Pediatric Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is eczema?
Superficial inflammatory process involving primarily the epidermis. An itchy inflammation of the skin.
What is inflammation
Redness, swelling, pain, and/or a feeling of heat in an area of the body. This is a protective reaction to injury, disease, or irritation of the tissues.
Why is inflammation important?
The inflammatory response is a defense mechanism. To protect you from infection and injury. Its purpose is to localize and eliminate the injurious agent and to remove damaged tissue components so that the body can begin to heal.
What is epidermis?
The outer layer of the two main layers of the skin. Provides a protective barrier against mechanical, thermal and physical injury and hazardous substances. Prevents loss of moisture. Reduces harmful effects of UV radiation.
Types of eczema
- Atopic dermatitis.
- Contact dermatitis.
- Dyshidrotic eczema.
- Discoid eczema.
- Varicose eczema.
- Asteatotic eczema.
What is dermatitis?
A general term that describes inflammation of the skin.
What causes eczema?
Associated with family history of the disorder, allergies, asthma, or hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
What is allergic rhinitis and another word for it?
Is seasonal allergies also known as hay fever. An allergic response causing itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and other similar symptoms.
What causes allergic rhinitis?
Pollen is the most common allergen in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Others are grass pollen. dust mites. animal dander, which is old skin. cat saliva. mold.
What is pruritus?
Itching. An uncomfortable, irritating sensation that creates an urge to scratch that can involve any part of the body.
What are the major goals of management in eczema?
To relieve itching (pruritus) lubricate the skin, reduce inflammation, and prevent or control secondary infections.
What does secondary infections mean?
is an infection that occurs during or after treatment for another infection. While a primary infection can practically be viewed as the root cause of an individual’s current health problem, a secondary infection is a sequela or complication of that root cause.
Eczema assessment
- Redness
- Scaliness
- Itching
- Minute papules and vesicles
- Weeping, oozing, and crusting of lesions
Where can eczema lesions occur?
Lesions can occur on scalp and face, creases of elbows, and knees, neck, wrists, ankles, or creases between the buttocks and legs.
What is scaliness?
the quality that skin has when there are small, hard, dry areas where small pieces may fall off.
What is minute papules?
Firm, elevated, circumscribed lesions. red bumps and lumps called papules. If you have papular eczema, it can leave your skin feeling itchy and lead to skin infections.
What is vesicles?
Similar to papules but fluid-filled.
What is lesions?
a region in an organ or tissue which has suffered damage through injury or disease, such as a wound, ulcer, abscess, or tumour. An abnormal area of tissue inside or outside the body that may get bigger or change appearance, and may or may not be cancerous. An area of abnormal tissue. Examples include birthmarks, insect bites or scars.
Eczema interventions:
Baths and moisturisers
Antihistamine and topical corticosteroids
Antibiotics if secondary infection occur
What is antihistamine?
Are medicines often used to relieve symptoms of allergies, such as hay fever, hives, conjunctivitis and reactions to insect bites or stings.
What is histamine?
A chemical found in some of the body’s cells - causes many of the symptoms of allergies, such as a runny nose or sneezing. Histamine works with nerves to produce itching. In food allergies it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. And it constricts muscles in the lungs, making it harder to breathe.
What is topical corticosteroids?
A topical steroid is an anti-inflammatory preparation used to control eczema/dermatitis and many other skin conditions. Topical steroids are available in creams, ointments, solutions and other vehicles. Topical steroids are also called topical corticosteroids.
What is antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medicines that fight infections caused by bacteria in humans and animals by either killing the bacteria or making it difficult for the bacteria to grow and multiply.
