Common Infectious Diseases and conditions for massage therapists

Common Infectious Diseases for Massage Therapists

Bacterial Infectious Diseases -

Impetigo - mostly affects children, caused by strep or staph organisms. Superficial v vesicle which ruptures and forms a thick yellowish crust. Most commonly on the face but can spread through scratching

Staph Infections - Infection of hair follicles, oil glands or sweat glands cased by Staph organisms which cause inflammation and formation of abscesses

Food Poisoning - illness due to ingestion of foods that are contaminated with bacteria

Tuberculosis (TB) inflammatory infection commonly involving the respiratory system currently on the upsurge due to more drug resistant strains

Tetanus - infection which causes painful contraction of voluntary muscles

Viral Infectious Diseases

Verruca Vulgaris - Common Wart -raised, rough cauliflower like papules

Herpes Simplex - cold sore/fever blisters. Highly contagious. Also accompanied by fever, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes

Herpes Zoster - shingles. Caused by same virus that causes chicken pox. Viruses live in the dorsal root ganglia

AIDS

Hepatitis

Chicken pox, measles and mumps - highly contagious through respiratory pathways and direct contact. Blotches, rashes or spots and fever.

Rabies

Flu and cold - fever, chills, headache, myalgia, cough and sore throat

Fungal Diseases (not usually contagious)

Athletes foot- scales, itching and redness between toes and soles of the feet

Ringworm - red ringed patches of vesicles with itching and scaling

Thrush and yeast infections

Allergens - non infectious that affect the skin

Contact Dermatitis - skin reaction to external substance chemical irritant or hypersensitivity reaction, characterized by rash limited to area of contact

Atopic dermatitis - inflammation of the skin from food allergies and inhalants

Hives - allergic reaction to stings, food allergies, drug allergies, or nut based oils

Other -

Seborrhea - dandruff

Psoriasis and eczema - mild itchy, red dry spots and silvery scales or dry cracked fissured skin with unknown cause

Acne - chronic inflammation of oil glands

Introduction to Massage Therapy (Lww Massage Therapy & Bodywork Educational Series) - Good Section on Universal Precautions for massage therapists

Universal and Standard Precautions - Home Study Course from Health Positive. Read the material they present and answer test questions to get CE credit. You can create a free login to view class material and test questions before purchasing the class

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