Lecture 3: General Appearance and Skin Flashcards
What do you look for in general appearance?
Alterness
Orientation: person/place/time/situation
Apparent state of health
- healthy, sick/ill, toxic
- pain, anxiety, depression
Apparent age
Race/ethnic background
Signs of Disease
Odor
Affect/Mood
What is an unsteady gait?
Lack of coordination Abnormal posture during ambulation Gait influenced by pain Muscle abnormalities Nervous System
What can cause unsteady gait?
Inflammatory Joint Disease Joint and Bone Infection Muscle Disease Tendon Disease Due to Trauma Congenital Diseases Footwear
Describe a Parkinsonian gait
Body faces forward
Wide base
Shuffling steps
Tend to fall forward and increase speed (festination)
What do you assess when looking at skin?
Tattoo Scars Rashes Lesions Color
What are the ABCDE to Skin Lesion
A: Asymmetry B: Border C: Color D: Diameter E: Evolution
What is hirsutism?
Excessive Hairiness especially in women
What is virilization?
Secondary male sexual characteristics in females
What is alopecia?
Balding, loss of hair
What is the common area of skin cell carcinomas?
Face
-check neck too
What should you inspect in the eyes?
Sclera for jaundice
What should you inspect in the nose?
Examine nostrils for tumors or erosions
What should you inspect in the oral cavity?
Examine all surfaces of the mucosa
What should you inspect in the ears?
Lightly palpate ears for keratotic areas
What should you inspect in the arms?
Examine for psoriases and atopic dermatitis
-look at elbows and anticubital fossae
What should you inspect in fingernails?
Look for onycholysis, horizontal/vertical defects, and evidence of clubbing
What should you look in trunk?
Nodes
Area underneath breasts to check for infections
What are intertriginous areas?
When two different skin areas are touching
*Breast tissue touching stomach
What should you inspect in abdomen area?
- Examine body fold areas for candida infection or intertrigo
- Check inguinal area for lymphadenopathy and signs of fungal infection
What should you inspect in legs?
Check feet for pallor and decreased temp
Check pulses
Examine feet for diabetic symptoms (sensation/ulcers)
