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