Paeds- Derm and Infectious Diseases Flashcards
what is chicken pox?
highly infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus VZV
what does reactivation of the dormant VZV lead to?
reactivation of the dormant virus in the posterior root ganglia after a bout of chickenpox leads to herpes zoster (shingles)
explain briefly the pathophysiology of chicken pox
- enters URT
- 4-6 days later- viraemia, 11-21 days- skin lesions
- infective from 4 days prior to rash until all leasions have scabbed
how does chicken pox present clinically?
- temperature 38-39
- headache, malaise, abdo pain
- crops of vesicles appear- itchy- on head, neck and trunk
- redness around lesion- bacterial superinfection
differential diagnosis of chicken pox
- shingles
- generalised herpes zoster/ simplex
- dermatitis herpetiformis
- impetigo
how is shingles differentiated from chicken pox?
- shingles is confined to one dermatome
- occurs upon reactivation of virus in dorsal root ganglion
how is chicken pox diagnosed?
- clinical
- fluorescent antibody tests- IgG/ IgM
complications of chicken pox
- secondary bacterial infection of lesions
- pneumonia
- encephalitis
- arthritis, nephritis, pancreatitis
- disseminated haemorrhage chickenpox
how is chicken pox managed and treated?
management:
- keep cool
- trim nails (less harm fro scratching)
- antihistamines and emollients
- off school for 5 days
treatment:
- Antivarecella-Zoster immunoglobulin and Acyclovir if severe
- if bacterial superinfection- flucloxacillin
what are Exanthems?
Exanthems are eruptive skin rashes associated with a fever or other constitutional symptoms, associated with infectious diseases
which childhood exanthems are notifiable diseases?
- measles
- scarlet fever
- rubella
what are the:
- first disease
- second disease
- third disease
- fifth disease
in childhood exanthems?
1st= measles
2nd= Scarlet fever
3rd= Rubella
5th- slapped cheek syndrome (erythrovirus)
explain the transmission of measles
- acute viral infection
- single stranded RNA morbillivirus
- airborne via respiratory drops/ saliva
- incubation of 7-12 days
- infectivity lasts from prodrome until 4 days after rash disappears
how does measles present clinically?
- rash for at least 3 days
- fever (>40) presenting with at least one of:
a non productive cough, corzya, conjunctivitis
describe the prodrome of measles
4C’S
Cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, cranky
Koplik’s spots on palate- small red spots with a white speck
describe the rash seen in measles
- morbilliform
- first on forehead, neck and behind ears
- spreads to trunk and limbs in 3-4 days
- fades after 3-4 days
- leaves behind a brownish discolouration and fine desquamation
what 2 features may present alongside the rash in measles?
swelling of eyes
photophobia
differential diagnosis of measles
rubella
parovirus B19
enterovirus
scarlet fever
how is measles diagnosed?
Lab
- IgM & IgG +ve
- salivary swab/ serum sample for measles-specific immunoglobulin taken within 6 weeks on onset
- RNA detection in swabs
how is uncomplicated measles treated and managed?
Notifiable disease !
parent must isolate
self limiting- tx is symptomatic- paracetamol, ibuprofen + fluids
what are some potential complications of measles?
- ottitis media
- croup/ tracheitis
- pneumonia (most common cause of death in measles)
- encephalitis (older)
- subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
aetiology of scarlet fever
endotoxin mediated disease arising from a bacterial infection from a toxin-producing strain of strep pyogenes (group A haemolytic strep)
epidemiology of scarlet fever
2-10 years old commonly
how does scarlet fever present clinically?
- 2-4 days incubation
- onset- sudden sore throat and fever, rash follows 12-24 hours later
- scarlatiniform rash
- strawberry tongue
- circumoral pallor
describe the scarlatiniform rash seen in scarlet fever
appears first on chest, axilla and behind ears
affects trunk and legs later
red ‘pin prick’ blanching rash- sandpaper texture
describe the ‘strawberry tongue’ seen in scarlet fever
prominent red papillae seen through a ‘white fur’
describe the prodrome of scarlet fever
- sore throat + tonsilitis
- fever
- headache
- vomiting and abdo pain
- myalgia
give 4 complications of scarlet fever
- syndenhams chorea
- otitis media
- rheumatic fever
- glomerulonephritis
how is scarlet fever diagnosed?
clinically
throat swab and culture
antigen detection kits
strep antibody tests
how is scarlet fever treated?
Pencillin/ azithromycin for 10 days
rest + fluids
ibuprofen and paracetamol
NOTIFIABLE DISEASE !
what virus causes rubella?
RNA virus- rubivirus togaviridae
how is rubella transmitted and what is its incubation period and infectivity window?
- airborne droplets
- incubation of 14-21 days
- infectious for 5 days before and 5 day after rash
Lifelong immunity !
when is rubella a major complication?
maternal infection in early pregnancy
describe the prodrome of rubella
lethargy
low grade fever
headache
mild conjunctivitis
anorexia
describe the rash present in rubella
initially pink, discrete macular rash that coalesce starting behind the ears and face
spreads to entire body
in which lymph nodes is lymphadenopathy present in rubella?
suboccipital
differentials for rubella
contact dermatitis erythema multiforme drug allergy measles scarlet fever Kawasaki
how is rubella diagnosed?
- PCR
- FBC- low WBC with raised lymphocytes and thrombocytopenia
can rubella be treated?
No ! managed with antipyretics + vaccines
what are the complications of maternal rubella infection during early pregnancy?
weeks 1-4- eye anomaly
4-8- cardiac abnormalities
8-12- deafness
what is slapped cheek syndrome and how is it spread?
- paravovirus B19
- transmission via respiratory secretions
- incubation- 4-20 days before rash develops
- droplet spread
describe the prodrome of slapped cheek syndrome
- starts around 1 week after symptom onset
- mild
- headache, rhinitis, sore throat, low-grade fever, malaise
- nausea, diarrhoea, abdo pain, arthralgia
describe the presentation of slapped cheek syndrome after the initial prodrome
- symptom free for 7-10 days
- classic ‘slapped cheek’ rash then appears- malar erythema that SPARES the nose, perioral and periorbital regions
- 1-4 days after facial rash- a new erythematous macular rash develops on limbs (non itchy)
describe the arthralgia seen in slapped cheek syndrome
- symmetrical- hands, wrists, knees and ankles
- usually resolves in a few days
what is a serious complication of slapped cheek syndrome?
aplastic crisis
how is slapped cheek syndrome diagnosed?
- B19 specific IgM
- B19 specific IgG
- PCR
if B19 specific IgM is present, what result is implied?
current/ recent infection with parvovirus B19 (slapped cheek)
if B19 specific IgG is present, what result is implied?
immunity/ past infection
what is impetigo and at what ages does it peak?
contagious superficial infection by staph aureus +/- strep pyogenes
2-5 years
how does impetigo present clinically?
well defined lesions that start around nose and face with honey/ golden coloured crusts on erythematous base
how is impetigo treated?
topical fusidic acid or oral flucloxacillin if severe
explain the science behind meningitis
micro-organisms reach the meninges either by direct extension from the ears, nasopharynx, cranial injury or congenital meningeal defect, or by bloodstream spread
bacterial causes of meningitis
Neiserria meningitides
streptococcus pneumoniae
haemophilus influenza
staph group B
listeria monocytogenes
e.coli
viral causes of meningitis
enterovirus mumps herpes simplex HIV EBC