Week 5 Flashcards
Describe the structure of viruses
- 20 nm - 1 microm in size
- RNA or DNA
- No independent metabolism and no organelles
- Simple protein coat (& cell membrane from host cell)
- Has a H spike and N spike
- Has an envelope and capsid
What are koplik spots?
Little white spots on buccal mucosa - seen in early measles
What are the symptoms of Herpes Simplex Virus?
peri-oral (HSV-1) and genital (HSV-2) infections. Can also cause HSV encephalitis. May become latent in dorsal root ganglia –> recurrence
What is it called when HSV recurs in facial nerve?
Bell’s palsy
What are the symptoms of Varicella Zoster Virus?
fever and vesicles in a centripetal distribution. Can also cause VZV meningitis. Becomes latent in dorsal root ganglia –> recurrence
What is it called when VZV recurs in facial nerve?
Ramsey-Hunt syndrome (Herpes zoster oticus)
What are the clinical features of Epstein-Barr Virus?
Central: fatigue, malaise, loss of appetite, headache
Visual: Photophobia
Tonsils: Reddening, swelling, white patches
Lymph nodes: Swelling
Spleen: Enlargement, abdo pain
Gastric: Nausea
Systemic: Chills, fever, aches
Resp: Cough
Throat: Soreness, reddening
What is the treatment for Chronic HBV or HCV infection?
PEG-IFN-α for 48 weeks +/- other drugs
What does a change in neutrophils suggest?
bacterial infection
What happens to Hb in chronic infections?
Decreases
What does a change in lymphocytes suggest?
Viral infection
What happens to platelets in malaria and some viral infections?
Decreases
What happens to platelets in bacterial infections and some inflammatory disorders?
Increases
Give some examples of primary immunodeficiency
(intrinsic cause = usually genetic)
• Phagocyte deficiencies (innate cell-mediated immunity)
• Complement deficiencies (innate humoral immunity)
• Severe combined immuno-deficiencies (adaptive cell-mediated immunity)
• Predominantly antibody deficiencies (adaptive humoral immunity)
Give some examples of secondary immunodeficiency
(extrinsic cause = non-iatrogenic)
• Hyposplenism / Asplenism (eg. Have spleen removed)
• Haematological malignancies (cancer of blood cells)
• HIV / AIDS