Infectious Diseases Flashcards
WHAT ARE THE CAUSATIVE ORGANISMS OF EACH OF THESE DISEASE?
Roseloa
Hand, foot, and mouth
Scarlet Fever
Slapped check/Fifth Disease
Roseloa = HHV6
Hand, foot, and mouth = Coxackie A16
Scarlet Fever = Group A strep
Slapped check/Fifth Disease = Parvovirus A19
What is Kawazaki disease?
Kawasaki disease is a type of vasculitis which is predominately seen in children
What is the cause of Kawazaki disease?
Who is most at risk?
Unknown
Under 5 most at risk
Boys more than girls
Japanese or Korean more at risk
What are the symptoms of Kawazaki disease?
3 stages
1st stage >5 days
Fever > 39 degrees
Red eyes
Swollen lymph nodes
2nd stage
Strawberry tongue
Peeling of skin on hands
Joint pain
Vomiting
3rd stage
Reduction of symptoms, can be as long as 8 weeks
How do you diagnose Kawazaki disease?
Diagnosis of exlcusion
Can test for complications
Blood tests
BNP released when the heart is under stress
ECG
Echocardiogram
Coronary artery aneurysm
What is the treatment of Kawazaki disease?
High dose aspirin
High doses can treat inflammation
Gamma globulin
Reduce the risk of conorary artery problems
What ar the complications of Kawazaki disease?
Coronary arteries anneurysm
Inflammation of the heart muscle
Heart valve problems
What is measles?
Measles, or rubeola, is a viral infection that starts in the respiratory system
What is the cause of measles?
How is measles spread?
Paramyxovirus family
Respiratory droplets
What are the symptoms of measles?
What classic spots are seen?
Prodrome
- Irritable
- Conjunctivitis
- Fever
FEVER FOR 3 - 5 DAYS THEN
**Koplik spots (before rash)** White spots ('grain of salt') on buccal mucosa
Rash
Starts behind ears then to whole body, discrete maculopapular rash becoming blotchy & confluent
diarrhoea occurs in around 10% of patients
How do you diagnose measles?
- IgM antibodies
- Throat swab to identify the virus
What is the treatment for measles?
Mainly supportive
Admission may be considered in immunosuppressed or pregnant patients
Notifiable disease → inform public health
What are the complications of measles?
- Otitis media: the most common complication
- Pneumonia: the most common cause of death
- Encephalitis: typically occurs 1-2 weeks following the onset of the illness)
How should management of contacts who have not been vaccinated with measles be treated?
Vaccine given within 72 hours
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus
What are the symptoms of chickenpox?
Fever initially
Itchy, rash starting on head/trunk before spreading. Initially macular then papular then vesicular
Systemic upset is usually mild
What stages does the rash go through in chickenpox?
Raised pink or red bumps (papules), which break out over several days
Small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), which form in about one day and then break and leak
Crusts and scabs, which cover the broken blisters and take several more days to heal
How do you diagnose chickenpox?
History
Examination
Can do blood tests and a culture of lesion samples
What is the treatment for chickenpox?
No treatment necessary
Antihistamines for the itching
What is the prevention for chicken pox in a pregnant woman <20 weeks and >20 weeks?
<20 weeks
Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) within 10 days
>20 weeks
Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) or acyclovir between 7-14 days
What are the complications of chicken pox?
Pneumonia
Encephalitis (cerebellar involvement may be seen)
Disseminated haemorrhagic chickenpox
Arthritis, nephritis and pancreatitis may very rarely be seen
What is Rubella?
Rubella is a contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash.
It’s also called German measles or three-day measles.
What are the symptoms of rubella?
- Prodrome, e.g. low-grade fever
- Rash: maculopapular, initially on the face before spreading to the whole body, usually fades by the 3-5 day
- Lymphadenopathy: suboccipital and postauricular
What are the complications of rubella?
- Arthritis
- Encephalitis
- Myocarditis
How is rubella spread?
Droplet
How do you diganose rubella?
-
Saliva Sample
- Serologically
- Rubella specific IgM
What is the treatment for rubella?
Viral so nothing
Bed rest
Fluids
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose
What is the cause of diphtheria?
How is it spread?
- Corynebacterium diphtheriae
- The condition is typically spread through person-to-person contact or through contact with objects that have the bacteria on them, such as a cup or used tissue.
- You may also get diphtheria if you’re around an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or blow their nose.
What are the symptoms of diphtheria?
- A thick, gray membrane covering your throat and tonsils
- A sore throat and hoarseness
- Swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in your neck
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- Nasal discharge
- Fever and chills
- Malaise
What are the complications of diphtheria?
Breathing problems
Heart damage
Nerve damage
How is diphtheria diagnosed?
- Culture of throat swab
- Uses tellurite agar or Loeffler’s media
What is the treatment of diphtheria?
Antibiotics
Penicillin OR erythromycin
Antitoxin
What is scalded skin syndrome?
Staph scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is an illness characterised by red blistering skin that looks like a burn or scald, hence its name staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.
What causes scalded skin syndrome?
Staphylococcus aureus
Two exotoxins (epidermolytic toxins A and B) from toxigenic strains of the bacteria
Desmosomes are the part of the skin cell responsible for adhering to the adjacent skin cell.
The toxins bind to a molecule within the desmosome called Desmoglein 1 and break it up so the skin cells become unstuck.
What are the symptoms of scalded skin syndrome?
SSSS usually starts with fever, irritability and widespread redness of the skin.
Within 24-48 hours fluid-filled blisters form.
These rupture easily, leaving an area that looks like a burn
Rash characteristics include:
Tissue paper-like wrinkling of the skin is followed by the appearance of large fluid-filled blisters (bullae) in the armpits, groin and body orifices such as the nose and ears.
Rash spreads to other parts of the body including the arms, legs and trunk. In newborns, lesions are often found in the diaper area or around the umbilical cord.
Top layer of skin begins peeling off in sheets, leaving exposed a moist, red and tender area. Nikolsky sign is positive (ie gentle strokes result in exfoliation)
How do you diagnose scalded skin syndrome?
- Tzanck smear (skin scraping)
- Skin biopsy, which shows intraepidermal cleavage at the granular layer
- Bacterial culture from skin, blood, urine or umblical cord sample (in a newborn baby)
What is the treatment for scalded skin syndrome?
Hospitalisation
IV Flucloxacillin
Nafcillin, oxacillin, cephalosporin and clindamycin.
Vancomycin is used in infections suspected with methicillin resistance (MRSA)
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is an infection caused by a germ (bacterium) called Bordetella pertussis.
Whooping cough is also known as ‘pertussis’
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
Early stage (catarrhal stage)
Sore throat, runny nose, mild cough
Main coughing stage (paroxymal phase)
Cough becoems paroxysmal, bouts of intense coughing
Whooping noise is on the inspiration (not always present)
Easing stage (convalescent phase)
The bouts of coughing then ease gradually over a period which can last up to three months or more
When are you vaccinated against pertusis?
2 Months (8 weeks)
3 Months (12 weeks)
4 Months (16 weeks)
4 Months - 3 Years (4-in-1 preschool booster)
What is the diagnostic criteria for whooping cough?
Acute cough that has lasted for 14 days or more without another apparent cause + 1 or more of the following:
Paroxysmal cough.
Inspiratory whoop.
Post-tussive vomiting.
Undiagnosed apnoeic attacks in young infants.
How do you diagnose whooping cough?
-
A nasal swab culture and test
Make take days or weeks to come back -
A chest X-ray
Complication of pneumonia in whooping cough
How do you treat whooping cough?
-
Antibiotics (Marcolides) to kill the baceria
- Erythromycin
- Clarythromycin
- Azithromycin
What is polio?
Polio is a contagious viral illness that in its most severe form causes nerve injury leading to paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death.
What is the cause of polio?
Poliovirus can be transmitted through direct contact with someone infected with the virus or, less commonly, through contaminated food and water
When is the polio vaccine administered?
- 2 months old - 6 in 1
- 3 months old - 6 in 1
- 4 months old - 6 in 1
- 3 years and 4 months of age – as part of the 4-in-1 (DTaP/IPV) pre-school booster
- 14 years of age – as part of the 3-in-1 (Td/IPV) teenage booster
What are the symptoms of polio?
A small number of people will experience a flu-like illness 3 to 21 days after they’re infected.
Symptoms can include:
A high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
A sore throat
A headache
Abdominal (tummy) pain
Aching muscles
Feeling and being sick
How do you diagnose polio?
Medical history
Neck and back stiffness, abnormal relfexes, and difficulty swallowing and breathing
CSF
Test of polio virus
What is the treatment for polio?
No cure for polio
Supportive treatments