Infectious Diseases and First Aid

First Aid and Infectious Disease

• Hepatitis:
  • Six types caused by different viruses
  • Hepatitis A: transmitted through fecal or oral contact, food, and water
  • Hepatitis B: transmitted through blood, semen, and saliva
  • Hepatitis C: bloodborne and sexually transmitted
  • Hepatitis D: bloodborne, can only be contracted if already infected with Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis E: transmitted through fecal and oral contact
  • Hepatitis G: little known
  • Symptoms: impaired liver function, mild flu-like symptoms, fatigue, loss of appetite
  • Management: immediate referral, use protection; vaccines available for Hepatitis A and B
• AIDS:
  • Caused by HIV retrovirus
  • Symptoms: gradual deterioration of immune system
  • Management: immediate referral, use protection
• HIV:
  • Human immunodeficiency virus
  • Symptoms: persistent fever, night sweats, dry cough, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stool, bruising easily, white spots in the mouth, severe headaches
  • Management: referral, use protection; transmitted through blood, semen, and vaginal secretion

Prevention of Pathogen Transmission

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): gloves, masks
• Handwashing: wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds

Wounds

• Laceration: a sharp object cuts the skin
• Puncture wound: a sharp object pierces the skin
• Blister: a friction-related injury
• Abrasion: a scrape to the skin from an outside source
• Stitches: needed if the laceration is deeper than ¼ inch, longer than ½ inch, or within 6 hours of injury

First Aid

• Bleeding:
  • Check the scene, ask for consent, tell someone to call 911, glove up, apply direct pressure, add more gauze if needed, elevate the extremity
• Abrasions:
  • Check the scene, ask for consent, glove up, spray wound with antiseptic, pat dry with gauze, apply antibiotic cream, cover with band-aid or non-adherent dressing
• Puncture wounds:
  • Get consent, glove up, leave the object in the skin if still in place, activate Emergency Action Plan (EAP), apply pressure, clean with antiseptic, apply antibiotics, cover with band-aid

Skin

• Functions: protects body from germs, regulates temperature, prevents fluid and nutrient loss, transmits information to the brain
• Layers: epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue
• Lesions: caused by direct trauma, allergic reactions, chemical irritants, heat, cold, bacteria, fungi, and viruses

Skin Lesions

• Blister: do not drain, cover with a donut pad or second skin, apply band-aid, cover with non-adherent take

Burns

• Types: chemical, electrical
• Treatment: rinse in cold water, pat dry, apply lubrication, cover wound
• Prevention: keep electric appliances away from water, turn off power sources, be cautious

Infectious Diseases

• Bacterial:
  • Impetigo: highly contagious, symptoms include itching, burning, oozing sores, crusty
  • Methicillin-resistant staph (MRSA): resistant to antibiotics, symptoms include small red bumps resembling pimples, boils, spider bites, deep painful abscesses
  • Abscesses: collection of pus, pain, redness, swelling, fever
  • Acne: clogged sebaceous glands, flares with stress and hormones, no cure
• Fungal:
  • Types: tinea unguium (nails), tinea pedis (feet), tinea cruris (groin), tinea corporis (body), tinea capitis (scalp), candidiasis (vaginal yeast), tinea versicolor (not contagious)
  • Management: antifungal medication, change environment, referral if widespread or condition does not clear
• Viral:
  • (no specific examples listed)

Other Infectious Diseases

• Psoriasis: triggered by stress, symptoms include rapid build-up of rough, dry, dead skin, scaling, management includes topical and systemic therapy, diet changes, and environmental adjustments
• Hyperhidrosis: excessive sweating, symptoms include excessive perspiration, management includes antiperspirants

Bites and Stings

• Ticks:
  • Parasites that attach to people or animals, absorb blood
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease
  • Symptoms: headache, low-grade fever, fatigue, muscle pain
  • Management: immediate physician referral, tick removal using a substance that blocks air, do not attempt to pull the head from the body
• Lice:
  • Body, head, and genital lice
  • Spread through close physical contact
  • Symptoms: nighttime itching, pustules, repetitive picking
  • Management: topical lotions and shampoos, disinfect clothing and equipment