ears, eye, mouth Flashcards
ear infections are v common esp in children.
symptoms include the following (4)
pain in ear
high temp
discharge
younger children may rub or pull ear and be irritable
ear infections are v common esp in young children. often self limiting - how many days?
often get better on its own within 3 days and can last up to a week
outer ear infection and over 12 - what can they use
earcalm (acetic acid) to help stop bacteria or fungus from spreading
ear calm is licensed for use in this age
over 12
how long to use ear calm for
max 7 days
patient has swollen, painful and itchy ear canal, and discharge. no fever, no significant hearing loss. they are 40.
what can you recommend
acetic acid OTC
see GP if symptoms worsen or do not improve within 48 hours
mouth ulcers may be caused by these vitamin and mineral deficiencies
B12, iron
how long do ulcers usually last
7-14 days
if ulcers last longer than ….. see GP or dentist
3 weeks
treatment for mouth ulcers often contain the following 2 ingredients
local anaethetics - benzocaine, licocaine to numb ulcer
anti-inflammatories - benzydamine mouthwash and spray
signs and symptoms of cold sore
tingling or itching sensation of the skin
after a couple of days, area starts to weep and blister, very painful and then scabs over
how long can cold sores last
7-10 d
patient presents with this. they say its painful. what do you suggest
if used after tingling stage, antiviral creams will be of little benefit. advice them to take one anyway to keep spare and to use in future as soon as they feel tingling. ensure to wash hands before and after application to prevent further infection elsewehre
can recommend soothing, antiseptic, anaesthetic and moisturising agents to help relieve pain and discomfort. cold sore patches, 24h a day until cold sore healed.
when should otc aciclovir cream be applied
only licensed for cold sores around mouth and face, not other parts of body!
apply as soon as tingling or itching is felt
does aciclvoir cream stop the cold sore from occuring
no but can be used to limit progress of it
how often to use aciclovir cream
5 times a day for 5 days
can be continued for up to 10 days if needed
what does this look like
oral thrush
what does oral thrush present as
white spots or white coating on tongue, inside of cheeks and roof of mouth
some may not have any white spots, but mouth will be red and sore
other symptoms include difficulty eating, changes to taste
treatment of oral thrush & age range
miconazole oral gel
suitable from 4 months and over
patient has a sore in their mouth. it looks like an ulcer. they say it is painless but they only noticed it when brushing their teeth. what do you recommend?
refer to gp for PAINLESS sores
mouth ulcer lasted more than 14 days. what to do
refer
can cold sores be triggered by sunlight
yes
what is this and what do you recommend
stye - small painful lumb on inside eyelid or around the eye, may be swollen and red, and stye may be filled with pus
to reduce swelling and heal stye, soak clean flannel in warm water, hold against eye for 5-10 mins and repeat 2-4x a day
avoid wearing contacts and eye makeup until stye has burst and healed
patient has a hard lump on their eyelid which is not painful. what is it and what do you suggest
chalazion
occurs due to blocked oil gland
usually goes away on its own without treatment
try warm compresses
you are more likely to get a stye if you have these 2
long term blepharitis
rosacea
what is this and what do you suggest
blepharitis
clean eyelids BD and then OD as symptoms improve - clean flannel or cotton wool in warm water and place on eyelid for 5-10 mins
continue with cleaning eyes even once symptoms clear up
no contacts, no eye makeup
what is this and what do you suggest
blepharitis
clean eyelids BD and then OD as symptoms improve - clean flannel or cotton wool in warm water and place on eyelid for 5-10 mins
continue with cleaning eyes even once symptoms clear up
no contacts, no eye makeup
symptoms of blepharitis
sore eyelids
itchy eyelids
gritty eyes
flakes or crusts around roots of lashes
eyelids sticking together in morning on waking
