fever without apparent source (may have coryzal symp) for 3-4/7 followed by macpap rash on face, neck and trunk.
• Usually occurs in 6-24/12 olds- most kids seroconverted by 4yo
• Cause of 1/3 feb convulsions in children <2yo
• May cause: meningitis, encephalitis, hepatitis, non-EBV mononucleosis

Question 3

What does Parvo B19 cause?

Answer 3

Causes transient arrest of erthropoesis by attacking erythroid precursers

• Slapped cheek/ erythema infectiosum
• Interuterine infection with hydrops
• Transient aplastic crisis in pts with preexisting haem disease
• Papular-puritic gloves and sock syndrome
• Arthritis and arthralgia (immunodef adults)
• Persistent inf and chronic anaemia in immunodef
• Asymptomatic

Question 4

What’s this?

Answer 4

VARICELLA

• Causes chicken pox and shingles
• Incubation: 2-3/52
• Rash spreads centrifugally
• Complications: staph/ strep toxic shock syndrome (secondary inf), encephalitis, pneumonia, haematological probs)
• Shingles = reactivation. Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome is infection of the geniculate ganglion which causes ear vesicles, purulent drainage from the ear and facial nerve palsy. Zoster does NOT always need antivirals