Sexually transmitted infections

The most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV), an RNA virus transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. In this article, we identify risk factors for HCV infection and discuss which patients should be tested and treated.

You routinely order laboratory screeningpanels, including serum liver enzymemeasurements, for nearly everypatient who has a complete physicalexamination or who is seen for any ofa host of other complaints. If you findabnormal liver enzyme levels, your familiaritywith the common causes andthe settings in which they occur mayenable you to avoid costly diagnosticstudies or biopsy.

Telltale skin lesions of syphilis, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus infection, and Haemophilus ducreyi infection.

Telltale skin lesions of syphilis, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus infection, and Haemophilus ducreyi infection.

Telltale skin lesions of syphilis, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus infection, and Haemophilus ducreyi infection.

Telltale skin lesions of syphilis, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus infection, and Haemophilus ducreyi infection.

Telltale skin lesions of syphilis, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus infection, and Haemophilus ducreyi infection.

Telltale skin lesions of syphilis, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus infection, and Haemophilus ducreyi infection.

Telltale skin lesions of syphilis, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus infection, and Haemophilus ducreyi infection.

For 3 days, a 10-year-old girl had redness and vesicles on her right volar wrist. She had not had any pain, fever, or other systemic symptoms.

These notched upper central incisors were noted in a 3-year-old girl. There was no history of traumatic injury to her mouth. The youngster was able to sweat normally, and no other evidence of ectodermal dysplasia was present.

Gonococcal infection is the leading cause of bacterial arthritis in adults.

The widespread eruption of asymptomatic macules and flat, palpable, flesh-colored lesions prompted a 23-year-old woman to consult her physician. The lesions-some of which had dark centers-were concentrated on the patient's face, neck, and upper back; the palms, soles, anal mucosa, and genital areas were clear. The patient denied systemic symptoms. She was seronegative for HIV.

Acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus of the right eye was diagnosed in a 70-year-old woman by her primary care physician, who prescribed oral acyclovir. After 1 week of therapy, the patient's eye became red and painful and she experienced photophobia and epiphora. She was referred for consultation.

A 29-year-old man presented with a complaint of venereal warts and a long history of mild psoriasis, which he had treated with fluocinolone. He returned 3 months later complaining of chest congestion of 10 days' duration; it had been treated with ciprofloxacin at an urgent care facility.

Combination therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b and ribavirin (RBV) results in a greater rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) than that seen with standard interferon alone. Patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 require higher doses of RBV and a longer duration of therapy than do patients infected with genotype 2 or 3. Closely monitor patients for neuropsychiatric effects, especially depression, and hematologic and other toxicities. Because of the teratogenicity of RBV, strict birth control must be used throughout the course of treatment and for 6 months afterwards. Patients who have not demonstrated a 100-fold reduction in viral load after 12 weeks of therapy are unlikely to achieve SVR; discontinuation of therapy may be considered.

HCV is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States. It is responsible for 8000 to 10,000 deaths annually. In this article, we review the principal diagnostic guidelines for hepatitis C.

HANDY LIST TO KEEP

An otherwise healthy 40-year-old woman presented with a rash on her forehead and nose and erythema of her right eye. The rash had appeared 2 days earlier and was asymptomatic.

These painful eczematous lesionsat the angle of the mouth and thebase of the nostrils had been presentin a 52-year-old woman for 3days (A). Some of the vesicles hadulcerated and left a crust over theregion. The patient said she had hadsimilar attacks in the past. The diagnosisof recurrent herpes simplexvirus 1 (HSV-1) infection was made.The patient was treated with acyclovirfor 1 week, and all the lesionsdisappeared.

A 30-year-old man has had painful genital lesions for the pastseveral days. He recently returned from a business trip during which hehad several unprotected sexual encounters.

A 65-year-old woman sought evaluation of a unilateral, asymptomatic rash that involved the oral mucosa and lips. The rash consisted of ulcerations and vesicles. The suspected diagnosis of herpes zoster was confirmed 4 days later when the patient experienced lancinating pain throughout the affected area and into her scalp and neck.

For a few days, this 73-year-old woman had had an itchy, painful rash on the right side of her face. Despite its proximity to her eye, she had no ocular involvement and no blurring of vision.

For 3 days, a 44-year-old man had several crops of tiny vesicles with raised erythematous bases on the right side of his neck and 2 elongated maculopapular lesions at the base of the neck. All of the lesions were within the C3 dermatome.

A painful rash suddenly developed on the chest wall of an otherwise healthy 8-year-old girl. Examination of the rash revealed grouped vesicles with an erythematous base in a linear distribution along the T5 dermatome. The child had not been vaccinated with varicella vaccine and had had chickenpox 3 years earlier.

A52-year-old white man presented with a pruritic eruption on the neck of 3 months’ duration. The rash had not responded to a potent topical corticosteroid prescribed by another practitioner for the presumed diagnosis of eczema. The patient reported no current health problems. His history included a pubic louse infestation and several episodes of uncomplicated urethral gonorrhea. He readily admitted to having unprotected sexual intercourse with prostitutes.

For 3 months, a 50-year-old man had been bothered by a worsening and spreading rash on his feet and lower legs. The multiple, nodular, fungating lesions were nonpruritic. The heterosexual, unmarried patient did not use intravenous drugs and did not know his HIV status; he denied any significant medical history.

A 34-year-old woman presented with a3-day history of painful blisters of theupper lip and nose. Five days earlier,a rapid antigen test had confirmedstreptococcal pharyngitis; amoxicillinwas prescribed. The patient had nohistory of herpes and was immunocompetent.She had several youngchildren and did not work outsidethe home.

A 34-year-old woman (gravida 3, para 2) presented at 28 weeks’ gestation with a 3-week history of a pruritic rash that had progressively worsened. Multiple vesicles and bullae were noted; erosions and crusts on older lesions were also present. The patient had had no prodromal symptoms; she denied fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. The purplish hue on her body resulted from application of the topical antibacterial agent, gentian violet, which the patient had obtained in Mexico.

Several lesions had appeared 1 week earlier on the left distal thigh of a 47-year-old woman. The affected area featured erythema with irregular faded borders and central redness with very fine papules over the L3 dermatome. The indurated and tender central areas suggested inflammation or necrosis. There were no vesicles and there was no drainage.