Skin & Wounds

Generalised itchy skin with rash

  • Chronic renal insufficiency
  • Cholestasis
  • Iron deficiency
  • Polycythaemia vera
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Lymphoma
  • Diabetic neuropathy
  • Drug-induced (eg, opioid, chloroquine, vancomycin flushing)
  • Chronic pruritus of unknown origin

Kawasaki disease

most prominent cause of acquired coronary artery disease in childhood.

  • also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is an acute, systemic vasculitis of small- and medium-sized arteries that predominantly affects patients younger than five years.
  • Transthoracic echocardiography is the diagnostic imaging modality of choice to screen for coronary aneurysms,
  • Treatment for acute disease is intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin.

Classic (typical) Kawasaki disease is a clinical diagnosis. Based on the presence of a fever lasting 5/7 or more plus four out of five:

  1. bilateral conjunctival injection
  2. oral changes such as cracked and erythematous lips and strawberry tongue
  3. cervical lymphadenopathy
  4. extremity changes such as erythema or palm and sole desquamation (usually weeks 2, 3)
  5. polymorphous rash.

incomplete (atypical) - 2 or 3 findings

Dx and Mx Kawasaki disease AFP 2015

Pruritis in pregnancy

Prurigo

  • intensely itchy spots - c/w pruritis in which there are no primary skin lesions
    • Primary prurigo lesions are dome-shaped or warty looking papules.
    • Secondary prurigo lesions are scratched papules which may become scaly, thick, darkened and scarring
  • nodular prurigo - very itchy firm lumps
  • strong FHx of atopic dermatitis
  • cause unknown
  • very difficult to treat
Nodular prurigo
Nodular prurigo

Dog and cat bites

  • general cleaning and debridement where appropriate
  • generally should be left to heal by primary intention
  • puncture wounds should be cleaned after removal of any FB (eg teeth) where relevant and left open
  • tetanus IgG, booster and antibiotics should be considered
    • antibiotics especially if deep puncture or potential breach of tendon sheath or joint

Tetanus

References include: