Viruses & The Skin Flashcards
What are exanthems
present with rash & systemic symptoms
What erythematous exanthems tend to start on the face
• Measles
• Rubella
• Erythema infectiosum
What erythematous exanthems tend to start on the trunk
• Roseola
• Scarlet fever
• Unilateral laterothoracic exanthem
Name 2 Papulo-vesicular exanthems
• Chickenpox (syn. varicella)
• Gianotti-Crosti syndrome
What erythematous exanthems tend to effect the extremities
Hand, foot & mouth disease
What is an enanthem
Rash on the mucosal membrane
What is the incubation period of an infection
Incubation period is the time from being infected & showing symptoms
When is the infectious period of an infection
Depends on the infectious agent
What causes measles & how is it transmitted
Measles virus
Respiratory droplets
What is the incubation period of measles
8-12 days
Measles clinical features
- High fever (above 40 degrees)
- Cough
- Coryza
- Conjunctivitis
- Koplik spots
- Maculopapular rash, beginning on head before spreading
Describe koplik spots & the measles rash
Koplik spots - small grey discolourations of the mucosal membranes in the mouth, appearing 1-3 days after symptoms begin during the prodrome phase of infection
Measles rash - Maculopapular rash, beginning on head, spreading to trunk & extremities
Measles treatment
Preventative vaccination
Supportive treatment
Measles investigations
1st: measles-specific IgM and IgG serology (ELISA), most sensitive 3-14 days after onset of the rash
2nd: measles RNA detection by PCR, best for swabs taken 1-3 days after rash onset
Measles complications
Conditions caused by disruption of epithelial surfaces & immunosuppression e.g. otitis media, febrile seizures etc
