Bedside diagnostics in dermatology: Parasitic and noninfectious diseases

Robert G Micheletti; Arturo R Dominguez; Karolyn A Wanat

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2016.06.035

Bedside diagnostics in dermatology: Parasitic and noninfectious diseases

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Aug;77(2):221-230. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.06.035.

Authors

Robert G Micheletti¹, Arturo R Dominguez², Karolyn A Wanat³

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Dermatology and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Departments of Dermatology and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas.
³ Department of Dermatology, Pathology, and Infectious Diseases, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

PMID: 28711083
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.06.035

Abstract

In addition to aiding the diagnosis of viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases, mineral oil preparation, Tzanck smear, and other techniques can be used to diagnose parasitic infections, neonatal pustular dermatoses, blistering diseases, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and a plethora of other benign and malignant conditions, including granulomatous diseases and tumors. In many cases, these techniques are specific, reliable, and easy to perform and interpret. In others, a certain amount of training and expertise are required. In the proper clinical scenario, these tests are rapid, economical, and compare favorably with other diagnostic methods.

Keywords: Tzanck smear; bedside diagnostic tests; mineral oil preparation; parasitic infections; quality improvement; rapid diagnosis; skin snip.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Dermatology / methods*
Female
Humans
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / diagnosis
Mite Infestations / diagnosis
Onchocerciasis / diagnosis
Point-of-Care Testing*
Skin Diseases, Parasitic / diagnosis*
Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / diagnosis*
Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Skin Neoplasms / pathology
Staining and Labeling
Vaginal Diseases / diagnosis
Vulvar Diseases / diagnosis