Paeds- Derm and Infectious Diseases Flashcards
(137 cards)
what is chicken pox?
highly infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus VZV
what does reactivation of the dormant VZV lead to?
reactivation of the dormant virus in the posterior root ganglia after a bout of chickenpox leads to herpes zoster (shingles)
explain briefly the pathophysiology of chicken pox
- enters URT
- 4-6 days later- viraemia, 11-21 days- skin lesions
- infective from 4 days prior to rash until all leasions have scabbed
how does chicken pox present clinically?
- temperature 38-39
- headache, malaise, abdo pain
- crops of vesicles appear- itchy- on head, neck and trunk
- redness around lesion- bacterial superinfection
differential diagnosis of chicken pox
- shingles
- generalised herpes zoster/ simplex
- dermatitis herpetiformis
- impetigo
how is shingles differentiated from chicken pox?
- shingles is confined to one dermatome
- occurs upon reactivation of virus in dorsal root ganglion
how is chicken pox diagnosed?
- clinical
- fluorescent antibody tests- IgG/ IgM
complications of chicken pox
- secondary bacterial infection of lesions
- pneumonia
- encephalitis
- arthritis, nephritis, pancreatitis
- disseminated haemorrhage chickenpox
how is chicken pox managed and treated?
management:
- keep cool
- trim nails (less harm fro scratching)
- antihistamines and emollients
- off school for 5 days
treatment:
- Antivarecella-Zoster immunoglobulin and Acyclovir if severe
- if bacterial superinfection- flucloxacillin
what are Exanthems?
Exanthems are eruptive skin rashes associated with a fever or other constitutional symptoms, associated with infectious diseases
which childhood exanthems are notifiable diseases?
- measles
- scarlet fever
- rubella
what are the:
- first disease
- second disease
- third disease
- fifth disease
in childhood exanthems?
1st= measles
2nd= Scarlet fever
3rd= Rubella
5th- slapped cheek syndrome (erythrovirus)
explain the transmission of measles
- acute viral infection
- single stranded RNA morbillivirus
- airborne via respiratory drops/ saliva
- incubation of 7-12 days
- infectivity lasts from prodrome until 4 days after rash disappears
how does measles present clinically?
- rash for at least 3 days
- fever (>40) presenting with at least one of:
a non productive cough, corzya, conjunctivitis
describe the prodrome of measles
4C’S
Cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, cranky
Koplik’s spots on palate- small red spots with a white speck
describe the rash seen in measles
- morbilliform
- first on forehead, neck and behind ears
- spreads to trunk and limbs in 3-4 days
- fades after 3-4 days
- leaves behind a brownish discolouration and fine desquamation
what 2 features may present alongside the rash in measles?
swelling of eyes
photophobia
differential diagnosis of measles
rubella
parovirus B19
enterovirus
scarlet fever
how is measles diagnosed?
Lab
- IgM & IgG +ve
- salivary swab/ serum sample for measles-specific immunoglobulin taken within 6 weeks on onset
- RNA detection in swabs
how is uncomplicated measles treated and managed?
Notifiable disease !
parent must isolate
self limiting- tx is symptomatic- paracetamol, ibuprofen + fluids
what are some potential complications of measles?
- ottitis media
- croup/ tracheitis
- pneumonia (most common cause of death in measles)
- encephalitis (older)
- subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
aetiology of scarlet fever
endotoxin mediated disease arising from a bacterial infection from a toxin-producing strain of strep pyogenes (group A haemolytic strep)
epidemiology of scarlet fever
2-10 years old commonly
how does scarlet fever present clinically?
- 2-4 days incubation
- onset- sudden sore throat and fever, rash follows 12-24 hours later
- scarlatiniform rash
- strawberry tongue
- circumoral pallor