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CONTACT DERMATITIS Localized rash or irritation of the
skin caused by contact with a foreign substance
Occurs when you touch things like poison ivy, certain foods, certain metals, cleaning products, cosmetics, perfumes, etc.
CAUSES OF CONTACT DERMATITIS When your immune system encounters an
allergen, your immune system overreacts Chemicals like histamine are released
These chemicals cause the allergic reaction of the itchy rash
The longer the allergen substance remains on the skin, the more severe the reaction
SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF CONTACT DERMATITIS In the area where the allergen has
touched the skin, a red rash appears There may also be blisters and hives Skin may itch, burn, and be painful
Can be treated by using soothing creams Will usually go away on its own
HEAT RASH
Develops when your sweat glands become blocked and sweat is trapped underneath the skin
Usually occurs in skin folds and wherever clothing causes friction
Usually looks like red, superficial blisters
CAUSES OF HEAT RASH Immature sweat
glands in babies Moving to a tropical
climate Intense physical
activity Certain fabrics Overheating
BEDSORES
Also called pressure sores or pressure ulcers
Areas of damaged skin and tissue that develop when pressure from something like a bed or wheelchair never lets up This cuts off circulation to the area Without adequate blood supply, the tissue
dies
SERIOUSNESS OF BEDSORES
Complications from a bedsore are what actually ended up killing Christopher Reeve
4 STAGES OF BEDSORES
Based on severity1. Stage I: persistent area of red
skin that may hurt or feel itchy2. Stage II: Loss of the epidermis so
sore is now an open wound3. Stage III: Damage has extended
below the skin, creating a crater-like wound
4. Stage IV: Serious damage and tissue loss; damage to muscle, bone, tendons
TREATMENT OF BEDSORES Change positions often Keep the bedsore wound
clean Wash open wounds with
saltwater solution Debridement (removal of
dead tissue) Need to free damaged, dead,
and infected tissue for the wound to heal
Dressings Keeping wound area moist and
using an antibacterial cream if necessary
Keep skin around wound dry
STAPH BACTERIA
There are more than 30 species of the Staph bacteria, each causing a different illness
Most staph infections caused by the strain of bacteria called staphylococcus aureus “staphyle” – bunch of grapes “kokkus” – berry
HOW DO YOU GET A STAPH INFECTION?
The bacteria is usually spread through skin to skin contact
So it spreads more easily in areas where several people live together Like college dorms
Can also get the bacteria from contaminated objects Bed linens, towels, clothing, etc.
The bacteria thrive in warm, humid environments Examples are hot tubs or gym mats where
lots of people sweat
HOW STAPH INFECTS Staph bacteria can live harmlessly on your
skin Remember that skin is a barrier Once that barrier gets broken down, the
staph can get into your skin So if you have a cut, scrape, or some
type of lesion in your skin, the staph is free to get through and infect deeper tissue and even the blood
SYMPTOMS OF A STAPH INFECTION
The area is usually red, swollen, feels hot, and is painful
Drainage and pus are also common symptoms
WHAT HAPPENS IN SERIOUS STAPH INFECTIONS? Staph infections become much
more serious if the staph bacteria gets into the bloodstream and other organs
Staphylococcal pneumonia can lead to abscess formation within the lungs
Infection of the heart valves (endocarditis) can lead to heart failure
Staphylococcal sepsis (widespread infection of the bloodstream) is a leading cause of circulatory shock and can lead to death,
STAPH AND FOOD POISONING Foods can also get infected with a strain of the
Staph bacteria If you eat something that has Staph bacteria on it,
you can get food poisoning The Staph bacteria will release toxins that cause
symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, deyhdration You will feel sick from 1-6 hours after eating the
infected food Sickness will last 1-3 days and is not contagious
STAPH AND TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is an illness
caused by toxins released by the staph bacteria
Symptoms of TSS: sudden onset of high fever vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle aches low blood pressure (hypotension),
which can lead shock and death Sunburn-like rash
More prevalent in menstruating women using tampons, because the bacteria can grow on tampons that are left in too long This is much less common now than it used to be!
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT Staph infections are usually
diagnosed by a visual examination from a physician
The more serious cases may require a culture to find the type of Staph bacteria so the doctors know exactly which antibiotic to administer
More minor infections are treated with a topical antibiotic, while more serious ones are treated with an oral or IV antibiotic
If there is an abcess, a doctor will usually try to drain the abcess
MRSA Caused by the same
staph bacteria, S. aureus
MRSA = methcillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
This means that MRSA staph bacteria is resistant to the antibiotics we usually administer for staph infections
Used to only be found in hospitals, now common in many places
MRSA SYMPTOMS
Usually begins as a small red bump that looks like a pimple
Can turn into deep abscesses that can require surgical draining
Can also penetrate into deeper tissues, organs, and blood and be fatal
TREATMENT Doctors usually have
to surgically drain the MRSA infection
Many times they will also prescribe one of the few antibiotics we still have that will kill the MRSA bacteria
Take away point: do not take antibiotics unless you definitely need to!!
LICE
Head lice are little parasitic insects that live within human hair
They feed on small amounts of blood from the scalp
Very common, especially between 3-12 years old
HOW YOU GET LICE
Highly contagious Spread from person
to person Have special claws
that help them crawl and cling to hair
Spread from hair-to-hair contact Also spreads with
contaminated items You cannot spread
them or get them from your pets
LICE TREATMENT Medicated shampoos, rinses, and lotions
These are actually insecticides, so be sure to follow the directions carefully!
Then you have to comb out the nits with a fine-toothed comb
Treatment is repeated in 7-10 to kill any newly hatched lice
Wash bed sheets, towels, clothing, etc used by the infected person
Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture