Skin infections and infestations Flashcards
How is HSV spread?
direct contact
How can latent HSV be reactivated?
sunlight, menstruation, stress, fever, trauma
Clue to HSV diagnosis
come back to same place again and again
Can you have shingles without first having chicken pox?
no
What is herpes zoster virus?
chicken pox/shingles
Why can shingles be difficult to diagnose?
first present as pain and fever
rash comes 4 days later
How is HZV arranged?
dermatological regions - not cross midline
Long lasting potential effects of shingles
neuralgia and scarring
Important thing to remember with herpes ophthalmicus
refer to ophthalmology
Treatment of HSV and HZV?
acyclovir
2 main causative agents of bacterial skin infection?
staph aureus
streptococcus
Impetigo - how does it look?
crusty, golden, sore, honeycomb
HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS
Clue to impetigo in sweatier region
gold colour
What is a furuncle?
boil
Important thing to remember with furuncle (possible related disease)
diabetes - glycosuria
Treatment of furuncle
drain pus
antibiotics
What is ecthyma?
crusted sores beneath which an ulcer lies
How does ecthyma look?
crust in middle and ring of erythema
Cellulitis presentation
red, hot, swollen, painful leg
may be ulcerated/necrosis
lower limb
if extensive can have fever and rigors
What should we check between the toes for in cellulitis?
athletes foot
Where is candida albicans mostly found?
moist areas eg breast
hands eg hairdresser
Appearance of candida albicans
brick red erythema with satellite yellow pustules
Tinea pedis
athletes foot
common, 4th and 5th toes, white macerated skin
Tinea corporis other name
ringworm
