THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM PART 4 BY KELLY HUTCHISON R.N.

Diseases and Abnormal Conditions part 2 of 2

Eczema Non-contagious inflammatory skin disorder Caused by reaction to allergen or irritant: diet,

cosmetics, soaps, medications, and/ or emotional stress

Symptoms: dryness, erythema, edema, itching, vesicles, crusts, and scaling

Treatment: remove irritant and apply corticosteroids

Impetigo Highly contagious skin infection Etiology: streptococci or staphylococci infection Symptoms: dryness, erythema, oozing vesicles,

pustules, formation of yellow crust Treatment (1) Wash lesions with soap and water and keep dry (2) Topical and oral antibiotics

Psoriasis Chronic, non-contagious, inherited skin disease Symptoms: red thick areas covered with white or

silver scales Treatment (1) No cure-chronic condition (2) Coal-tar or cortisone ointments (3) Ultraviolet light (4) Removal of scales

Ringworm Highly contagious fungus

infection of skin or scalp Symptoms: Hat or raised

circular area with clear central area surrounded by an itchy, scaly, or crusty outer ring

Treatment: oral and topical antifungal

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Verrucae or warts Viral infection of the skin Form rough, hard, elevated, rounded surface on

skin Some disappear spontaneously Others removed with electricity, liquid nitrogen,

acid, chemicals, or laser

Chicken Pox Chickenpox, which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus,

is highly contagious, and it can spread quickly. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with the rash or by droplets dispersed into the air by coughing or sneezing.

The chickenpox rash goes through these three phases: Raised pink or red bumps (papules), which break out in

different spots over several days Fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), forming from the raised

bumps over about one day before breaking and leaking Crusts and scabs, which cover the broken blisters and

take several more days to heal Fever and loss of appetite is common A vaccine is available and is usually given during

childhood.