Parasitic: scabies, lice infection Flashcards
What is this?
Scabies
Can see line with a dot at the end - seen commonly in scabies
Causative organism in scabies?
Ectoparasite mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis)
RF for scabies?
Crowded conditions
Poor hygiene
Poverty
Malnutrition
Homelessness
Immunodeficiency.
How is scabies transmitted?
Transmission through close bodily contact. Spread amongst sexual partners is common
Clinical presentation of scabies?
Generalised itchy rash.
Symmetrical
Worse at night time
What parts of body does scabies affect?
Mainly affect hands (fingers and finger webs), wrists, axillae, thighs, buttocks, waist, genitals, nipples
Dermatological features characteristic of scabies rash?
- Erythematous papules
- Excoriations
- Linear scratch marks
- Dermatitis
- Nodules which may be skin coloured, red-brown, or violaceous
- Crusting (hyperkeratosis as seen in crusted scabies)
- Vesicles which may also be secondary to a superimposed bacterial infection.
Name the two common pathognomonic features of scabies that can help in Dx ?
Burrows
Nodules
Investigations for scabies?
Skin scrape, extraction of mite, view under microscope to confirm Dx
What is this? Itchy rash on wrist, started on fingers, worse at night.
Scabies !
Complications of scabies?
Secondary eczema
Impetigo
Management of scabies?
Scabicide e.g. permethrin (Lyclear) or malathion (Prioderm)
Antihistamines
Dr Tom: Permithin cream for whole household - apply layer to whole body and leave on for 8-12hrs, wash off. Then repeat a week later.
If hard to treat/have crusted scabies = oral ivermectin (1 dose) can be used
What is this?
Head lice
How do head lice spread?
Direct head - to - head contact
How is head lice diagnosed?
fine-toothed combing of wet or dry hair
