Comprehensive Notes on Skin and Eye Infections

Types of Ringworm

Ringworm of the scalp: Fungal invasion of the scalp and hair of the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
Ringworm of the beard: mainly affects chin and beard of adult males.
Ringworm of the body: can infect anywhere on the body that has smooth and bear skin.
Ringworm of the groin (jock itch): Occurs mainly on males on the groin, perianal skin, scrotum, and occasionally the penis.
- Happens when a fungi thrives under conditions of moisture and humidity, which has usually created by sweating.
Ringworm of the foot (athlete’s foot): Begins with blisters between the toes that burst and then crust over and spread.
Ringworm of the nail: Infects fingernails and toenails; causes superficial white patches and thickening, distortion, and darkening of the nail.
Fungi invade and digest keratin and suppress the immune system.
Transmission: Direct or indirect contact with humans and animals.
Treatment: Topical antifungal, applied for several weeks.

A superficial mycosis, occurs more on upper layers of epidermal surface.
Caused by the fungal yeast genus called Malassezia.
Signs and symptoms: scaling of discolored and discolored skin pigmentation; feeds on high oil content of skin glands.
Treatment: Topical antifungal.

A subcutaneous mycosis; a chronic fungal infection caused by different fungi.
Production of papular lesions (raised area of skin tissue that’s usually less than one centimeter around), which then become nodular.
Develops into large wart-like legions.
Treatment: Oral antifungal.

Several virulence factors help it take advantage of the host and cause a lot of damage, especially for these burn victims.
- Proteases, which digest protein. - allows the infection to get deeper fairly fast.
- Exotoxin A halts the synthesis of protein causing tissue damage.
- Hemolysins, which break down lipids in epithelial cells. - allows the bacteria to penetrate deeper again and spread infection, very quickly.
Treatment: Topical antimicrobial agents, wound excision.

Caused by Clostridium perfringens; produces gas in infected tissue (usually muscle tissue).
Symptoms: Air under the skin, blisters filled with a brown or reddish liquid, high fever, and increased heart rate.
Infection requires damaged or dead tissue, and bacteria produces alpha toxin (Toxin causes red blood cells to rupture.).
- Destroys tissue and generates gas, causing bubbles under the skin.
Prevention: Rigorous cleaning and surgical repair of deep wounds.
Treatment: Wound excision (may not work). Antibiotics may not be effective.

Interior and back half of the eye are considered sterile sites; the conjunctiva may have bacteria.
Defenses: Constant production and flow of tears, lysozyme, and lactoferrin.
Limited inflammation to prevent damage, and unique immune response.

Also known as pink eye, it is an inflammation or swelling of the conjunctiva (outermost layer that is covering the outside of the eye).
Can be caused by bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or viruses.
- Trachoma = Chlamydia trachomatis
- Gonococcal Conjuntivitis = Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Staphylococcus aureus
Symptoms: Milky discharge (bacterial) - Clear, watery discharge (viral) - Itching or burning sensation in the eyes.
- Swollen eyelids, pink coloration to the whites of the eyes.
Can lead to serious eye damage if not treated promptly.

Neonatal Conjunctivitis

Transferred from the mother’s vaginal tract to the child if the child is born vaginally. Lacya gonorrhoeae + chlamydia trachomatis can cause. Can lead to serious eye damage.
Treatments: Antimicrobial drops in each eye.

An inflammation of the cornea; a much deeper invasion of the eye tissues; more serious than conjunctivitis; inflammation doesnt occur well; damage.
Any microorganism that gets to the deeper eye tissues and the cornea can cause this condition, especially if there’s any kind of trauma to the eye.
The most common cause that you will see is herpes simplex virus type one (HSC-1). Reactivates into ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve. Another cause is protozoa - acanthamoeba.
Symptoms: Gritty feeling in your eye; sharp pain shoot through your eye; you be very sensitive to light.
Can lead to complete corneal destruction, which would result in blindness if not treated very promptly.

End of module.

Cause of each infection or disease: whether it’s a bacteria, virus, protozoa, or fungi, and the name of it.
Characteristics that are unique to each disease.symptoms, certain steps in its pathogenesis, certain virulence factors that it can produce, and whether or not a vaccine is available, and what type of vaccine it is.