Chief Complaint

“I have had this itchy, scaly rash on my scalp and knees for 2 weeks. Because the rash is on my face, I do not want to go outside of my home because I feel other people are always staring at me. I have not been able to sleep, eat, or concentrate.”

History of Present Illness

K.B. is a 30 y.o. white female who presents to the office with a 2-week history of an itchy, scaly rash on both knees and scalp. She states she has had some rashes in the past but never as severe and never on her scalp. For the past 2 weeks she has not been able to sleep or to concentrate at work. When she gets home from work, she stays in the room alone.

Past Medical History

General Health: Hypertension, Allergic rhinitis

Immunizations: Up to date

Hospitalizations: Only hospitalized for childbirth

Surgeries: None

Obstetrics: G2P2

LMP: Total hysterectomy due to fibroid tumors

Medications: Lisinopril 20 mg daily, Loratadine 10 mg daily

Allergies: NKDA

Family History:

• Mother 52 has hypertension
• Father 53 alive and well
• Brother 32 has hypertension
• Sister alive and well
• Has one son 9 and one daughter 8, both alive and well

Social History: The patient lives with her husband and 2 children. She works for Regions Bank as a bank teller. She does not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. She denies any physical or mental abuse.

Review of Systems:

General: No weight loss or weight gain in the last year. No history of fatigue, fever, or chills.

Skin, Hair, and Nails: Has scaly rash on scalp and knees. No changes in any moles. Denies any problems or changes in hair or nails.

HEENT:

Head: Denies dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches. Eyes: Denies any eye pain or redness, does have tearing and itchiness. Denies blurred or double vision, does not wear contacts or glasses. Ears: Denies any ear pain, drainage. Nose: Has been having clear nasal drainage, congestion, sneezing, and itching. Denies any changes or problems with sense of smell. Throat: Denies any sore throats, vocal changes, masses, swelling, or difficulty swallowing. Denies any neck pain, masses or swelling; no swelling of thyroid gland.

Respiratory: Denies any SOB, dyspnea, wheezing or cough.

Breast: No history of breast tenderness masses or discharge.

Cardiovascular: Denies any chest pain, palpitations, history of rheumatic fever, hypertension. No problems with heart or edema in extremities.

Gastrointestinal: No complaints of nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.

Genitourinary/GYN: Denies any dysuria, hematuria, or history of UTIs. No history of urinary frequency.

Musculoskeletal: Denies any weakness, numbness, erythema, twitching, or pain. No joint pain, tenderness, or history of head trauma.

Peripheral Vascular: Denies swelling in face, hands, feet. No history of leg cramps.

Neurologic: Denies fainting, seizures, headaches, weakness or paralysis.

Psychological: Has not been able to sleep, eat, or concentrate for the past 2 weeks.

OBJECTIVE:

General Appearance: 30-year-old white female, alert and well groomed. Noted to have some silvery plaques to bilateral knees and frontal portion of scalp.

Vital Signs: BP 128/72 HR 70, RR 18, Temp. 98.7, HT 5’7ʺ, WT 168

Patient awake, alert, oriented x 4 in NAD

Skin: warm and dry to touch. Silvery plaques to bilateral knees and scalp

HEENT: head nontraumatic, normocephalic

Pupils PERRLA, EOMs intact; disc margins sharp, without hemorrhages, exudates; no AV nicking noted

Ears: bilateral TM with good cone of light and intact

Nose: mucosa pale and boggy, septum midline; no sinus tenderness appreciated

Mouth: mucosa pink, moist; tongue midline; tonsils 1+ without exudate. Post-nasal drip noted

Neck: supple; trachea midline; no LAD

Resp: regular and unlabored; lungs with end expiratory wheezing throughout

CV: RRR, S1 and S2 noted; no s3, s4 or murmur appreciated

Abdomen: soft, non-distended; Bs + x 4; no tenderness with palpation; no CVA tenderness with percussion

Genitalia: deferred

Rectal: deferred

Extremities: warm and without edema; calves supple, non-tender

PV: no LE edema

MS: MAEW

Neuro: alert, cooperative; thought coherent; oriented x 4; cranial nerves II-XII intact

1. List your differentials for her current problems. Remember you should have at least three different differentials for each problem. Include rationale for each differential.
2. At this time, what medical diagnoses are you most concerned about? Do they impact other diagnoses? If so, how?
3. What diagnostic images would you order? Provide your rationale. What are you trying to rule in or out?
4. What laboratory work would you order? What would you anticipate to be abnormal? Provide your rationale for each.
5. What is your comprehensive plan of care? Include your rationales.

ANSWER

Comprehensive Assessment and Plan for K.B.: Addressing Skin Rash and Emotional Impact

Differentials for Skin Rash

Psoriasis: The presence of silvery plaques on knees and scalp, accompanied by intense itching and emotional distress, suggests psoriasis. The characteristic appearance of psoriatic lesions and their distribution are key indicators.
Seborrheic Dermatitis: Given the rash on the scalp and presence of postnasal drip, seborrheic dermatitis is a possibility. It often affects areas with high sebum production, such as the scalp and face.
Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): Atopic dermatitis is a consideration due to the patient’s allergic rhinitis history and itching. While the distribution is less typical, it can vary.

Concerns and Impact of Diagnoses

The primary concern is the significant emotional impact of the skin rash on K.B.’s quality of life, leading to isolation and impaired daily functioning. This emotional toll could exacerbate her inability to sleep, eat, and concentrate. Psychological distress might hinder her adherence to treatment plans.

Diagnostic Images and Rationale

A skin biopsy would be helpful to differentiate between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, as they share some clinical features. Histopathological examination can confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment strategies.

Laboratory Work and Rationale

Complete Blood Count (CBC): To rule out anemia or other blood abnormalities that could contribute to fatigue.
Thyroid Function Tests: To assess thyroid function, as thyroid disorders can influence skin conditions and impact mood and energy levels.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP: An elevated CRP could indicate underlying inflammation, possibly supporting the diagnosis of psoriasis.
Allergy Testing (IgE): Given the patient’s history of allergic rhinitis, allergy testing could identify potential triggers for skin exacerbations.

Comprehensive Plan of Care

Psoriasis Management: If confirmed, initiate topical corticosteroids and vitamin D analogs for psoriasis plaques. Counsel on potential adverse effects and the importance of consistent application.
Emotional Support and Referral: Address K.B.’s emotional distress through counseling or referral to a mental health professional. Consider cognitive-behavioral therapy to help her cope with the impact of the rash.
Skin Hygiene Education: Educate K.B. on proper skin hygiene and moisturization techniques to manage itching and improve skin barrier function.
Collaborative Approach: Collaborate with a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis through histopathological examination and guide treatment decisions.
Follow-Up and Monitoring: Schedule regular follow-ups to assess treatment effectiveness and address any concerns or side effects.

In conclusion, addressing K.B.’s skin rash requires a comprehensive approach that integrates medical and psychological care. Identifying the accurate diagnosis, managing skin symptoms, and providing emotional support are essential to improving her quality of life and overall well-being.