Infectious Childhood conditions Part 1 Flashcards
How is chicken pox contracted?
through droplet infection or with contact with vesicular exudates. Once the spots have all formed crusts, the individual is no longer contagious.
How long is the incubation period before the rash develops?
11-21 days
What symptoms may the patient experience before the rash develops?
Pt may experience up to 3 days of prodromal symptoms e.g. fever, headache, sore throat, malaise
How does the chickenpox rash appear? How long does it take to appear?
How long does it take for it to heal?
Small red lumps (macules) rapidly develop into vesicles/blisters in about 12 hours - usually on the face, scalp and trunk
Vesicles burst forming crusted spots over a few days - then healing over the new 1-2 weeks
Is chicken pox contagious?
Highly contagious, from a few days prioir to the onset of rash until all lesions have crusted over.
Can a secondary bacterial infection occur?
Yes it can occur from scratching of vesicles
How can shingles occur? And why does it occur?
reinfection by the varicella-zoster virus (infection of a nerve and the skin around it)
could be because of lowered immunity:
- being older
- being stressed
- taking meds that weaken immune system
- HIV/AIDS
Where would shingles appear?
specific area on one side of the body and does not cross over the midline of the body.
Is shingles contagious ?
No. But you can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have not had it before
What is Molluscum Contagiosum? what does it affect? How is it transmitted? Is it contagious?
pox virus that affects the skin, transmitted by indirect contact e.g. sharing towels
not very contagious
How do molluscum contagious appear?
pink pearl-like spots usually less than 0.5cm in diameter and a diagnostic feature is the central punctum
When does mollcusum contagiosum resolve?
12 months but if pt is anxious, GP can use liquid nitrogen to remove the lesions
What is impetigo?
bacterial infection by staph aureus or streptococcus puyogenes
How does impetigo present?
face, nose, mouth
How does impetigo start to appear?
small red itchy patch of inflamed skin that quickly develops into vesicles that rupture and weep
the exudates dries to brown, yellow sticky crust
Is impetigo contagious?
Yes, keep children off school until rash clears
Dont share towels, stop household contacts
Keep nails short and clean to stop from scratching the lesions
What treats impetigo?
topical or systemic antibiotics like fusidic acid or flucloxacillin
What is erythema infectiosum?
disease caused by parvovirus B19
called ‘Slapped cheek’ or ‘fifth disease’
How does erythema infectiosum present? Who does it affect?
‘Slapped cheek’ - red and inflamed marks can also spread to arms and legs, cold like symptoms are also present a couple days before the rash
affects children aged 3 and 15
What is glandular fever? What age of pts usually present with glandular fever?
caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus
ages 15-24
How do pts contract glandular fever? How long is the incubation period ?
close salivary contact - kissing disease
4-7 weeks
What symptoms arise with glandular fever?
fatigue, headache, sore throat, swollen and tender lymph glands
Macular rash can occur on the trunk but a small proportion of pts get this
