ears, eye, mouth

Question 1

ear infections are v common esp in children.
symptoms include the following (4)

Answer 1

pain in ear
high temp
discharge
younger children may rub or pull ear and be irritable

Question 2

ear infections are v common esp in young children. often self limiting - how many days?

Answer 2

often get better on its own within 3 days and can last up to a week

Question 3

outer ear infection and over 12 - what can they use

Answer 3

earcalm (acetic acid) to help stop bacteria or fungus from spreading

Question 4

ear calm is licensed for use in this age

Answer 4

over 12

Question 5

how long to use ear calm for

Answer 5

max 7 days

Question 6

patient has swollen, painful and itchy ear canal, and discharge. no fever, no significant hearing loss. they are 40.

what can you recommend

Answer 6

acetic acid OTC
see GP if symptoms worsen or do not improve within 48 hours

Question 7

mouth ulcers may be caused by these vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Answer 7

B12, iron

Question 8

how long do ulcers usually last

Answer 8

7-14 days

Question 9

if ulcers last longer than ….. see GP or dentist

Answer 9

3 weeks

Question 10

treatment for mouth ulcers often contain the following 2 ingredients

Answer 10

local anaethetics - benzocaine, licocaine to numb ulcer
anti-inflammatories - benzydamine mouthwash and spray

Question 11

signs and symptoms of cold sore

Answer 11

tingling or itching sensation of the skin
after a couple of days, area starts to weep and blister, very painful and then scabs over

Question 12

how long can cold sores last

Answer 12

7-10 d

Question 13

patient presents with this. they say its painful. what do you suggest

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

when should otc aciclovir cream be applied

Answer 14

only licensed for cold sores around mouth and face, not other parts of body!

apply as soon as tingling or itching is felt

Question 15

does aciclvoir cream stop the cold sore from occuring

Answer 15

no but can be used to limit progress of it

Question 16

how often to use aciclovir cream

Answer 16

5 times a day for 5 days
can be continued for up to 10 days if needed

Question 17

what does this look like

Answer 17

oral thrush

Question 18

what does oral thrush present as

Answer 18

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

Question 19

treatment of oral thrush & age range

Answer 19

miconazole oral gel
suitable from 4 months and over

Question 20

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?

Answer 20

refer to gp for PAINLESS sores

Question 21

mouth ulcer lasted more than 14 days. what to do

Answer 21

refer

Question 22

can cold sores be triggered by sunlight

Answer 22

yes

Question 23

what is this and what do you recommend

Answer 23

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

Question 24

patient has a hard lump on their eyelid which is not painful. what is it and what do you suggest

Answer 24

chalazion
occurs due to blocked oil gland
usually goes away on its own without treatment
try warm compresses

Question 25

you are more likely to get a stye if you have these 2

Answer 25

long term blepharitis
rosacea

Question 26

what is this and what do you suggest

Answer 26

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

Question 27

what is this and what do you suggest

Answer 27

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

Question 28

symptoms of blepharitis

Answer 28

sore eyelids
itchy eyelids
gritty eyes
flakes or crusts around roots of lashes
eyelids sticking together in morning on waking