WHAT IS THE CONDITION/ILLNESS
Tinea, or ringworm as it is often known as, is a highly contagious fungal skin infection (Herlihy, 2011) caused by dermatophytes. There are many different types of ringworm that can form;
- Tinea pedis or athletes foot, is found on the foot area;
- Tinea capitis is found on the scalp;
- Tinea barbae which is found on bearded areas of the neck and face;
- Tinea corporis is found on the body;
- Tinea cruris is located in the groin area;
- Tinea faciei, which is when it is located on the face;
- Tinea manuum is found on the hands and;
- Tinea unguium is found on fingernails and toenails.
(DermNetNZ Trust, 2013)
HOW DOES THIS CONDITION AFFECT THE BODY AND HOW IS IT RECOGNISED?
While symptoms and the effects tinea
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can have are different depending on the type of tinea contracted. Redness, itchiness, ovular or round sores with a red outline, burning or stinging, rashes that can form into blisters, and raw, inflamed and scaly skin are some of the generic, Athletes foot affects the toe web in between individual toes, usually the area of skin between the fourth and fifth digit, and can produce an unpleasant smell. If the area becomes severely inflamed it can be a result of a secondary infection (DermNetNZ Trust, 2014). It can spread to the toenails which is called Tinea unguium. The toenails can become infected and discoloured. Other possible effects of Tinea unguium are the nails thickening or becoming brittle (Lee & Bishop, 2013). If you unsure or have doubts about whether you or someone you know has some type of Tinea, a trip to the doctors is recommended. They can assess the situation and provide you with the best treatment options. HOW CAN TINEA BE PREVENTED? Athletes foot can be prevented by; keeping your feet clean and drying them thoroughly, especially between the toes; after drying your feet, apply anti-fungal cream or foot powder; changing your socks daily can be a big preventer (Podiatry NZ, n.d.). It is also good idea to let your feet breathe as often as possible, by going bare foot when you can. Not sharing footwear, socks or towels is a good way to prevent athletes foot. People who have been in close contact with tinea should be checking their skin, scalp and nails looked at closely to see whether they have it as well. If you child contracts tinea and in enrolled at school or an early childhood care centre, they should be kept at home until treatment has begun (Child and Youth Health, 2014). WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED TO CARE FOR A CHILD WITH TINEA? The parent, caregiver or nanny needs to ensure that the child’s feet are being dried properly after each shower/bath or swimming session.
Once identified, it is best to visit a doctor and get a recommendation on what kind of treatment is needed. Usually a topical cream is prescribed to someone suffering from tinea. Other sorts of topical gels, solutions, powders or sprays may also be prescribed depending on the type of tinea contracted. For Tinea corporis, a cool compress is a good relief for the sores, as well as using creams or solutions such as miconazole, ketoconazole and butenafine (Brown & Edwards, 2015). If athlete’s foot is itchy and inflamed, a combination of anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory creams works best. The creams should be applied twice a day, usually in the morning and at night, but for no longer than a 7 day period. Followed by an anti-fungal cream only for a 14 day period. There are also two other types of creams that are not specific to the fungal infection. These creams are Clotrimazole and Bifonazole creams. Tinea in the nails can be very difficult to treat and may require the person to stay on medication for months. The ability to make sure the condition is not getting worse or spreading is important so that the condition and the health of the child is …show more content…
maintained. IDENTIFY ANY SIDE EFFECTS AND COMPLICATIONS THAT MAY RESULT FROM THIS ILLNESS?
Secondary infections can be a side effect from tinea. Tinea pedis can result in many different secondary infections. These include burn wound sepsis, dermatitis, pyoderma, ecthyma gangrenosum and surgical and wound infections such as cellulitis, chronic paronychia and necrotizing fasciitis (Morahan, 2012).
Ecthyma gangrenosum is an infection associated with Pseudomonas bacteraemia. Usually Ecthyma gangrenosum appears in people who have lowered immunity or somewhere where the skin has broken down and is left exposed. This is how it can affect people with athletes foot, as their skin wears away and becomes raw and exposed. The first lesions to appear are observed as painless, round, red patches in the skin which swiftly become filled with pus with surrounding redness. A blister forms in the middle and as it spreads, it evolves into a gangrenous ulcer with a black or grey scab surrounded by a red ring. In as little as 12 hours, an early lesion can transform into a necrotic ulcer (DermNet NZ Trust,
2014). Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the skin, which can affect people at any age. It can occur on any location of the body. Symptoms and signs are usually confined to the area affected but people suffering may also become unwell with fevers, chills and shakes. “Severe or rapidly progressive cellulitis may lead to septicaemia (blood poisoning), necrotising fasciitis (a more serious soft tissue infection), or endocarditis (heart valve infection).” (DermNet NZ Trust, 2015).
White or yellow spots on the toe that are caused by the fungus dislodging the skin on the toe
Treponema pallidum 2 Introduction Treponema pallidum is a Gram-negative bacterium that has a spiral shape (1). They are about 6 to 20um in length and 18-20um in diameter (1). Treponema pallidum can only survive within a host which makes them obligate internal parasites, meaning that outside a host this organism will die due to the absence of nutrients, exposure to oxygen and heat. Also, since this organism can’t be grown on a culture medium, animal models are used to study T. pallidum (1). Treponema pallidum bacteria consist of an inner and outer membrane with a thin peptidoglycan cell wall lacking liposaccharides (1).
may last one to three weeks. In many cases new clusters of blisters appear as
Even though S. aureus is mainly associated with food poisoning, the bacterium can penetrate the skin or other mucous membranes to invade a range of tissues which will cause a variety of infections. Superficial infection of the skin can cause boils, impetigo, styes (infection of the glands or hair follicles of the eyelids), folliculitis, and furnacles. All of these infections are charac...
Overview Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection characterized by the eruptions of superficial pustules and formation of thick yellow crusty sores. It is highly contagious and can occur anywhere on the body, especially in exposed areas. The two different types of Impetigo are Bullous Impetigo, which are large blisters, and Non-Bullous Impetigo, which are crusted over blisters. Non-Bullous Impetigo is the most common type. Both types require contact precautions because they can be transmitted via physical contact with anyone who has it, sharing the same clothes, bedding, towels, etc.
Necrotizing fasciitis, known commonly known as "flesh eating bacteria [infection]", occurs in a wide range of people 1. It occurs in the elderly, middle aged and younger patients. It occurs in athletes and debilitated individuals. It can occur in drug abusers with self inflicted wounds and healthy individuals with incidental injuries. It may occur in those with metabolic disorders such as diabetes and those with suppressed immune systems. It may occur in those with no underlying disorders and no known particular injury. It occurs under ordinary circumstances such as a seemingly harmless cut or scrape and in wounds resulting from major trauma such as an auto accident.
Cellulitis is an acute spreading bacterial infection of the connective tissue, dermis and subcutaneous layers of the skin (ProQuest 07/2012 pg.5). Characterized by redness, swelling, warmth, tight/shiny skin and pain. It is sometimes accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue. Cellulitis first appears on pink-to-red minimally inflamed skin. The area of infection rapidly becomes deeper red and increases in size as the infection spreads. Occasionally, red streaks may radiate outward from cellulitis. Blisters or pus filled bumps may also be present (skinsight 12/2012 pg.5). The main culprit is the bacteria Streptococcus and Staphylococcus which can enter through a break in the skin.
From 166 A.D. to 180 A.D., The Antonine Plague spread around Europe devastating many countries. This epidemic killed thousands per day and is also known as the modern-day name Smallpox. It is known as one of deadliest plagues around the world.
This parasite is spread through the bite of sandflies. There are three different types of infections and they each show varying degrees of severity. The cutaneous form produces mild skin ulcers, mucocutaneous produces ulcers in the mouth and nose, and the visceral form of the disease starts with skin ulcers and then fever, low red blood cell count, and an enlarged spleen and liver. The parasite is detected by a microscope and visceral can also be found by doing blood tests. 12 million people are in infected in 98 different countries and 2 million new cases are found every year. The disease also kills around 20 to 50 thousand people a year.
Lachynsky, Paul. Hospital cases of gangrene have increased dramatically, USA. 9 October 2005. MediLexicon Intl. 20 November 2013 .
This paper includes an understanding about the parasitic roundworm called trichinella. It gives detail of the disease, its transmission and source. Emphasizing how it effects the body, further explaining the epidemiology and how the parasite poses a threat. Also providing an overview of the various types of transmission, how it obscures the human body, and informs one about the symptoms that occurs with the ingestion of trichinella. This paper also addresses the various diagnostic procedures and the treatment required in order to treat Trichinellosis. This, emerging the complex world of the most common type of trichinella species called Trichinella spiralis. In addition, it raises awareness of the health risks and possible outcomes that can come along when the parasites begins migrating throughout the body.
In order to reach the fungus growing under the nail, your podiatrist may need to prescribe oral medication for you to take. If not, he or she may give you medication to apply to your toe. The medication you get from a podiatrist is stronger than what you can get over the counter, and it is matched to your type of infection so it has a better chance of working. Your podiatrist will probably take a small sample of the infection and have it tested at a lab so the most effective medication can be prescribed. Fungal infections are noted for being difficult to get rid of, so you have to be patient. It may take a few months for your infection to clear.
As the infection progresses the patient will begin to experience flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, chills, and general body aches (N.O.R.D). As the symptoms progress the patient will begin to show signs of sepsis, experience tachycardia, have an altered mental state, and possibly diabetic ketoacidosis (Physio). The affected area may also spread from the infection point quickly, sometimes spreading at a rate of an inch an hour (N.O.R.D). Within 24 to 24 hours the rash will darken and blisters will begin to form, then gangrene will set in and the subcutaneous tissue will become necrotic (Britannica 578). Signs of necrotizing fasciitis can typically be mistaken for other pathologies, such as cellulitis and superficial skin infections (Physio). The doctors will diagnose your infection based on how suddenly your symptoms started and how quickly the infection is spreading. The infected tissue will be tested for bacteria. A few laboratory test such as a complete blood count with differential, serum chemistry studies, arterial blood gas measurement, urinalysis, skin biopsy, and tissue cultures will also be used to determine how if you have necrotizing fasciitis and far the infection has spread
Heartworms are a parasitic nematode of mammals and have first been observed in Italy in 1626 (3). Later the parasite was introduced to the Americas by European immigrants leading to the earliest recorded heartworm finding in the United States in 1847 published in The Western Journal of Medicine and Surgery (3,5). In 1995 the intracellular Gram-negative bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia, belonging to the order Rickettsiales, was identified to reside in the heartworms tissue (4).Today heartworm infections have been reported in all states except Alaska and the number of incidents are increasing at an alarming rate (5).
Tapeworms, Class Cestoda, are creatures that live as mature organisms that live on a host. These hosts include cats, dogs, cows, whales, and humans. Human hosts usually occur when uncooked, infected meat is eaten, or by ingesting the eggs. Human infection with a common dog tapeworm is transmitted by infected fleas, and is most commonly seen in children.