Dermatologic therapy
-
Cellulitis is an acute infection of the dermal and subcutaneous layers of the skin, often occurring after a local skin trauma. It is a common diagnosis in both inpatient and outpatient dermatology, as well as in the primary care setting. Cellulitis classically presents with erythema, swelling, warmth, and tenderness over the affected area. ⋯ Some of the most common mimics of cellulitis include venous stasis dermatitis, contact dermatitis, deep vein thrombosis, and panniculitis. History, local characteristics of the affected area, systemic signs, laboratory tests, and, in some cases, skin biopsy can be helpful in confirming the correct diagnosis. Most patients can be treated as an outpatient with oral antibiotics, with dicloxacillin or cephalexin being the oral therapy of choice when methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is not a concern.
-
Dermatologic therapy · Mar 2011
ReviewDiagnosis and treatment of the neutrophilic dermatoses (pyoderma gangrenosum, Sweet's syndrome).
Neutrophilic dermatoses include a spectrum of disorders with similar histologic appearance and pathologic processes. Clinically, however, they have different physical manifestations and associations. ⋯ The previously reported diagnostic criteria, physical descriptions, differential diagnosis, workup, and treatment options are reviewed. A practical approach to pyoderma gangrenosum and Sweet's syndrome for the provider is described.
-
When assessing women with chronic vulvar pain, women's health physical therapists search for comorbid mechanical components (including musculoskeletal, fascial, and visceral) and other disorders that may contribute to or be caused by chronic vulvar pain (CVP). Pelvic floor hypertonicity is a key perpetuating factor for CVP. ⋯ Normalization of pelvic floor muscle function contributes to the reduction of CVP. Successful treatment includes the identification and treatment of co-existing physical abnormalities throughout the trunk and pelvis.
-
Dermatologic therapy · Sep 2010
Case ReportsTherapeutic hotline. Infliximab for treatment of resistant pyoderma gangrenosum associated with ulcerative colitis and psoriasis. A case report.
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, noninfectious, neutrophilic dermatosis of unknown origin that is associated with systemic diseases in 50% of cases. The authors present a case of a 54-year-old man patient with refractory to conventional treatment PG associated with ulcerative colitis and psoriasis, which showed a successful response to treatment with infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). This case report shows the frequent difficulty in the therapeutic approach of PG, especially if associated with underlying disease, and necessity to apply new agents, such as a novel application of the TNF-α inhibitors, in relationship to the recent pathogenic knowledge.
-
Candidiasis, an often encountered oral disease, has been increasing in frequency. Most commonly caused by the overgrowth of Candida albicans, oral candidiasis can be divided into several categories including acute and chronic forms, and angular cheilitis. Risk factors for the development of oral candidiasis include immunosuppression, wearing of dentures, pharmacotherapeutics, smoking, infancy and old age, endocrine dysfunction, and decreased salivation. ⋯ More frequently, however, it is physically uncomfortable, and the patient may complain of burning mouth, dysgeusia, dysphagia, anorexia, and weight loss, leading to nutritional deficiency and impaired quality of life. A plethora of antifungal treatments are available. The overall prognosis of oral candidiasis is good, and rarely is the condition life threatening with invasive or recalcitrant disease.