Herpes related skin diseases

Question 1

Cold Sores and Fever Blisters

Answer 1

D/S Skin eruptions occurring about perimeter of mouth, lips, nose, mouth mucous membrane; more common in children
E/T Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1); may lie dormant for years; reactive during lowered resistance, emotional, physical stress, illness
S/S Small, pale vesicles appearing individually or in clusters; burn, itch, sting; lesions break, forming ulcers, crusts
D/X Skin observation, histological examination of scrapings
T/X Symptomatic; keep lesions dry, clean; protect from trauma; apply topical analgesics; give antibiotic agents
P/P Usually resolve within 1 to 3 weeks; reappear again/None except avoid contact with persons with virus

Question 2

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

Answer 2

D/S Acute inflammatory eruption of highly painful vesicles on trunk of body or face; more common in adults over age 50
E/T Reactivation of herpes zoster virus (chickenpox); lesions on segment of skin lying above course of nerve affected by virus
S/S Pain along course of affected nerve; 1 to 3 days later skin eruption; erythematous maculopapular rash; vesicles; intensely painful
D/X Characteristic pattern of painful lesions; isolating virus in cell cultures from scrapings or detecting in blood
T/X Sedatives, analgesics, antipruritics; antibiotics
P/P Usually good; recurrent bouts of severe pain may persist for weeks, months after lesions resolved; no recurrence/None known