Journal of Agromedicine
Volume 12, Issue 4, 2007, Pages 81-85

Blistering eruption in a latino migrant farmworker (Article)

Feldman S.* , Vallejos Q. , Whalley L. , Quandt S. , Brooks T. , Cabral G. , Earp P. , Bischoff W. , Arcury T.
  • a Center for Dermatology Research, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, United States, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, United States
  • b Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, United States
  • c Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, United States
  • d Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, United States
  • e Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, United States
  • f Harvest Family Clinic, Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc., Wilson, NC, United States
  • g Harvest Family Clinic, Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc., Wilson, NC, United States
  • h Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, United States
  • i Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, United States

Abstract

Skin rashes are among the most common problems seen by those providing health care to agricultural workers. We present a case report of a migrant farmworker patient with a painful, blistering eruption of the axilla and adjacent skin developing after an insect bite. The possibility of infection was not initially considered, and teledermatology was helpful in making the diagnosis of bullous impetigo. This was important because initial culture confirmation was not obtained and antibiotic treatment had not been initiated. After the consultation, the impetigo was treated by empiric antibiotic coverage. The environmental conditions of migrant farmworkers raise special issues for infectious skin diseases like bullous impetigo. Crowded living conditions, lack of proper sanitary facilities, and poor accessibility to health care increase the risk of occurrence and spread of this disease. With the recent emergence of multi-drug-resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in community settings, this case report should serve to reinforce the need to recognize the possibility of infection and to obtain culture specimens at the initial visit to better treat and control this infectious skin condition. © 2007 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Infection Epidemiology Health service research Impetigo CA-MRSA Underserved

Index Keywords

differential diagnosis Diagnosis, Differential Hexapoda occupational disease human impetigo Agriculture ethnology Mexico United States Young Adult hygiene Humans Treatment Outcome male case report risk factor Risk Factors Agricultural Workers' Diseases Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous bullous skin disease Article adult migration antiinfective agent Transients and Migrants Anti-Bacterial Agents methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-58149299848&doi=10.1080%2f10599240801986322&partnerID=40&md5=e002cfcbb59dba2fce75a1761704718e
DOI: 10.1080/10599240801986322
ISSN: 1059924X
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English