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Minor Ailments > Infections and infestations > Flashcards

Infections and infestations Flashcards

1
Q

Threadworm

A

Small, white thread-like worm
Lives in the upper part of the colon
Mostly affects children due to their poor level of hygiene

Female lays eggs at night around the anus or vagina/urethra in girls causing intense itching.
They live for up to 6 weeks.

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2
Q

Danger symptoms of threadworm

A
  • Secondary bacterial infection
  • Persistent heavy infestation
  • Appetite loss
  • Weight loss
  • Insomnia
  • irritability
  • Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control)
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3
Q

Treatment options for threadworm

A
  • All members of the house should be treated
  • Mebendazole (Ovex) in children over 2 years as a single dose which may need to be repeated after 2-3 weeks if re-infection occurs.
  • May cause abdominal pain or diarrhoea
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4
Q

Practical tips for threadworm

A
  • Wear close-fitting pyjama bottoms or pants to avoid shedding at night
  • Shower or bathe first thing in the morning paying particular attention to the anal area.
  • Wash hands after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food.
  • Cut fingernails short
  • Launder beddings and towels daily as eggs can remain viable for up to 2 weeks
  • Damp dust surface and vacuum daily
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5
Q

Headlice

A
  • Grey/black in colour
  • Suck blood from the scalp
  • The egg shell is firmly attached to hair and isn’t removed by shampooing
  • Diagnosis can only be made by finding live louse
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6
Q

Treatment options for headlice

A
  • Two applications seven days apart
  • Treatment left on for 12 hours before being rinsed off
  • Hair should be examined after 14 days to confirm treatment success
  1. Malathion (6 years and older)
  2. Permethrin (2 months or older)
  3. Hedrin(Dimeticone) - leave on for 8 hours and repeat after 7 days (6 months and over)
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7
Q

Wet combing method for headlice

A
  • Apply an ample amount of conditioner to detangle and straighten the hair
  • Detangle the hair using a wide toothed comb
  • Switch to a headlice detection comb
  • Work through the hair in small sections going from the roots to the ends
  • Check the comb for lice after each section and wipe/rinse them
  • Rinse out the conditioner from the hair
  • Do this for every 3 days for 2 weeks
  • It is recommended to do this method until 4 consecutive occasions where no head lice are found
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8
Q

Practical tips for headlice

A
  • When there is an outbreak at school, tie your hair up and tuck fringes away
  • Regular detection combing is the most effective preventative method.
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9
Q

Scabies

A
  • Skin infection
  • Extremely itchy, especially at night
  • Small red, papules between fingers and toes, on the wrists and ankles, around the nipples, buttocks and genitals
  • Burrows may be seen as fine, silvery lines
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10
Q

Danger symptoms for scabies

A
  • Refer children under two years of age
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11
Q

Treatment options for scabies

A
  • All members of the household should be treated, including all physical contacts including sexual contact even if they don’t show any symptoms
  1. Permethrin 5% is first line choice suitable for 2 months or older
  2. Malathion 0.5% is the first-line for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Remove from nipple before feeds and reapply. Used only above the age of 6 years.

For both products, apply over the whole body including scalp, face, neck and ears and wash off after 8-12 hours. If hands are washed, reapply. Repeat this after 7 days

  • Crotamiton cream or liquid can soothe and relieve skin irritation.
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12
Q

Practical tips for scapies

A

Clothes, towels and bed linens should be washed at temperatures above 50 degrees C

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13
Q

Herpes simplex

A
  • Type 1 is associated with cold sores
  • Type 2 is associated with genital herpes
  • Prodomal signs are tingling, itching, numb feeling followed by a development of a group of small red-fluid filled vesicles
  • These burst and crust over
  • Cold sores can be painful
  • Recovery takes 10-14 days
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14
Q

Treatment options for cold sores

A
  • Self-limiting usually
  • Topical antiviral agents such as:
  • Aciclovir (Zovirax) applied 5 times a day for five days
  • Pencilovir (Fenistil) at 2 hourly intervals up to 8 times a day for 4 days
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15
Q

Practical tips for cold sores

A
  • Lip balm to limit drying and cracking of lips adding to the pain
  • Wash hands after touching the lesion or applying cream and avoid touching the eyes
  • Do not share face cloths and towels
  • Avoid oral sex to prevent the possibility of genital herpes
  • Apply sunscreen to lips prevent exposure to the sun.
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16
Q

Shingles

A
  • Following an episode of chickenpox in childhood, varicella zoster virus remains dormant
  • Reactivated in later life
  • Painful, blistering rash appears on one area of the skin and doesn’t cross the midline
  • Prodromal symptoms 48-72hours before: Headache, flu-like symptoms, throbbing pain, tenderness, paresthesia
17
Q

Danger symptoms for shingles

A
  • Urgent referral for immunocompromised patients
  • Urgently refer if the rash involves or is approaching the eye
18
Q

Treatment options

A
  • Pharmacological treatment may not be required for those under the age of 50 with mild symptoms
  • POM medications include aciclovir (800mg five times a day for 7-10days) or valaciclovir (1g three times a day for 7 days)
  • OTC analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief
19
Q

Practical tips for shingles

A
  • Keep affected area clean and dry
  • Change cloths and towels regularly and do not share
  • Where possible cover rash to prevent it from spreading
  • Loose fitting clothes to minimise pressure on the rash
  • Calamine lotion to help soothe unbroken itching skin
  • Cold, wet compresses to weeping blisters reduce inflammation and prevent infection. Should be applied for 20 minutes until blisters stop oozing.
  • Remain away from school or work until blisters have completely crusted over
  • Avoid pregnant women or those who are immunocompromised
20
Q

Athlete’s foot

A
  • Begins with scaling and itching on one foot only
  • Usually between fourth and fifth toe
  • Skin becomes macerated and soggy
21
Q

Danger symptoms of athlete’s foot

A
  • Secondary bacterial infection such as cellulitis
  • Diabetes
22
Q

Treatment options for athlete’s foot

A
  • Local antifungal treatment continued for one week after the disappearance of all signs of infection
  • Clotrimazole, ketoconazole, miconazole
  • Terbinafine
23
Q

Practical tips for athlete’s foot

A
  • Good foot hygiene: wash daily, dry thoroughly particularly between the toes
  • Wearing open, non-occlusive shoes
  • Alternating shoes every 2 or 3 days
  • Changing socks
  • Use flip flops or plastic shoes in communal changing areas such as changing areas or shower rooms
  • Avoid scratching affected area
24
Q

Ringworm

A
  • Circular, red, scaly lesions
  • Clearly defined edges
  • Lesions may be itchy
25
Q

Danger symptoms of ringworm

A
  • Secondary bacterial infections such as cellulitis
26
Q

Treatment options for ringworm

A
  • Topical Clotrimazole, econazole, miconazole is safe to use in pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Terbinafine
27
Q

Practical tips for ring worm

A
  • Avoid scratching the affected area
  • In groin infections, change underwear daily
28
Q

Impetigo

A
  • Bacterial infection
  • Often presents around the nose and mouth
  • Presents as weeping, golden, crusted eruption
  • Bullous (blisters) or non-bullous (most common form)
  • Highly contagious
  • Passed by direct contact
29
Q

Danger symptoms for impetigo

A
  • More severe bacterial infections may develop such as cellulitis or septicaemia which requires urgent referral
30
Q

Treatment options for impetigo

A
  • Resolves spontaneously in 2-3 weeks
  1. Cystaside cream 1% (hydrogen peroxide) is the only OTC treatment available - Apply 2-3 times a day for five days suitable for children over 2 years
  2. Fusidic acid 2% POM applied to affected area 3 times a day until resolved
31
Q

Practical tips for impetigo

A
  • Wash hands after contact with the lesion
  • Do not share flannels and towels
  • Keep fingernails short
  • Do not scratch the skin
  • Children should not go to nursery or school
  • Soak lesion in warm soapy water and wash away before the application of topical treatment

Minor Ailments (7 decks)

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