Skin Infections and Diseases - Gaby Martinez

So what will you be looking for? Physical assessment: Physical assessment: a) inspection b) palpation c) percussion d) auscultation Observe size, shape, color of the lesions, and …yes…check the odor Observe size, shape, color of the lesions, and …yes…check the odor

Scabies and Tinea Versicolor

Scabies  Female mites burrows into the skin where she lays eggs  Skin-skin contact  Clothing, bedding, towels  Inflamatory elevation of the skin (red papules)

Scabies  S/S - intense itching - skin rashes - produces allergic reaction (eggs) - scratching may cause secondary infection  Tx - Topical medications all over the body

Tinea Versicolor  Skin infection caused by a yeast  Warm and humid environment

Tinea Versicolor  S/S - oval or irregularly shaped spots - pale, dark tan, or pink in color - sharp border - itching, worsens with heating and sweating  Tx - Topical antifungal medications

Ringworm

Ringworm  Fungal infection…not a worm!  Skin-skin contact  Ring-shaped, scaly itching patches on the skin

Ringworm  S/S - red raised itchy patches with defined edges, lighter in the center - take an appearance of a ring  Tx - topical antifungal drugs

Impetigo

Impetigo  Superficial skin infection  Bacterial…staphylococcus or streptococcus  Spread w/ direct contact w/ lesions  Thick, yellow crust (commonly on the face)

Impetigo  S/S - one or more pimple-like lesions surrounded by reddened skin - lesions fill w/ pus and later form a thick crust - itching  Tx - Topical or oral ABX

Diabetic ulcers (this one is necrotic tissue)

Diabetic Ulcers  Sores on feet, especially on diabetic patients  Why?  Where? - areas subjected to weight bearing - heel - tips of most prominent toes

Diabetic Ulcers  S/S - painful, red sore on foot - pus when infected - foul-smelling discharge  Tx - sterile cleaning, dressings - refer to diabetic specialist/surgeon for debridement or amputation

Infected Wounds

 Wound: break in the structure caused by an external agent  Chronic open sores become infected

Infected Wounds  S/S - swelling - pain - fever w/ infection - bleeding or pus - foul smell  Tx - sterile cleaning - ABX and pain killers

Edema

Peripheral Edema  Excessive accumulation of lymph fluid, causing tissues to swell and expand  Body retains too much salt  Heart, liver, kidney, pregnant women, varicose veins

Edema S/S S/S - muscle ache, pain, swelling, positive indentation of skin following pressure Tx Tx - diuretics

Hookworm? Traveling parasite

Hookworm  Cutaneous larva migrans  Parasitic larvae found in dog and cat feces penetrate the outer layers of the skin and creep around underneath the skin

Hookworm  S/S - red itching eruption - serpentine track - painful  Tx - Albendazole

Other interesting stories… Leishmaniasis

???