Dermatology Flashcards
What do anti-CCP abs present indicate?
Psoriatic Arthritis
What is Urticaria, how does it present, and how do we manage it?
Urticaria is swelling of the superficial dermis that raises the epidermis. It is caused by a local increase in permeability of capillaries and small venules largely mediated by histamine.
Px: itchy wheals
Rx: anti-histamines, or corticosteroids for severe acute urticaria
Angioedema: Presentation, management, and complications
Px: Swelling of the tongue and lips (due to deeper swelling involving the dermis and subcut tissue)
Rx: Corticosteroids
Complications: asphyxia, cardiac arrest and death
Anaphylaxis: Presentation, Management and Complications
Px: bronchospasm, facial and laryngeal oedema, hypotension; can present initially as urticaria or angioedema
Rx: Adrenaline, corticosteroids, and anti-histamines
Complications: Asphyxia, cardiac arrest and death
What are the causes of Erythema Nodosum?
Group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus Primary TB Pregnancy Malignancy Sarcoidosis Inflammatory Bowel Dx (IBD) Chlamydia Leprosy
Erythema Nodosum Px?
Located on shins
Discrete tender nodules that last 1-2 weeks before resolving and leaving discolouration but no scarring or atrophy.
Lesions do not ulcerate.
What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?
Mucocutaneous necrosis with at least 2 mucosal sites involved.
Drugs are most common association.
Epithelial necrosis with few inflammatory cells is seen on histology.
May have features overlapping with toxic epidermal necrolysis Eg prodromal illness
How do you distinguish between Stevens-Johnson syndrome and erythema multiforme?
The extensive necrosis in Stevens-Johnson
What is Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis?
An acute severe dx characterised by extensive skin and mucosal necrosis accompanied by systemic toxicity.
Usually drug-induced
Full thickness epidermal necrosis with subepidermal detachment on histology.
What is the cause of acute meningococcaemia?
Gram -ve diplococcus Neisseria meningitides
What is acute miningococcaemia?
Meningococcemia is a rare infectious disease characterized by upper respiratory tract infection, fever, skin rash and lesions, eye and ear problems, and possibly a sudden state of extreme physical depression (shock) which may be life-threatening without appropriate medical care.
Transmitted via resp secretions.
Px: Typical meningitis features (headache, fever, neck stiffness) + myalgia + septicaemia + rash.
Describe the rash present in acute meningococcaemia.
Non-blanching purpuric rash on the trunk and extremities.
May have had a blanching maculopapular rash 1st.
Can rapidly progress into ecchymoses, haemorragic bullae and tissue necrosis.
How do you manage acute meningococcaemia?
Abx (Eg benzylpenicillin)
Prophylactic Abx (Eg Rifampicin)for close contacts within 14 days
List the common complications of acute meningococcaemia.
Septicaemic shock
DIC (Disseminated intravascular coagulation)
Multi-organ failure
Death
Where are the extensor areas of the skin?
Knees, elbows, shins.
Where are the most common pressure areas of the skin?
Sacrum, buttocks, ankles, heels.
How does erythema multiforme present?
Target lesions!
No mucosal involvement.
Assoc. with HSV infection.
Self-limiting.
How does ringworm (Tinea corporis) present?
Annular lesions on buttocks, trunk, arms and legs.
May be itchy.
What is erythema?
Redness (due to inflammation and vasodilatation) which blanches on pressure
What is purpura?
Red or purple colour (due to bleeding into the skin or mucous membrane) which does not blanch on pressure – petechiae (small pinpoint macules) and ecchymoses (larger bruise-like patches)
Vesicle vs Bulla vs Pustule
Vesicle is a raised, clear fluid-filled lesion <0.5cm in diameter.
Bulla is the same but >0.5cm.
Pustule is vesicle containing pus.
Bulla is big blister, vesicle is small blister
Hirsutism vs Hypertrichosis
Hirsutism is androgen-dependent hair growth in females.
Hypertrichosis is non-androgen dependent excessive hair growth (Can be in males and females).
What are the conditions clubbing is associated with?
Suppurative lung disease, cyanotic heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease and idiopathic
What is koilonychia and what does it indicate may be present?
Iron-deficiency anaemia, congenital or idiopathic causes.
Onycholysis: definition and associations.
Onycholysis is separation of the distal end of the nail plate from the nail bed.
Assoc. with trauma, psoriasis, fungal nail infections and hyperthyroidism.
Nail pitting: definition and associations.
Pitting is punctuate depressions of the nail plate.
Associations: psoriasis, eczema, + alopecia areata.
What is Eczema Herpeticum (Kaposi’s varicelliform eruption)?
Widespread eruption - a serious complication of atopic eczema ( + other skin conditions)
Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus
Px of Eczema Herpeticum?
Extensive crusted papules, blisters and erosions.
Systemically unwell with fever and malaise.
Hutchinson’s sign: pustules on the end of the nose. Indicated trigeminal involvement - precedes opthalmic herpes zoster infection (VERY BAD!)
Rx of Eczema Herpeticum?
Antivirals (Eg Aciclovir)
Abx for secondary bacterial infection