Question

If a patient comes into a hospital with a fever and red-spotted rash, what information do you need to gather to determine if the patient has measles or Rocky Mountain spotted fevrer? What precautions, if any, should you take during your interactions with the patient?

Answer 1

1.To determine whether the patient has measles or Rocky mountain spotted fever.

Measles:

-along with fever and red spotted rash, presence of cough ,running nose, inflamed eyes.

-presence of koplik's spot inside the mouth.

-causative agent: measles virus

-diagnosis: blood sample is taken and measured for measles specific immunoglobulin M.

Rocky mountain spotted fever:

-along with fever and red spotted rash, presence of headache ,muscle pain and vomiting.

-causative agent: rickettsia rickettsii spread by ticks.

-diagnosis: serology -indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay for immunoglobulin G.

2. Precautions while interacting with the measles patient:

- person who take care of the patient should have undergone MMR vaccination.

-ensure appropriate patient placement in a single room.

-use personal protective equipment appropriately including gloves, mask and gown.

-limit transport and movement of patient outside of the room, if the transport is necessary then cover the infected area of the patient properly.

-use disposable patient care equipments.

-prioritise cleaning and disinfection of the rooms of the patient.

Precautions while interacting with patients having Rocky mountain spotted fever:

-wear long pants and sleeves

-use insect repellents

-make tick proof your yard

-check yourself and pets for ticks

-remove ticks with tweezers