Pediulosis and the treponema (2) Flashcards
What are the three types of pediculosis?
- head
- body
- pubic
Who gets each of the three types of pediculosis?
- head - schoolkids - itchy behind ears
- homeless - itchy at night
- promiscuous people - itchy groin
How would you diagnose a case of pediculosis?
by eye, magnifying glass, microscope
-head and pubic nits are on hair, body is on clothes
What is the visual difference between the three types of pediculosis?
head and body = elongated
pubic = wide (crabs)
What is the treatment protocol for pediulosis?
TWO rounds of insecticide AND nit combing AND hot laundering
-check close contacts and inform them
-for pubic perform an STD panel
Why is treponema difficult to diagnose and treat?
can’t culture, can’t gram stain
How would you visualize treponema by microscopy?
darkfield - NO gram stain
-too small to see
What is the pathogenesis of treponema (syphillis)?
invades lymphatics and bloodstream right away
- virulence is based on immune evasion
- so there is low inflammation
- humans raise worthless antibodies
Compare and contrast the methods by which T. Pallidum, yaws, pinta are spread?
T. Pallidum - sexual contact, congenitally
yaws and pinta - direct contact
What are the four stages of syphillis?
- primary chancre
- secondary: body wide rashes, condylomata lata, patchy alopecia
- latent period
- tertiary: gummas, neurosyphillis, cardiac involvement
What are some complications of neurosyphillis?
- meningitis
- tabes dorsalis
- general paresis
- check for argyll robertson pupil
Is it a common occurence for a baby to die of congenital syphilis?
yes! 50% of newborns infected are killed
What are some complications of congenital syphillis?
- bone deformities
- interstitial keratitis
- progression to secondary and tertiary syphillis
What complicates the diagnosis of syphillis?
symptoms come and go
-need an accurate timeline of varied symptoms to diagnose
What are reagin (non-specific) antibody tests like VLDR, RPR used for?
disease in progress
efficacy of treatment
