Dermatology Pt2

Question 1

Cause of boils & treatment:

Answer 1

Hair follicle becomes infected to produce a pus-filled lump on the skin. Drainage of pus and antibiotics.

Question 2

What are carbuncles?

Answer 2

Multiple boils occurring when hair follicles next to each other become infected

Question 3

What is chronic furunculosis?

Answer 3

This is a condition where groups of boils occur over a period of time, either episodically or continuously

Question 4

What is folliculitis & treatment?

Answer 4

Inflammation of hair follicles in the skin whereby very small pustules develop at the base of the hair. Antibiotics if not resolved by itself.

Question 5

3 types of folliculitis:

Answer 5

1. Hot-tub folliculitis - hot water is a thriving medium for Pseudomonas species
2. Sycosis barbae - bearded area of a mans face causing burn & itching sensation when shaving
3. Gram-negative folliculitis - associated with long-term antibiotic treatment for acne

Question 6

Which bacterium is involved for boils (carbuncles) & folliculitis?

Answer 6

Staphylococcus aureus

Question 7

Which oral antibiotics are commonly used to treat boils & folliculitis?

Answer 7

Flucloxacillin & clarithromycin

Question 8

Herpes simplex virus cause & what it causes:

Answer 8

Often when the individual is unwell or stressed. Causes sore, blistering lesions on the mucous membranes.

Question 9

How is the herpes virus transmitted?

Answer 9

Through bodily fluid exchange (primarily through kissing or sex) even if the individual does not have any active lesions at the time (asymptomatic viral shedding)

Question 10

What antiviral medication can be used a treatment option for an outbreak?

Answer 10

Aciclovir

Oral herpes - topical
Genital herpes - oral

Question 11

What does varicella-zoster virus (VZV) cause?

Answer 11

Chickenpox in childhood. May lie dormant in sensory nerve root an recur as shingles later in life. Itch intensely as the papules, rash, and macules start to heal.

Question 12

Symptoms of shingles (2):

Answer 12

Periods of flu-like illness

Followed by painful, blistering rash which follows the course of the cutaneous nerve across the skin.

Question 13

The rash may be present for up to two weeks, but the pain may last longer than this.

Question 14

Treatment, ideally early-on, for shingles:

Answer 14

Aciclovir

Question 15

Cause of warts & verrucae:

Answer 15

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Question 16

Treatment for warts & verrucae: (3)

Answer 16

1. Left untreated
2. Frozen with liquid nitrogen
3. Painted with salicylic acid and filed down

Question 17

Cause of orf:

Answer 17

Parapox virus - this infects lambs and goats

Question 18

Who are most susceptible to orf?

Answer 18

Farmers, vets, and children who bottle-feed lambs if subjected to animals grazing on pasture

Question 19

Symptoms of orf & location:

Answer 19

Small, firm, red or reddish-blue lesions develop, and will eventually form a blister tinged with blood on the fingers, hands, forearms, or face.

Question 20

No treatment for orf. Will regress within 3-6 weeks.

Question 21

Treatments for fungal infections of the skin: 2 parts

Answer 21

1. Firstly, OTC topical antifungal medications
2. Followed by prescription topical / oral drugs for more severe cases

Question 22

5 diseases caused by fungal infections:

Answer 22

1. Athlete’s foot
2. Ringworm
3. Ringworm of the groin
4. Nail infections
5. Thrush

Question 23

Symptoms of athlete’s foot:

Answer 23

Caused by Trichophyton rubrum - grows best in warm & moist environments leading to peeling, redness, itching, burning, and sometimes blisters & sores.

Question 24

What does ringworm look like?

Answer 24

Circular, red, flat sore often accompanied by scaly skin. Outer part can be raised whilst the middle appears normal.

Question 25

Who are usually affected by ringworm of the groin and potential cause?

Answer 25

Young males who play sports commonly, cross-contamination from athlete's foot

Question 26

Nail infections take a long time to develop, what do they look like?

Answer 26

Discoloured, crumbly, surrounding tissue may thicken. Hard to even cure after sustained antifungal use.

Question 27

C. albicans is a common fungus that is often present in the mouth, stomach and skin (and vagina in females) usually causing no problems. But, what causes thrush symptoms?

Answer 27

If the person is unwell, pregnant, has diabetes, or is taking antibiotics causing the fungi to multiply

Question 28

What does thrush look like?

Answer 28

Small white patches which leave a red mark when rubbed off. In women, vaginal thrush can cause itchiness and a white discharge that ranges from slightly watery to thick and white.

Question 29

Treatment for athlete's foot & ringworm (& groin) & thrush

Answer 29

Clotrimazole or miconazole (topical)