Viral skin infections

Question 1

Which virus causes both shingles and chickenpox?

Answer 1

Varicella Zoster

Question 2

What is shingles?

Answer 2

A reactivation of chickenpox in a dermatome

Question 3

What does chickenpox look like?

Answer 3

Macules to papules to vesicles to scabs.

General inflammation with fever and itch.

Question 4

What are the complications of chickenpox?

Answer 4

Secondary bacterial infection
Pneumonitis
Scarring

Question 5

When is chickenpox dangerous?

Answer 5

In extremes of age and in thoses with depressed immunity

Question 6

What is neonatal varicella zoster virus?

Answer 6

Secondary to the mother having chickenpox in late pregnancy.
High mortality.
Child born with chickenpox

Question 7

When can shingles be dangerous?

Answer 7

If it affects the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve.
Urgent referral required.

Question 8

What is Ramsay-Hunt syndrome?

Answer 8

Vesicles and pain in auditory canal and throat.
CNVII (facial) palsy
Irritation of CNVIII causing deafness, vertigo and tinnitus

Question 9

Is chickenpox vaccinated against?

Answer 9

Not routinely. Children are encouraged to “catch” chickenpox in primary school ages.
Live attenunated vaccine used for susceptible health care workers

Question 10

How does the herpes simplex virus present?

Answer 10

Coldsores.
Primary gingivostomatitis.
Lasts around 1 week

Question 11

What are the two types of herpes simplex virus?

Answer 11

HSV1 is the main cause of coldsores and also causes half of genital warts.
HSV2 is rare and can cause encephalitis, espec in neonates

Question 12

What is the treatment for VZV and HSV?

Answer 12

Aciclovir is an anti-viral an an analogue of guanosine.

Question 13

What colour of bottle is a viral swab put in?

Answer 13

Red topped

Question 14

When is a yellow topped vacutainer used?

Answer 14

For antibody testing when a swab is unavailable

Question 15

What is erythema multiformae?

Answer 15

Described as target lesions with erythema.

HSV and mycoplasma pneuomoniae both trigger.

Question 16

What is molloscum contagiosum?

Answer 16

Fleshy, firm and umbilicated pearlescent nodules.

Common in children and can also be sexually transmitted.

Question 17

How are molluscum contagiosum treated?

Answer 17

Normally disappear in a few months but can be frozen with liquid nitrogen

Question 18

What causes warts?

Answer 18

A strain of Human Papilloma virus

Question 19

What are verrucas?

Answer 19

Same as warts but always on the foot.

Question 20

How are warts/verrucas treated?

Answer 20

Topical salicylic acid

Question 21

Which strains of HPV cause cervical cancer?

Answer 21

16 and 18

Question 22

Which strains are most commonly associated with warts and verrucas?

Answer 22

Types 1-4

Question 23

What is herpangina?

Answer 23

Blistering rash at the back of the mouth cause by enterovirus e.g. coxsackie virus

Question 24

What is needed to diagnose herpangina?

Answer 24

Antibody testing for parvovirus B19 IgM and a stool sample for PCR testing

Question 25

What is erythema infectiosum also known as?

Answer 25

Slapped cheek disease.

It is caused by parvovirus B19.

Question 26

What are some complications of erythema infectiosum?

Answer 26

Spontaneous abortion
Sudden drop in haemoglobin
Chronic anaemia

Question 27

What is orf?

Answer 27

Sheep bearing virus which is usually self limiting.

Appears as a firm fleshy nodule on farmers hands

Question 28

If syphilis is sexually transmitted which bacterium is responsible?

Answer 28

Treponema pallidum

Question 29

`How is syphilis diagnosed?

Answer 29

Blood tests

Question 30

How is syphilis treated?

Answer 30

Penicillin injections

Question 31

Which bacteria causes lyme disease?

Answer 31

Borrelia burgdorferi

Question 32

How is lyme disease treated?

Answer 32

Doxycycline or amoxicillin

Question 33

What is the considered Lyme-index value?