Less Common Infections Flashcards
What is tetanus?
It is a condition caused by the exotoxin released from clostridium tetani. Spores are present in soil and may be introduced into the wound. It can be seen in IVDU
What is the presentation of tetanus?
It is caused by the exotoxin preventing release of GABA.
- Prodrome fever, lethargy and headache
- Trismus (locked jaw),
- Risus sardonicus (facial spams),
- Opisthotonus (arched back and hyper-extended neck)
- Spasms
What is the management of tetanus?
- Ventilatory support and muscle relaxants,
- IM human tetanus immunoglobulins for high risk wounds,
- Metronidazole is first line abx
What is Dysentery?
- Infection of the intestines which causes diarrhoea with blood and mucus.
What are the two types of dysentery?
- Bacillary dysentery or shigellosis (caused by shigella)
- Amoebic dysentery
Describe features of amoebiasis
It is caused by entamoeba histolytica. It presents with profuse, bloody diarrhoea. Stool microscopy can show trophozotes. Treatment is with metronidazole.
What are features of amoebic liver disease
It presents as a single mass which results in fever, RUQ pain, malaise and hepatomegaly. Diagnose with ultrasound and treat with metronidazole
Describe features of cholera
- Caused by vibro cholerae.
- Presents with profuse, rice water diarrhoea, dehydration, crampy abdominal pain and hypoglycaemia.
- Investigated via stool culture (gold standard)
- Management is with oral rehydration therapy.
- Can treat with doxycycline or co-trimoxazole
What is leprosy?
Granulomatous disease affecting the peripheral nerves caused by mycobacterium leprae.
What are the symptoms of leprosy?
- Low degree of cell mediated immunity: Extensive skin involvement and symmetrical nerve involvement.
- High cell mediated immunity: Limited skin disease, asymmetrical nerve involvement and hair loss
What are the examples of viral haemorrhagic fever?
Dengue, Ebola, lassa, marburg, yellow fever
What are the signs and symptoms of viral haemorrhagic fever?
- Fever, fatigue, Myalgia, arthralgia,
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea,
- Bleeding from eyes, ears, mouth and internally
- Delirium, coma, organ failure
Describe features of Rabies?
Viral disease which causes acute encephalitis. Majority are caused by dog bites bbut can also be transmitted by bat, raccoon and skunk bites
What are the symptoms of rabies?
- Prodrome: Headache, fever and agitation, abnormal behaviour, limb paralysis
- Hydrophotbia = water provoking spasms
- Hypersalivation
- Negri bodies (cytoplasmic inclusion bodies found in infected neurons
What is the initial management of a person with an animal bite in a high risk area?
- Wound requires washout
- 4 doses of rabies vaccine on days 1,3,7 and 21. If already immunised then just give extra 2 doses.
- If not previously immunised then administer human rabies immunoglobulin around the wound