Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Herpes Zoster
An acute viral infection of the
sensory nerve occurring in
partially immune individuals
Causative Agent
Incubation
period
and
Mode of Transmission
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnostic Tests
Medical Management
Nursing Care
Comfort
measures,
prevention of superimposed
infection
on
lesions,
adequate
fluid
and
nutritional intake
Causative Agent
Incubation
period
and
Mode of Transmission
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnostic Tests
Medical Management
Nursing Care
Measles
An acute and contagious
exanthematous disease that
usually affects children which
are susceptible to upper
respiratory tract infections.
Paramyxiviridae
Variable,
averaging
7-12
days; transmitted through
droplet nuclei
High grade fever for three to
four
days,
excessive
lacrimation, colds and mild
cough;
macula-papular
rashes appearing from the
head to the feet; Kopliks
spots
Nose and throat swabs, blood
examinations
Symptomatic and supportive;
calamine lotion for itchiness,
anti-virals and analgesics
Proper skin care, prevention
of mouth sores; oral care;
adequate rest and nutrition
to a previous infection or
exposure to Chickenpox
Herpes zoster
13 to 17 days; transmitted
through direct contact with
an infected person
Vesiculo-pustular
rashes
unilaterally distributed along
a nerve pathway
History and viral isolation
from the lesions
Acyclovir
and
Potassium
Permanganate (three effects:
astringent, bactericidal and
oxidative)
Avoiding infection, provision
of psychological support
German Measles
A
mild
viral
illness
characterized by feverish
episodes with rashes and
joint aches.
Pseudoparamyxoviridae
14 to 21 days; transmitted
through droplet
Fever for 1-2 days, mild
cough and colds; malaise;
conjunctivitis;
lymphadenopathy; transient
polyarthralgia
and
polyarthritis;
Forscheimers
spots
Usually none, the disease
lasts approximately 3days
Symptomatic
Supportive
The usual signs and symptoms include the presence of fever (although some patients
do not experience fever), vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea which is accompanied by
straining (tenesmus).
The disease is confirmed through the performance of stool examinations and rectal
swabbing to determine presence of shigella.
Medical management focuses on the eradication of the causative agent through the
administration of anti-microbial agents and oral dehydration of the patient.
Nursing management includes encouraging an increased fluid intake, providing
adequate nutrition, patient teaching about prevention of infection and prevention of
complications.
Schistosomiasis
Alson known as Bilharziasis, Snail fever, Swimmers fever, blood Fluke, and Katayama
Fever, is a slowly progressive disease caused by blood flukes of the class trematoda and is
common among farmers in the southern part of the country. The source of infection are the
parasitic worm Schistosoma japonicum, found in the snails called Oncomelania quadrasi.
There are three major types of organism which causes the infection, these are:
a. Schistosoma japonica- the most common or endemic in the Philippines, and infects
the intestinal tract of the individual.
b. Schistosoma mansoni- common in other tropical countries like Africa and South
America
c. Schistosoma haematobium- affects mostly the urinary tract and is common in Middle
Eastern countries
The sources of infection are infected man and animals and the disease is transmitted
through inoculation in broken skin or ingestion of water contaminated with the eggs of the
fluke.
Signs and symptoms of the disease includes:
a. Low grade fever
b. Abdominal pain
c. Vomiting and diarrhea
d. Abdominal distention
e. Emaciation
f. Jaundice
g. Itchiness at the site of entry of the microorganism
Tests that determine the presence of flukes in the patients body includes stool
examinations, blood tests (COPT and ELISA) and rectal biopsy
Treatment includes administration of anti-Schistosomal agents (Fuadin and
Praziquantel) and supportive management for any symptoms present on the patient.
Prevention of infection is the primary thrust of the nurse, and this includes:
a. Checking at risk individuals (stool exam)
b. Eradication of breeding and resting sites of the snail
c. Advising farmers to wear proper foot protection
d. Protect the skin integrity to avoid creating a portal of entry of the organism
e. Boiling water before drinking or use for cooking in endemic areas
Viral Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is an acute inflammation of the liver marked by liver-cell destruction,
necrosis, and autolysis. In most patients hepatic cells eventually regenerate with little or no
residual damage.
There are five major forms of viral hepatitis which are currently recognized, each
caused by a different virus:
1. Type A is transmitted almost exclusively by the fecal-oral route, and outbreaks are
common in areas of overcrowding and poor sanitation. Day-care centers and
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2.
3.
4.
5.
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Laboratory tests-including CBC with differential, thyroid studies, liver function tests,
and hepatitis quantitative studies-help determine the effectiveness if therapy and
prevent complications during treatment.
Caution patients against becoming pregnant during the course of therapy or in the 6
months immediately following treatment
Adverse effect of medications include depression, flulike syndrome, fatigue, malaise,
and GI disturbance
Patients need to be proactive in their treatment to properly monitor and succeed in
taking their medication.
Antiemetics may be given 30 minutes before meals to relieve nausea and prevent
vomiting. If vomiting persists, the patient needs IV infusions
In severe hepatitis, corticosteroids may give the patient a sense of well-being and
may stimulate the appetite while decreasing itching and inflammation.
Nursing care includes:
Observe enteric and blood and body fluid precautions for all types of hepatitis. Inform
visitors about isolation precautions
Give patient plenty of fluids. Encourage the anorexic patient to drink fruit juices.
Record weight daily, and keep accurate intake and output records
Observe the patients stool for color, consistency, frequency, and amount
Watch for signs of hepatic coma, dehydration, pneumonia, vascular problems, and
pressure ulcers
Report all cases of hepatitis to health officials. Ask the patient to name the persons
he came in contact with recently.
Evaluate the patient
Filariasis
Also known as Elephantiasis; a parasitic disease caused by an African eye worm
transmitted through person to person by mosquito bites.
It is caused by three types of worms: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Brugia
timori. Symptoms may vary depending on the type of parasitic worm but usual symptoms in
all cases include, but are not limited to the following:
a. Chills
b. Headache
c. Fever
d. Swelling
e. Redness and pain in the arms, legs or scrotum
f. Areas of abscess
Diagnostic exams include blood tests, Circulating Filarial Antigen (CFA) , and taking
the patients history.
Medical management includes the administration of Ivermectin, albendazole or
diethycarbamazine; or surgery to remove the enlarged tissue and drain the lymph nodes.
Nursing care is supportive and management focuses on the prevention of the disease
rather than its treatment
a. Use of mosquito nets when sleeping
b. Eradication of breeding and/or resting sites of mosquitoes
c. Adherence to the treatment regimen
d. Practicing proper environmental sanitation
Sexually Transmitted Disease
HIV/AIDS
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STDs
Sexually transmitted disease (STD) is the most common infections present, and
Chlamydia is the most common STD.
Transmission of the causative organism, which may include bacteria, viruses,
protozoans, fungi, or ectoparasites, leads to infection. Patient high at risk include those (1)
under age 25, (2) with multiple sexual partners, and (3) with a history of STD.
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Signs and symptoms of STDs are vaginitis, recurrent vaginitis, vaginal or penile
discharge, epididymitis, lower abdominal pain, pharyngitis, proctitis, and skin or mucous
membrane lesions.
The diagnosis of a specific STD is made by physical examination, patient history, and
laboratory tests to determine the causative organism.
Treatment is based on the specific causative organism.
Name and
Possible signs and
Treatment
Special
Organism
symptoms
considerations
Chlamydia
>purulent discharge
Doxycycline
or >all sexual contacts
Chlamydia
>Males: burning on azithromycin
must be treated
trachomatis
urination
and
>potential
symptoms
of
complications
in
epididymitis
females are pelvic
>Females:
usually
inflammatory disease
asymptomatic
(PID), infertility, and
spontaneous
abortion; in males,
urethritis,
epididymitis,
and
prostatitis.
>patient should take
medication
as
prescribed, follow up
in 7 to 10 days, and
abstain from sexual
activity
until
treatment
is
completed.
Genital herpes
>Females: purulent Famciclovir,
>warm baths and
Herpes simplex type vaginal discharge
valacyclovir,
mild analgesics may
2
>multiple vesicles on acyclovir,
topical relieve pain
genital
area, anesthetic ointment
>patient
should
buttocks or thighs
avoid sexual activity
>painful dysuria
during the prodromal
>fever
stage
and
during
>headache
outbreaks until all
>malaise
lesions have dried up
>many patients have
recurrences every 2
to 3 months; local
hyperesthesias may
occur
24
hours
before outbreak of
lesions
Gonorrhea
>purulent discharge
Ceftriaxone
plus >all sexual contacts
Neisseria
>dysuria
azithromycin
or must be treated
gonorrhoeae
>urinary frequency
doxycycline
>potential
complications
in
females
are
PID,
sterility and ectopic
pregnancy; in males,
prostatitis, urethritis,
epididymitis,
and
sterility
>patient should take
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Human
papilomavirus
(HPV)
>pink-gray
soft
lesions, singularly or
in clusters
Podophyllin 10% to
25%
to
lesions,
cryosurgery
Syphilis
Treponema pallidum
>chancre
on
genitalia, mouth, lips,
or rectum
>fever
>lymphadenopathy
>positive results for
Venereal
Disease
Research
Laboratories
test,
fluorescent
treponemal
antibodies test, and
rapid plasma regain
test
>Males: urethritis or
penile
lesions;
usually
asymptomatic
>Females:
frothy
vaginal
discharge
with erythema and
pruritus;
may
be
asymptomatic
penicillin
Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas
vaginalis
metronidazole
medication
as
prescribed, follow up
in 7 to 10 days, and
abstain from sexual
activity
until
treatment
is
completed
>patient
should
receive
frequent
Papanicolaou tests
>HPV has an 80%
chance of recurrence
>HPV is the most
common cause of
cervical cancer
>syphilis may be
characterized
as
primary, secondary,
or tertiary.
>all sexual conrtacts
must be treated
>patient should take
medication
as
prescribed, follow up
in 7 to 10 days, and
abstain from sexual
activity
until
treatment
is
completed
>all sexual contacts
must be treated
>complications
in
females
include
recurrent infections
and salpingitis
>patient should take
medication
as
prescribed, follow up
in 7 to 10 days, and
abstain from sexual
activity
until
treatment
is
completed
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