Carbuncle

Definition
 is an abscess larger than a boil, usually with one or
more openings draining pus onto the skin.
 It is usually caused by bacterial infection, most
commonly Staphylococcus aureus.
 The infection is contagious and may spread to other
areas of the body or other people
The infection is contagious and may spread to other
areas of the body or other people
Cause
Things that make carbuncle infections more likely
include :
• Friction from clothing or shaving
• Poor hygiene
• weakening of immunity
Signs and Symptoms

fatigue
fever
 a general discomfort or sick feeling
reddened lumps
 swelling
 might hurt when touched
Itching may occur before the carbuncle develops
Diagnostic test

cruciate incision, under strict aseptic conditions will

treat the condition effectively

usually must drain before they will heal. This most

often occurs on its own in less than two weeks. Placing
a warm moist cloth on the carbuncle and soaking the
affected area several times each day helps it to drain,
which speeds healing.
Diagnostic test

A culture and sensitivity test (C and S) or biopsy

will be performed to determine the type of

infectious organism causing the carbuncle, as well as
which antibiotic would be most effective in treating it.
Laboratory Tests

complete blood count (CBC)

Nursing Intervention
Proper hygiene is very important to prevent the spread of infection.
 Hands should always be washed thoroughly, preferably with
antibacterial soap, after touching a carbuncle.
Washcloths and towels should not be shared or reused.
Clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets or other items that
contact infected areas should be washed in very hot (preferably
boiling) water.
Bandages should be changed frequently and thrown away in a
tightly-closed bag.
If boils/carbuncles recur frequently, daily use of an antibacterial
soap or cleanser containing triclosan, triclocarban or chlorhexidine
, can suppress staph bacteria on the skin
P
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Definition
is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the
skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out
faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin
cells. Psoriasis is not contagious.
Cause
believed to have a genetic component and local
psoriatic changes can be triggered by an injury to the
skin known as Koebner phenomenon
also called the "Koebner response" or
the "isomorphic response", refers to
skin lesions appearing on lines of trauma.
environmental factors
stress,
withdrawal of systemic corticosteroid
excessive alcohol consumption
smoking
Classification of Psoriasis
Nonpustular psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis
Other psoriasis
Nonpustular psoriasis

Psoriasis vulgaris (Chronic stationary psoriasis, Plaque-like psoriasis).

Plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris) (L40.0) is the most common
form of psoriasis. It affects 80 to 90% of people with psoriasis. Plaque
psoriasis typically appears as raised areas of inflamed skin covered with
silvery white scaly skin. These areas are called plaques.
Psoriatic erythroderma (Erythrodermic psoriasis). Erythrodermic
psoriasis (L40.85) involves the widespread inflammation and
exfoliation of the skin over most of the body surface. It may be
accompanied by severe itching, swelling and pain. It is often the result of
an exacerbation of unstable plaque psoriasis, particularly following the
abrupt withdrawal of systemic treatment. This form of psoriasis can be
fatal, as the extreme inflammation and exfoliation disrupt the body's
ability to regulate temperature and for the skin to perform barrier
functions.[6]
Postular
appears as raised bumps that are filled with non-
infectious pus (pustules). The skin under and
surrounding the pustules is red and tender. Pustular
psoriasis can be localised, commonly to the hands and
feet (palmoplantar pustulosis), or generalised with
widespread patches occurring randomly on any part of
the body.
Other psoriasis
Drug-induced psoriasis may be induced by beta-blockers,
lithium, antimalarials, terbinafine, calcium channel blockers,
captopril, glyburide, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor,
interlukens, interferons, and lipid-lowering drugs.
Inverse psoriasis. Flexural psoriasis (inverse psoriasis)
(L40.83-4) appears as smooth inflamed patches of skin. It
occurs in skin folds, particularly around the genitals
(between the thigh and groin), the armpits, under an
overweight stomach (pannus), and under the breasts (
inframammary fold). It is aggravated by friction and sweat,
and is vulnerable to fungal infections.
Napkin psoriasisi n the diaper area, is characteristically seen
in infants between two and eight months of age.
Seborrheic-like psoriasis (also known as "Sebopsoriasis,"
and "Seborrhiasis") is a skin condition characterized
[1]

by psoriasis with an overlaping seborrheic dermatitis.

Guttate psoriasis (L40.4) is characterized by
numerous small, scaly, red or pink, teardrop-shaped
lesions. These numerous spots of psoriasis appear over
large areas of the body, primarily the trunk, but also the
limbs, and scalp. Guttate psoriasis is often preceded by a
streptococcal infection, typically streptococcal
pharyngitis. The reverse is not true.
Nail psoriasis (L40.86) produces a variety of changes in the
appearance of finger and toe nails. These changes include
discolouring under the nail plate, pitting of the nails, lines
going across the nails, thickening of the skin under the nail,
and the loosening (onycholysis) and crumbling of the nail.
Psoriatic arthritis (L40.5) involves joint and
connective tissue inflammation. Psoriatic arthritis can affect
any joint but is most common in the joints of the fingers and
toes. This can result in a sausage-shaped swelling of the
fingers and toes known as dactylitis. Psoriatic arthritis can also
affect the hips, knees and spine (spondylitis). About 10-15% of
people who have psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis.
Cause

There are two main hypotheses about the process that

occurs in the development of the disease.
1. The first considers psoriasis as primarily a disorder of
excessive growth and reproduction of skin cells. The
problem is simply seen as a fault of the epidermis
and its keratinocytes.
keratinocytes
are the predominant cell type in the epidermis, the
outermost layer of the human skin, constituting 95%
of the cells found there.[1] Those keratinocytes found in
the basal layer (Stratum germinativum) of the skin are
sometimes referred to as "basal cells" or "basal
keratinocytes".[2] The primary function of
keratinocytes is the formation of the keratin layer that
protects the skin and the underlying tissue from
environmental damage such as heat, UV radiation and
water loss
2. sees the disease as being an immune-mediated disorder in
which the excessive reproduction of skin cells is secondary
to factors produced by the immune system.
T cells (which normally help protect the body against
infection) become active, migrate to the dermis and trigger
the release ofcytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNFα, in
particular) Which cause inflammation and the rapid
production of skincells. It is notknown what initiates the
activation of the T cells.
Diagnosis

A diagnosis of psoriasis is usually based on the

appearance of the skin. There are no special blood
tests or diagnostic procedures for psoriasis. Sometimes
a skin biopsy, or scraping, may be needed to rule out
other disorders and to confirm the diagnosis. Skin
from a biopsy will show clubbed Rete pegs if positive
for psoriasis. Another sign of psoriasis is that when the
plaques are scraped, one can see pinpoint bleeding
from the skin below (Auspitz's sign).
Management
Antibiotics are generally not indicated in routine
treatment of psoriasis. However, antibiotics may be
employed when an infection, such as that caused by
the bacteria Streptococcus, triggers an outbreak of
psoriasis.
psoriasis can become resistant to a specific therapy.
Treatments may be periodically changed to prevent
resistance developing (tachyphylaxis) and to reduce
the chance of adverse reactions occurring. This is
called treatment rotation.
Topical treatment

Bath solutions and moisturizers, mineral oil, and

petroleum jelly may help soothe affected skin and
reduce the dryness which accompanies the build-up of
skin on psoriatic plaques. Medicated creams and
ointments applied directly to psoriatic plaques can
help reduce inflammation, remove built-up scale,
reduce skin turn over, and clear affected skin of
plaques.
Phototherapy

It has long been recognized that daily, short, non-

burning exposure to sunlight helped to clear or
improve psoriasis in some patients.
Photochemotherapy

Psoralen and ultraviolet A phototherapy (PUVA) combines

the oral or topical administration of psoralen with
exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) light. Precisely how PUVA
works is not known. The mechanism of action probably
involves activation of psoralen by UVA light which inhibits
the abnormally rapid production of the cells in psoriatic
skin. There are multiple mechanisms of action associated
with PUVA, including effects on the skin immune system.
PUVA is associated with nausea, headache, fatigue,
burning, and itching. Long-term treatment is associated
with squamous cell carcinoma (not with melanoma).
Prognosis
Psoriasis is a lifelong condition.[41] There is currently no cure but
various treatments can help to control the symptoms. Many of the
most effective agents used to treat severe psoriasis carry an increased
risk of significant morbidity including skin cancers, lymphoma and
liver disease. However, the majority of people's experience of psoriasis
is that of minor localized patches, particularly on the elbows and
knees, which can be treated with topical medication. Psoriasis can get
worse over time but it is not possible to predict who will go on to
develop extensive psoriasis or those in whom the disease may appear
to vanish. Individuals will often experience flares and remissions
throughout their lives. Controlling the signs and symptoms typically
requires lifelong therapy.
According to one study,[42] psoriasis is linked to 2.5-fold increased risk
for non melanoma skin cancer in men and women, with no
preponderance of any specific histologic subtype of cancer. This
increased risk could also be attributed to antipsoriatic treatment.
NuRSING Responsibilities
  1. Make sure that the patient understands his prescribed
therapy; provide written instructions to avoid confusions.
  2. Teach the correct applications of prescribed ointment,
creams, and lotions.
  3. Warn the patient never to put an occlusive dressing over
anthralin. Suggest the use of mineral oil, then soap and water,
to remove anthralin.
  4. Caution the patient to avoid scrubbing his skin vigorously,
to prevent Koebner’s phenomenon.
  5. Watch for adverse reactions, especially allergic reactions to
anthralin.
  6. Caution the patient receiving therapy to stay out of the sun
on the day of treatment, and to protect his eyes with sun glasses
that screen UVA for 24 hours after treatment.
  7. Because stressful situations tend to exacerbate psoriasis,
help the patient cope with the situation.