Minor & Major Illness Flashcards
Give 3 reasons why women in the 15-64 age group appear to consult GPs nearly twice as often as men?
- Screening - more women recalled for screening programs e.g. cervical smears, mammograms
- Pregnancy – women attending for antenatal care
- Fewer women working than men
What are the ‘top ten’ presenting conditions in children?
- Acute URT infections
- Chest symptoms e.g. cough/wheeze/asthma
- Infectious diseases
- Rashes
- GI symptoms e.g. vomiting & diarrhoea
- Generally unwell
- Ear problems
- Conjunctivitis
- Urinary symptoms
- Injuries
What are the ‘top ten’ presenting conditions in adults?
- Chest symptoms e.g. cough/wheeze/asthma
- Abdo pain
- Neck & back problems
- Joint pains (hips & knees)
- Rashes
- Genitourinary symptoms / menstrual disorders
- Depression, anxiety & stress
- Circulatory disorders incl heart disease and stroke
- Soft tissue swellings/lumps
- Headache
What condition is this? What are the features that lead you to this conclusion?
Chicken pox
- Distribution of lesions → central rather than peripheral
- Different ages of spots → small papules, progressing to vesicles and eventually scabbing
What condition is this? What are the features that lead you to this conclusion?
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
- Distribution of lesions → unilateral and dermatomal
What is the most common complication of shingles? What is a potent risk factor for this complication?
Long-term nerve pain called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Age is a potent risk factor
What type of shingles is an emergency?
Ophthalmic shingles → can lead to sight loss
What % of cases does ophthalmic shingles make up?
10-25% of all shingles cases
Who is most at risk of ophthalmic shingles?
Immunocompromised and elderly
What % of people who have had chicken pox will go on to develop shingles?
20%
Where does the herpes zoster virus reside?
dorsal root ganglion
What class of medication can reduce the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia?
Antivirals → these should be given routinely to the over 50s as they are most at risk.
Guidelines for prescribing antivirals in shingles?
- Over 50s
- >50s but ophthalmic, non-truncal involvement, severe pain, moderate to severe rash, immunocompromised
Who is the shingles vaccine offered routinely to?
70-79 year olds
What condition is this? What are the features that lead you to this conclusion?
Molluscum contagiosum
- Typical appearance - raised, pearly papules with central dimples
Management & lifestyle advice for molluscum contagiosum?
- Does not usually require treatment in immunocompetent people → self-limiting condition
- Spontaneous resolution usually occurs within 18 months.
- Explain that lesions are contagious and it is sensible to avoid sharing towels, clothing, and baths with uninfected people, such as siblings.
- Exclusion from school, gym, or swimming is not necessary
Why should lesions in molluscum contagiosum not be squeezed?
to avoid spread of the infectious material as well as reducing the risk of super-infections
If itching in molluscum is problematic, what can be prescribed?
prescribe an emollient and a mild topical corticosteroid (such as hydrocortisone 1%).
If the skin looks infected in molluscum, what can be prescribed?
topical antibiotic (such as fusidic acid 2%)
What condition is this? What are the features that lead you to this conclusion?
Eczema
- Site - flexor surfaces
- Borders - blends into surrounding skin rather than discrete lesions
Why do some rashes not blanch under pressure?
A non-blanching rash is result of bleeding into skin
A blanching rash is due to hyperaemia of skin (engorgement of vessels with oxygenated blood)
In the pre-hospital management of meningococcal septicaemia, what drug should be given at the earliest opportunity (provided that it does not delay urgent transfer to hospital)?
Single dose of parenteral (IM or IV) benzylpenicillin
(If given IM, give as proximally as possibly)
In the pre-hospital management of meningococcal septicaemia, who should benzylpenicillin not be given in?
Withhold benzylpenicillin only in those with a clear history of anaphylaxis after a previous dose; a history of a rash following penicillin is NOT a contraindication
What condition is this? What pathogen is it caused by?
Herpes Labialis - caused by Herpes Simplex virus (usually HSV1)
In the context of herpes labialis, are antivirals routinely prescribed? What should be offered?
No, not routinely prescribed (use clinical judgement).
Consider prescribing in immunocompromised.
Offer paracetamol and/or ibuprofen to treat symptoms of pain and fever, if needed, and there are no contraindications.
What is the diagnosis? Defining features? What are the 2 most common causative organisms?
Impetigo - ‘honey crusted’ lesions
- Staph aureus
- Strep pyogenes
Why is impetigo more common in children?
Common in children, as they don’t (often) wash their hands, and they also scratch and pick
What is the pharmacological treatment for non-bullous impetigo?
1st choice → Hydrogen peroxide 1% cream
OR topical antibiotic (e.g. fusidic acid) if necessary
What class of drug is hydrogen peroxide?
Topical antiseptic
Benefit of using hydrogen peroxide over fusidic acid in the topical treatment of impetigo?
Antibiotic resistance
If impetigo is more widespread and patient appears systemically unwell, what oral antibiotic should be prescribed?
Flucloxacillin (or clarithromycin if penicillin allergic)
How long should children avoid school for with a case of impetigo?
Children and adults should stay away from school and other childcare facilities or work until lesions are healed, dry and crusted over or 48 hours after initiation of antibiotics.
What is the diagnosis? What are the features that lead you to this diagnosis? What is the treatment?
Acne vulgaris
- Age of patient
- Site of lesions
- Different lesions - papules, pustules and comedones
- Treatment depends on severity & cause (look at derm)
A common treatment for acne vulgaris is epiduo. What are the 2 ingredients found in this?
- Topical retinoid → adapalene
- Topical benzoyl peroxide
What is the diagnosis? What is the aetiology? What is the treatment? What is NOT the treatment?
Furuncle - this is an infected/blocked sebum gland that occurs in hairy areas
What are these? What is the treatment?
And why is one bigger than the other?
Head lice - the bigger one is female
Pharmacological treatment for headlice?
Insecticide e.g. dimeticone 4% gels
This is an extremely itchy condition.
What is this condition? What are the arrows pointing to? What is the treatment?
Scabies → VERY ITCHY
- •The arrows are pointing to the tracks made where the Scabies mite lays its eggs
- Treatment: insecticide, malathion liquid or permethrin cream
What is thread worm?
Who are they common in?
Threadworms are tiny worms found in faeces or around the anus.
They’re common in children and spread easily → common in children, who scratch their itchy anuses and then don’t wash their hands before eating…..
Symptoms of threadworms?
Produces itching only; no other ill effects.