DERM ICM Flashcards
What is Mycology?
the study of fugus organisms causing disease in human
What is are Nail clippings used for?
- confirm fungal nail infections
- differentiate nail infections from dystrophic nails
What can you do with nail clippings?
MCS
~ takes around 4-5days to culture and get results
What is Skin scaping?
a superficial scraping of the skin is taken from the rash/affected area of concern
Skin scraping indications?
- used mainly to diagnose fungal skin infections
- skin rash/lesion unresponsive to treatment to confirm dx
What can be done with skin scrapings?
MCS
~4-5days for results to be obtained from lab
Skin Biopsy indications?
- removal of confirmed/suspected skin cancer
- unknown skin lesions/growths
- skin tags
- warts
What are the types of skin biopsies?
shave biopsy - scalpel/blade used to take a shaving
punch biopsy - circular tool takes a core sample
excisional biopsy - wider skin excisions include the tissue around the margins of lesion
What is Wood’s Lamp? How does is work?
Another form of mycology
handhled devise emitting long waves of UV light
normal skin - not fluorescent
abnormal skin - fluorescent
What is Wood’s Lamp used for?
diagnosis of
- fungal skin infections
- bacterial skin infections
- vitiligo
- head lice
- other pigmented lesion
can also be used a confirmation/strengthen a suspicion
What is dermascopy? Uses include?
lightweight microscope - allows visualisation of substance patterns/pigmentations and structures of skin
normally used for lesions with red flags - confirming whether or not it is a skin cancer
What is Tetradermatology?
offered only in certain boroughs
involves taking photos with a dermascope and sending to dermatology who then provide advice on the suspected diagnosis and management in 2wks
What is mole mapping?
body photography using a dermascope for individuals at high risk of developing malignant melanoma or have a hx of previous removed melanoma/atypical naevi
What does mole mapping involve?
often pts will have to have been through the 2WWR pathway and need monitoring
otherwise some may go privately
Indications for allergy testing?
Previous symptoms of anaphylaxis
food and drug allergy
urticaria/angioedema
asthma
allergic rhinitis
eczema /dermatitis
types of allergy testing?
- skin prick test
- skin patch
- RAST/immunochop (blood test)
- food challenge
What does skin prick test involve?
performed in hospital/clinic setting - rare risk of anaphylaxis
allergens are applied to skin - pricked with lancet and wait 10-15mins - assess reaction
- compare against positive control (histamine) and negative control (saline)
- can give results on the same day and provide appropriate advice
What does the skin patch test involve?
Used for more delayed reactions such as contact dermatitis
- 3 appts
1. go and have allergen discs applied - they will be held by hypoallergenic tape
2. 2/7 - discs removed and recations assessed
3. 4/7 - assess for any delayed reactions
What does the RAST/Immunochop involve?
blood test measuring IgE antibodies to an allergen
- helps to confirm if reaction is false positive if unexpected positive reaction is found on skin prick
What are slight downsides to RAST/Immunochop?
info equivalent to skin prick but more expensive to do
results are not same day
less acceptable for children
What does Food challenge involve?
Performed in hospital setting - tests for delayed reaction
used to confirm allergy vs sensitisation after skin prick/blood test
KOH Test?
A skin lesion KOH exam is a simple skin test to check if an infection in the skin is caused by fungus.
used commonly in dermatophyte infections
skin scraping is taken and KOH is added to it
- examined under a microscope
