Minor Skin and Ear Conditions Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering clinical features, treatments, and differential diagnoses for scabies, lice, threadworm, ear conditions, and fungal infections based on the lecture notes.

Scabies pruritis

Severe itching that is diffuse, non-localised, and typically worse at night or after bathing.

Mite burrow

Small, thread-like blue-grey, raised, wavy lines, $5-10\,mm$ long, which may be visible in scabies infections.

Norwegian scabies

A condition in immuno-compromised or debilitated patients where affected skin becomes thickened or crusted; mites survive under the crust, making it highly infectious.

Dermatitis herpetiformis

Itchy clusters of papules and vesicles with a symmetrical distribution on the buttocks, elbows, and knees; $90\%$ of patients have gluten enteropathy (celiac disease).

Dishydrotic eczema (Pompholyx)

Intensely itchy vesicles or blisters on the palms of the hands and occasionally the soles of the feet, often caused by stress.

Permethrin $5\%$ ($Lyclear^{\circledR}$)

First-line treatment for Scabies recommended by AMH and eTG; suitable for adults, children over 6 months, and pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Benzyl Benzoate ($Ascabiol^{\circledR}$, $Benzemul^{\circledR}$)

First-line scabies treatment for patients with Permethrin sensitivities; requires dilution ($50:50$ for children aged 2-12 and $25:75$ for babies).

Crotamiton $10\%$ ($Eurax^{\circledR}$)

A scabicide that is more useful as an antipruritic agent, provided the skin is not broken (excoriated).

Post-treatment itch (Scabies)

Persistent itching caused by the release of allergens from dead mites; it does not necessarily indicate treatment failure.

White Piedra

A superficial fungal infection of the hair caused by $\text{Trichosporon biegelii}$.

Mebendazole

Threadworm treatment that inhibits the worm's glucose uptake; dose is $100\,mg$ for adults and children over 2 years, taken on an empty stomach.

Pyrantel

A depolarising neuromuscular blocking agent that paralyses threadworms; recommended dose is $10\,mg/kg$ (maximum $750\,mg$) as a single dose.

Cerumenolytics

Agents used to soften and remove impacted ear wax, such as Carbamide peroxide ($Ear\ Clear$) or Docusate ($Waxsol$).

Otitis Externa (OE)

Also known as Swimmer's ear; characterized by itching, irritation, ear discharge ($Otorrhoea$), and an oedematous (swollen) ear canal.

Auricular haematoma

Trauma resulting in the separation of cartilage from the perichondrium; if untreated, it can lead to permanent deformity known as cauliflower ear.

Otitis Media (OM)

Middle ear infection often accompanied by fever, cold symptoms, and a bulging tympanic membrane; pain typically resolves upon membrane rupture.

Tinea pedis

Fungal infection typically affecting the toe webs, characterized by itching, flaking, and skin that appears white and "soggy" due to maceration.

Tinea corporis

Known as ringworm; presents as itchy pink or red scaly patches with a well-defined border and central clearing.

Tinea incognito

A fungal infection that returns in a worse, often papular form after the cessation of inappropriate corticosteroid-based cream treatment.

Imidazoles

A class of antifungals (including Clotrimazole and Miconazole) that act by inhibiting the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway in fungal cell membranes.

Terbinafine

An allylamine antifungal approved for tinea pedis and tinea cruris that inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis; available as a single-application film-forming solution.

Distal subungual onychomycosis (DSO)

The most common fungal nail infection where yellowing and thickening start at the distal part or side of the big toe nail.

Amorolfine

A $5\%$ nail lacquer for onychomycosis that treats the infection as the new nail grows out; not for use in pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Irritant Nappy Rash

A red, raw rash affecting the buttocks, lower abdomen, and thighs, but usually sparing the skin flexures.

Candida albicans Nappy Rash

A secondary infection characterized by a bright red, well-demarcated rash with satellite lesions and involvement of the skin flexures.

Satellite lesions

Small papular or pustular lesions located away from the main area of a nappy rash; a hallmark sign of a $Candida\ albicans$ infection.