L17 - Travel Related Infections Flashcards
Give some important questions to ask when suspecting a travel related infection
When we’re the onset of the symptoms?
How long were you away for?
Were you hospitalised/take any treatment for this?
Did you take any vaccinations before travelling?
Are any travel companions also I’ll?
What are some symptoms that can suggest a travel related illness?
Cough, diarrhoea, rash, jaundice, CNS symptoms/ splenomegaly/ eosinophilia as protozoan infections are commonly
Travel related
What does
A) an elevated ALP suggest?
B) an elevated ALT suggest?
A) an extrahepatic obstructive problem
B) a hepatic (liver) problem
Creatinine and urea are both measures of kidney function, what does an elevated bilirubin indicate?
Liver damage/disease OR elevated haemolysis if liver function is ok
What are the most common danger zones for malaria?
Mainly Africa (falciparum) Also South America and south east Asia (India - vivax)
Why is Aspergillus a likely fungal infection in the immunocompromised?
Because it is constantly in the area being breathed in, in the immunocompromised this can become pathogenic
What is a common disease of fresh water?
Schistosomiasis
What is schistamiosis?
parasitic flatworms, can be seeon in the foot etc. Can cause blood in the urine, diarrhoea etc. larvae may fall out the back
What plasmodium parasite is the most common cause of malaria transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito?
Plasmodium falciparum
Where is falciparum most common and where is vivax most common? Which is more severe?
falciparum (America)
vivax (south east asia - India mainly)
falciparum is more severe
How does the mosquito cause malaria?
Mosquito bites and inkects sporozoites into the bloodstream which invade RBC’s and cause them to haemolyse
Why is it important to get travel history of up to a year?
Incubation period can be 6 days to a year especially in vivax infections
Give three signs and symtpoms of malaria
Chills or sweating/splenomegaly/cough/fever/back pain/vomiting/diarrhoea/confusion/fits
What would the FBC look like of a patient with malaria? What is the difinitive test for malaria?
low RBC/elevated bilirubin/raised CRP/thrombocytopenia
Three negative blood films necessary to exclude malaria. Blood film will show protozoa in the RBC’s
What are the treatments for vivax and falciparum?
vivax - chloroquine
falciparum - artesunate
