Foot care and oral health Flashcards
Outline verrucae as foot care
- Appear as flattened, discrete
lesions - On the ball of the foot,
underside of the big toe or heel - They can present either alone or
in clusters
Outline what causes verrucae
- Caused by the Human Papilloma Virus
- Will get into the skin through a cut or minor abrasion
- Characterised by tiny black dots under the hard skin
Outline signs and symptoms of verrucae
- The small black visible dots are NOT the ‘root’ of the verruca, but are
caused by bleeding in small blood vessels - Verrucas can be tender when squeezed and may cause discomfort if
they press on nerves whilst walking - They can be spread from person to person through contaminated
surfaces or through close skin contact
Outline when to refer for verrucas
- If unsure whether or not growth on the skin is a verruca
- The verruca keeps coming back once treated
- If the verruca is very painful
- If the verruca bleeds or changes in appearance
Outline 1 treatment option for verrucas
- Salicylic Acid
- Works by softening the hard skin
growth, making it easier to remove
with a pumice stone or emery board - They also help kill the Human
Papilloma Virus
Outline the dosage for the treatment options
Bazuka Gel: - Contains Salicylic Acid 12% gel and Lactic Acid 4% gel
* Apply once daily at night to the lesion
Bazuka gel extra strength: - contains 26% salicylic acid (over 16s only)
* Apply once daily at night to the lesion
Plasters and paints less effective
Outline another treatment option for verrucas
- Freeze treatments which claim to have a similar effect to medical cryotherapy
- In reality much less effective
hydrocarbon/propellant mix which
‘freezes’ the skin - Not very popular and expensive
Outline the dosage for the treatment options
Bazuka sub zero
* Apply applicator should work with 10 days
Scholl freeze verruca and wart remover
* Apply applicator for 30-40 seconds
* Should work within 10-14 days
Excilor
* Combination freeze spray and gel treatment
* ‘clinical trial’ conducted on 16 people
Outline self care advice for verrucas
Wash your hands after touching a wart or verruca
Change your socks daily if you have a verruca
Cover verrucas with a plaster if swimming
Outline athlete’s foot as foot care
- Common skin infection of the foot
- Flourishes between the toes
- Highly contagious and is passed on by
small pieces of affected skin shed
from the feet
Outline what causes athletes foot
- Caused by overgrowth of tinea pedis
- A dermatophyte fungal infections
- Usually caught by walking barefoot in areas where an infected person
has walked - Communal changing rooms at swimming pools and gyms common
sources - Can catch from direct skin contact
Outline signs and symptoms of athlete’s foot
- Symptoms usually appear first between the fourth and the fifth toes
- The affected skin appears red and itchy, later becoming white, inflamed
and weepy - The affected skin may crack and peel
Infection may spread
Outline when to refer for the athletes foot
- If treatment from the pharmacy doesn’t work
- If you are experiencing a lot of discomfort
- The foot is red, hot and painful
- If the patient has diabetes
Outline 1 treatment option for the athletes foot
Antifungals
Undecanoates: Oldest and least
effective treatments available
Imidazole antifungals:
Range of products available all
effective
Terbinafine: effective if
expensive treatment
Outline the doses recommended for this treatment
Lamisil AT 1% Gel/cream: - Contains Terbinafine 1%Gel/cream
* Apply daily for a week
Lamisil once:- contains 1% Terbinafine cutaneous solution
* Single dose treatment
undecanoate antifungals available in cream and spray (mycota,generic)
* Apply twice daily for a week after symptoms have cleared
- Miconazole cream: - contains miconazole nitrate
- Used for 10 days after symptoms have cleared
Outline self care advice for athlete’s foot
- Dry your feet after washing them, particularly between your toes – dab
them dry rather than rubbing them - Use a separate towel for your feet and wash it regularly
- Take your shoes off when at home
- Wear clean socks every day – cotton socks are the best
Ouutline corns and calluses as foot care
- Corns are caused by running
or pressure from ill-fitting shoes: - Calluses are caused by friction and
pressure when the skin rubs
against shoes or the ground
Outline what causes corns and callses
- Wearing high heels, uncomfortable shoes or shoes that are the
wrong size - Not wearing socks with shoes
- Lifting heavy weights
- Playing a musical instrument
Outline when to refer for corns and calluses
- If the patient has diabetes
- If you have heart disease or problems with circulation
- If the corn/callus bleeds or has any discharge
- If they have not improved after three weeks of treatment
- The pain is severe or stopping you doing your normal activities
Outline 1 treatment option for corns and calluses
Scholl 2 in 1 Corn Express Pen
- Acts as a moisturing cream to soften
the hardened skin
- Use daily
- Results can be seen within 5 days
Outline a 2nd treatment option for corns and calluses
Pain relief/ pressure pads are also recommended
- some may be medicated to help soften the corn
- some will cushion the area and relieve painful shoe pressure and
friction
Outline self care advice for corns and calluses
- Wear thick, cushioned socks
- Wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole that does
not rub - Use soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes
- Soak in warm water to soften them
Outline plantar fasciitis as foot care
- Pain on the bottom of the foot around the heel and arch
- Caused by straining the part of your foot that connects your heel bone
to your toes (plantar fascia)
Outline signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis
- The pain is worse when a person starts walking or after resting
- The pain feels better after exercising but comes back when resting
- It is difficult to raise the toes off of the floor
Outline what not to do if you have plantar fasciitis
- Do not take ibuprofen for the first 48 hours
- Do not walk or stand for long periods
- Do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
- Do not wear flip-flops or backless slippers
- Try not to walk bear foot on hard surfaces
Outline when to refer for plantar fasciitis
- The pain is severe or stopping the person from doing normal activities
- The pain is getting worse/recurrent
- The pain has not improved after treating it for two weeks
- Any tingling or loss of feeling in the foot
- Diabetic patients
Outline 1 treatment option for plantar fasciitis
- Pain relief (for example Paracetamol and Ibuprofen (after 48 hours))
- Soft insoles or heel pads can also be placed inside shoes to ease
discomfort
Outline self care advice for plantar fasciitis
- Rest and raise your foot on a stool when you can
- Use an ice pack on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3
hours - Use soft in soles or heel pads in your shoes
- Regular gentle stretching exercises
Outline mouth ulcer as oral health
- Can appear inside the cheeks and
on the gums, tongue or roof of
the mouth - A sufferer can get up to six at a time
They are not contagious
Outline what causes mouth ulvers
- Hormonal changes
- Genetics
- Vitamin B12/Iron deficiency
- Side effects of certain medicines
- Smoking
Outline a treatment option for mouth ulcers
- Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a
week or two - Mouth ulcers need time to heal and there is no quick fix
- Avoiding things that irritate your mouth ulcer will help speed up the
healing process, reduce pain and reduce the chance of them
returning
Outline when to refer for mouth ulcers
- If the mouth ulcer has lasted longer than three weeks
- If the mouth ulcer keeps returning
- If it becomes painful and red
Outline treatment options for mouth ulcers
- Antiseptic pastilles
- Anti-inflammatory gels and
- Topical anaesthetics can be recommended
- Most not suitable for children
Outline dosages for the treament options
Orajel Dental Gel – Benzocaine 10% w/w
Contains Apply a pea-sized amount to the affected area up to four times
a day as required
Bonjela gel:– choline salicylate 87% and cetakonium chloride
Apply to the sore are every 3 hours for up to 7 days
Not suitable for under 16s
Mouth ulcer pastilles:- Benzalkonium Chloride Solution 1.11 mg and
Compound Benzoin Tincture 8.06 mg. (generic)
Not particularly effective but suitable for over 3s
Outline self care advice for mouth ulcers
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Drink cool drinks through a straw
- Eat softer foods
- Get regular dental check-ups
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Outline oral thrush as oral health
- Caused by the fungus Candida Albicans
- Causes lesions – usually on the tongue or cheeks, that are white in
colour
Outline signs and symptoms of oral thrush
- White, creamy lesions appearing anywhere in the mouth
- New pains during regular mouth motions
- Bleeding if lesions are scraped or rubbed
- Loss of taste when eating or drinking and dry mouth
Outline when to refer for oral thrush
Outline 1 treatment option for oral thrush and dose
*Antifungal Oral Gel to inhibit growth of fungus like
Daktarin Oral Gel: Contains Miconazole 2% Gel
Apply four times daily after meals: Keep the gel in the mouth for as
long as possible before swallowing
Continue treatment for at least 7 days after symptoms have disappeared
Outline self care advice for oral thrush
- Brush teeth twice daily
- Brush your gums and tongue with a soft toothbrush
- Attend regular dental check ups
- Stop smoking
Outline cold sores as oral health
- One of the worlds most common
infections - Caused by virus herpes simplex
(HSV) - Self limiting but products available
to treat - Triggered by wind, sunlight,
menstruation, trauma, stress and
being ‘run down
Outline signs and symptoms of cold sores and the 4 stages
- Occur most commonly on the lips and surrounding skin
- Start off as small fluid filled blisters
- Burst and crust over indicating end of infection cycle
- Symptoms usually last 10 days
Four stages of symptoms - Tingle (prodromal stage)
- Blister
- Weeping
- Scabbing
Outline when to refer for cold sores
- Duration longer than 2 weeks
- Failure to resolve with or without treatment
- Painless sores
- Babies and young children
*Immunocompromised patients - Patients with symptoms elsewhere
Outline treatment options for cold sores and dose
*Astringents
*Antiviral creams
* Electronic devices
*Aciclovir 2g cream
*Apply 5 times a day
* Suitable for adults and children
*Only to be used on the mouth
and face
Outline self care advice for cold sores
*Wash hands before and after application
* Try to identify triggers and avoid
* Sunscreen lip balms are a good idea if triggered by sunlight
*Avoid dehydration
*Avoid kissing and oral sex during all phases
*Avoid touching the cold sore
*Apply cream with a dabbing motion, rubbing the cream in may make
it spread
*Don’t share anything that goes in your mouth
