skin infections and infestations Flashcards
To learn about skin infections and infestations
1
Q
What happens to the herpes simplex virus after someone has been exposed to it for the first time?
A
- It could result in a 1st clinical episode or no clinical event
- The first episode of herpes is the worst
- If you leave this alone it will resolve spontaneously (2-3 weeks) but you keep the virus in the neural tissue
- You will never get rid of it
- As it is there in the dorsal root ganglia it could reactivate and will travel down the dorsal root ganglia it will travel down the nerve and reinfect the area
2
Q
What is the normal rout of the herpes zoster virus?
A
- Primary exposure
- Chickenpox
- Latent infection
- Reactivation results in shingles
- Pain/ constitutional symptoms (worse than HSV reactivation)
- Lasts about 4 days
- Rash
- Latent infection
3
Q
Describe the HZV rash
A
- Lots of little vesicles grouped together
- It will be at one side, it can cross the midline but not mcuh
- Once it has crusted over you are no longer infected
- It can leaving significant scarring
- You can get post infective neuralgia
4
Q
List the bacterial infections of the skin
A
- Impetigo staphylococcus
- Impetigo streptococcus
- Furuncle staphylococcus (boil)
- Carbuncle staphylococcus
- Erysipelas streptococcus
- Cellulitis staphylococcus (strep also causes cellulitis)
5
Q
Explain scabies
A
- You have to catch scabies from a human
- If they have the infection then the bugs will be on their hand
- At around 6 weeks you become allergic to the mite faeces and this is when you really start to itch
- The itching is really bad at night
- There will be visible burrows (can be difficult to see)
- There will be a rash (generally on the torso) which is due to the allergic reaction
6
Q
Explain the treatment of scabbies
A
- Neurotoxin that fries the brains of the mites
- You have to put cream everywhere but the hair for 6-8 hours
- They have to be treated again a week later as the eggs could have hatched
- The itch will not go away immediatly
- If treated too much you can get eczema
- All contacts need to be treated and treated simultaneously
