Paeds dermatology Flashcards
Management of eczema
Emollients thin → thick
Steroid ladder
Mild: Hydrocortisone 0.5%, 1% and 2.5%
Moderate: Eumovate (clobetasone butyrate 0.05%)
Potent: Betnovate (betamethasone 0.1%)
Very potent: Dermovate (clobetasol propionate 0.05%)
Flare:
thicker emollients, topical steroids, “wet wraps”
where does eczema affect based on age
in infants the face and trunk are often affected
in younger children, eczema often occurs on the extensor surfaces
in older children, a more typical distribution is seen, with flexor surfaces affected and the creases of the face and neck
side effects topical steroids
de-pigmentation in darker skin
thinning of skin
Stretch marks (striae) in armpits or groin
Easy bruising (senile/solar purpura) and tearing of the skin
Enlarged blood vessels (telangiectasia)
Localised increased hair thickness and length (hypertrichosis)
widespread, erythematous, raised, vesicular (fluid filled), blistering lesions. The rash usually starts on the trunk or face and spreads outwards affecting the whole body over 2 – 5 days. Eventually the lesions scab over, at which point they stop being contagious.
chicken pox
Infectivity of chicken pox
Chickenpox is highly contagious and spread through direct contact with the lesions or through infected droplets from a cough or sneeze. Patients become symptomatic 10 days to 3 weeks after exposure. The stop being contagious after all the lesions have crusted over.
Complications of chickenpox
Bacterial superinfection
Dehydration
Conjunctival lesions
Pneumonia
Encephalitis (presenting as ataxia)
shingles
Ramsey-Hunt
What increases the risk of bacterial superinfection of chicken pox
NSAID use
When is aciclovir given for chicken pox
Immunocompromised patients
adults and adolescents over 14 years presenting within 24 hours
neonates or those at risk of complications.
Management of itching chicken pox
calamine lotion and chlorphenamine (antihistamine).
how long should a child with chicken pox stay off school ?
Patients should be kept off school and avoid pregnant women and immunocompromised patients until all the lesions are dry and crusted over. This is usually around 5 days after the rash appears.
Difference between Stevens-Johnson sydnrome and toxic epidermal necrosis
SJS affects less that 10% of body surface area whereas TEN affects more than 10% of body surface area.
Medication causes of steven-Johnsons
Anti-epileptics
Antibiotics
Allopurinol
NSAIDs
Infectious causes steven-johnsons
Herpes simplex
Mycoplasma pneumonia
Cytomegalovirus
HIV
rash is typically maculopapular with target lesions being characteristic. May develop into vesicles or bullae
steven-johnsons
Management SJS/TEN
dmitted to a suitable dermatology or burns unit for treatment. Good supportive care is essential, including nutritional care, antiseptics, analgesia and ophthalmology input. Treatment options include steroids, immunoglobulins and immunosuppressant medications guided by a specialist.
Steroid ladder
Hydrocortisone
Emuovate
Betnovate
Dermovate
Bacterial infection of eczema? organism? management?
The most common organism is staphylococcus aureus. Treatment is with oral antibiotics, particularly flucloxacillin.
What is eczema herpeticum
viral skin infection in patients with eczema caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) or varicella zoster virus (VZV)
Patient with eczema, in contact with someone with a cold sore
eczema herpeticum cuased by HSV-1
a patient who suffers with eczema that has developed a widespread, painful, vesicular rash with systemic symptoms such as fever, lethargy, irritability and reduced oral intake. There will usually be lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes).
eczema herpeticum
Character of rash seen in eczema herpeticum
The rash is usually widespread and can affect any area of the body. It is erythematous, painful and sometimes itchy, with vesicles containing pus. The vesicles appear as lots of individual spots containing fluid. After they burst, they leave small punched-out ulcers with a red base.
Investigation eczema herpeticum
Viral swabs of the vesicles can be used to confirm the diagnosis, although treatment is usually started based on the clinical appearance.
Management eczema herpeticum
mild or moderate case may be treated with oral aciclovir, whereas more severe cases may require IV aciclovir.
thickened erythematous plaques with silver scales, commonly seen on the extensor surfaces and scalp. The plaques are 1cm – 10cm in diameter.
plaque psoriasis - most common form in adults
Many small raised papules across the trunk and limbs. The papules are mildly erythematous and can be slightly scaly.
guttate psoriasis
what form of psoriasis is common in children
guttate psoriasis
Pathophysiology and course of guttate psoriasis
Guttate psoriasis is often triggered by a streptococcal throat infection, stress or medications. It often resolves spontaneously within 3 – 4 months.
Auspitz sign
seen in psoriasis
small points of bleeding when plaques are scraped off
Koebner phenomenon
development of psoriatic lesions to areas of skin affected by trauma
management psoriasis
- potent corticosteroid applied once daily plus vitamin D analogue applied once daily
should be applied separately, one in the morning and the other in the evening)
for up to 4 weeks as initial treatment - If no improvement after 8 weeks then offer:
a vitamin D analogue twice daily - If no improvement after 8-12 weeks then offer either:
a potent corticosteroid applied twice daily for up to 4 weeks, or
a coal tar preparation applied once or twice daily
Topical vitamin D analogues (calcipotriol) can be used long term
Topical dithranol
Topical calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus) are usually only used in adults
Phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet B light is particularly useful in extensive guttate psoriasis
methotrexate
androgens and acne?
Androgenic hormones increase the production of sebum, which is why acne is exacerbated by puberty and improves with anti-androgenic hormonal contraception.
Macules
flat marks on the skin
Papules
small lumps on the skin
Pustules
small lumps containing yellow pus
Comedones
skin coloured papules representing blocked pilosebaceous units
Blackheads
open comedones with black pigmentation in the centre
Pathophysiology of acne
increased production of sebum
trapping of keratin (dead skin cells)
blockage of the pilosebaceous unit.
excessive growth of Propionibacterium acnes bacteria
COCP for acne
Co-cyprindiol (Dianette)
Management of acne
- Single topical treatment:
- topical benzoyl peroxide
- topical retinoid - Combined topical treatment
- above plus topical antibiotic such as clindamycin - oral antibiotic max 3 months alongside topical retinoid or topical benzoyl peroxide (not with topical abx)
- tetracyclines
- erythromycin in pregancy - COCP dianette (co-cyrindiol) for 3 months in women instead of oral abx
- oral isotretinoin: only under specialist supervision
side effects of isoretinoin
Dry skin and lips
Photosensitivity of the skin to sunlight
Depression, anxiety, aggression and suicidal ideation. Patients should be screened for mental health issues prior to starting treatment.
Rarely Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
Acne medications and pregnancy/breastfeeding/children
Pregnant - avoid retinoids, avoid tetracycline abx. use erythromycin instead
Childbearing age - contraception if using retinoids
Breastfeeding-
avoid tetracyclines
less than 12 -
avoid tetracyclines
The rash starts on the face, classically behind the ears, 3 – 5 days after the fever. It then spreads to the rest of the body. The rash is an erythematous, macular rash with flat lesions.
measles