Infestations Flashcards
Whats a threadworm and symptoms
White thread like worms in faeces
Extreme anus/vagina itching, worse at night
Wetting the bed, weight loss
Causes of threadworms
Eggs laid around the anus
Spread via faecal oral transmission- under nails from scratching bottom
Threadworms referral
Under 2yrs
Pregnant/breastfeeding
Recent travel abroad
Failed OTC treatment
Yellow/weeping discharge from the anus
A patient presents to you with threadworms but also has yellow weeping discharge from the anus
What could this be?
What would u do?
Secondary bacterial infection due to scratching/broken skin
Refer- its a red flag
Threadworms treatment
Mebendazole (ovex)
Mebendazole (ovex) age restriction
2 years and above
Mebendazole dose and counselling
Single dose
Repeat after 14 days if reinfection is suspected
Treat all house members at the same time
Mebendazole cautionary and advisory labels
Tablets can be chewed, crushed or swallow whole
Mebendazole medicine interaction
Cimetidine- avoid
Threadworms counselling
Keep fingernails short and wash hands regularly
Treat all household members at the same time
Hygiene- sheets, towels wash at normal temp
Wear underwear at night and change in the morning
Whats scabies
Scabies Burrow beneath the skin surface
(Small thread like grey lines in the webs of fingers/toes)
Scabies symptoms
Intense itching (pruritis) worse at night
Rash occurs anywhere but often starts between fingers
Once rash has spread it turns into tiny spots
Hows scabies passed
Skin contact
Not changing bed sheets, towels or clothes or sharing
Can you get scabies from pets
No
Scabies referral
Babies and children
Secondary infection of skin (yellow, weeping, crusting)
Treatment failure/itching present after 4 weeks
Unclear diagnosis - refer in doubt
Scabies treatment
Premethrin cream (Lyclear)
Malathion (Derbac-M)
Permethrin cream (Lyclear) age restriction
2yrs and above
Permethrin cream (Lyclear) dose
Leave cream on for 8-12 hours then wash it off
Repeat treatment after 7 days
Malathion (Derbac -M) age restrictions
6 months and above
Malathion (Derbac-M) dose
Apply treatment should be applied the whole body from the chin and ear downwards
Leave lotion on for 24hrs then wash off
Repeat treatment after 7 days
Scabies counselling
All household members should be treated at the same time
Wash bedsheets and clothes at temperature above 50 degrees. If cant be washed put into a sealed bag for 3 days until mites die
Itch will continue for 2-3 weeks after treatment (can use eurax cream)
Avoid close contact with other people
People with scabies may not show symptoms until upto ……. Weeks after infestation
8 weeks
Headlice red flags
Pregnant or breast feeding (except use of Hedrin)
Whats headlice
Small insects on human heads
