Hepatitis, Varicella, STDs: Flashcards
Hepatitis B:
Transmitted by mucous membrane exposure to blood/body
fluids. Such as unprotected sex, sharing of needles and
vertical transmission from mother to child.
Endemic in certain parts of the world particularly developing
countries such as Southeast Asia and Africa.
According to the Australian Department of health ‘An
estimated 209,000 people were living in Australia in 2011
with hepatitis B infection’
Vaccine available
Hepatitis B: signs and symptoms:
Acute symptoms include
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the liver (under the right rib cage) due to inflammation of liver
• Fever
• Pain in the joints
• Jaundice (when the eyes and skin become yellow).
Can progress to Chronic Hepatitis B leading to cirrhosis and (accounts for
approximately 10% of patients with Hepatitis B)
Hepatitis B: management:
Supportive care for acute symptoms. Patients may require:
• Fluid – If pt symptomatic of volume depletion (dehydration, secondary to gastro, secondary to
anorexia)
• Pain relief – For hepatic pain/joint pain
• Removal of clothing, pl
Hepatitis C
- According to WHO ‘About 150 million people are chronically infected with
hepatitis C virus, and more than 350 000 people die every year from
hepatitis C-related liver diseases’
Transmission
•Receiving Hepatitis C + blood transfusions, blood products and organ
transplants;
• Drug use/Sharing drug paraphernalia or needle-stick injuries in health-
care workers.
• Perinatal Hepatitis C positive mother..
• Sexual contact with an infected person (less common)
No Vaccine Available
Hepatitis C: signs and symptoms:
Incubation period is 2-6 months.
As reported by WHO approx. 80% of patients are asymptomatic
Of those who do experience symptoms:
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the liver (under the right rib cage) due to inflammation of liver
• Fever
• Pain in the joints
• Jaundice (when the eyes and skin become yellow
Hepatitis C:
Knowing this how can you differentially diagnose which hepatitis
condition the patient is suffering from?
Approximately 80% progress into chronic hepatitis.
Interestingly WHO international states 25 % of liver cancer patients, the
underlying cause is hepatitis C
Hepatitis C: Management
Supportive care for acute symptoms. Patients may
require:
• Fluid – If pt symptomatic of volume depletion
(dehydration, secondary to gastro, secondary to
anorexia)
• Pain relief – For hepatic pain/joint pain
• Removal of clothing, placing patient in cooler environment if febrile.
Hepatitis D
- Co-infection or Super infection of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
- In order to be susceptible to Hepatitis D infection you need to have
acute or chronic Hepatitis B or be infected with BOTH Hepatitis B and D
at the same time. - As a result most common transmission occurs i.e. sharing needles, blood
transfusions, surgical operations etc. Sexual transmission is less
common. - Chronic Hepatitis B patients affected by Hep D may develop acute
hepatitis (sudden onset severe hepatitis) or chronic hepatitis resulting in
cirrhosis.
Hepatitis E:
Endemic in developing countries
Transmitted by faecal oral route, contaminated food and water supplies.
Full recovery most often occurs.
Of those who do experience symptoms: (usually children are asymptomatic but
adolescence and adults may be
symptomatic)
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the liver due to inflammation of liver
• Fever
•Jaundice (when the eyes and skin become yellow).
- dark urine
Chicken Pox:
Caused by the varicella zoster virus
Highly contagious!!!!
Prior to the introduction of the Varicella
Vaccine approximately 90% of children had had chicken pox by age 15 and virtually everyone acquired varicella by the time they were adults.
Reye Syndrome
A potentially fatal illness with unknown cause leading to brain
and liver damage (fat). Ultimately may lead to multisystem
organ failure and death
Chicken Pox in Adults:
- Adults have a 15 times greater risk of
mortality than children. - In pregnant Women Chicken pox has a
much more severe presentation and
may lead to foetus damage
chicken pox - Signs & Symptoms
Often in Children the first sign of Chicken pox is the characteristic Red
vesicular rash. Followed by low grade fever, lethargy and headaches
Differently Adults/Adolescence will present with non specific signs of
headache, nausea, anorexia or muscle aches before the rash, malaise and low
grade fever present.
Rash (most often non scarring)
Vesicular lesions Vesicles will rupture causing a hard crust to form in its place.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
(STIs):
Sexually Transmitted Infections
(STIs)
- Infections transmitted through sexual contact
- May not have genital manifestations/symptoms
chlamydia:
As reported by the Australian Department of Health ‘Chlamydia was the most
frequently reported notifiable condition in Australia in 2011 with 80,800 reported
diagnoses’
Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia
Often called the silent STI as frequently presents asymptomatically.
Transmitted by unprotected sex including vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Can be treated with antibiotics.
If left untreated may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or infertility in both males and females.
Gonorrhoea (The Clap):
Second most common form of STI (beaten only by chlamydia)
Transmitted by oral, vaginal and anal intercourse and also may be transmitted to neonate during vaginal delivery. More likely to transmit the infection if the patient is asymptomatic.
If undiagnosed or untreated may lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (women) with risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Patients will be tested for both gonorrhoea and chlamydia due to the often co infection of both
STIs.
Treated with antibiotics.
