Cutaneous changes in chronic alcoholics.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption can have a variety of cutaneous manifestations. Awareness of the cutaneous changes of alcohol abuse can allow early detection and intervention in an attempt to limit the adverse medical consequences. Hence a study was planned to determine the cutaneous changes in chronic alcoholics. AIMS: To determine the cutaneous changes in chronic alcoholics. METHODS: All the patients attending alcohol de-addiction camps were examined for cutaneous changes. The results were analyzed using Gausian test and compared with other reports. RESULTS: Out of 200 alcoholics examined for cutaneous changes, 182 (91%) had cutaneous, nail, hair or oral cavity changes. Nail changes were found in 51 (25.5%) alcoholics, koilonychia being the commonest (16%). Oral changes were present in 107 (53.5%) alcoholics and changes due to nutritional deficiency in 20 (10%). Diseases due to poor hygiene were seen in 55 (27.5%) alcoholics. Tinea versicolor (14%) and seborrheic dermatitis (11.5%) were the commonest cutaneous changes noted. CONCLUSION: Even though alcohol abuse has a variety of cutaneous manifestations and perhaps aggravates many diseases, there are no specific cutaneous signs of alcoholism. Knowledge of the spectrum of cutaneous manifestations of alcohol abuse can allow its early detection and treatment in an attempt to minimize the medical consequences.

Leprosy lesion on the prepuce of the male genitalia: a case report.

A case of borderline leprosy in type I reaction with cutaneous lesions on the prepuce is reported. The need to examine the genitalia in all male leprosy patients is stressed.

Borderline tuberculoid leprosy of the scalp.

A case of borderline tuberculoid leprosy involving the hairy scalp is reported. To the best of our knowledge, only two paucibacillary leprosy patients with scalp lesion have been reported, and in only one was the scalp covered with hair.

Relapse as histoid leprosy after receiving multidrug therapy (MDT); a report of three cases.

The histoid type of leprosy has been described as occurring in lepromatous leprosy patients who relapse after many years of apparently successful dapsone monotherapy. Three patients who had received the World Health Organization-recommended regimens of multidrug therapy (WHO/MDT) relapsed as histoid leprosy 12-15 years after completion of treatment. In one patient, through mouse foot pad studies, the bacilli were found to be sensitive to rifampin and clofazimine and resistant to dapsone. In the other two patients mouse foot pad studies were inconclusive. The patients were re-started on WHO/MDT. Two patients took regular treatment and improved, both clinically and bacteriologically. One patient was irregular in treatment, and 1 year after re-starting WHO/MDT nodules were still present although the bacterial index had fallen slightly.

Long-term follow up of multibacillary leprosy patients with high BI treated with WHO/MDT regimen for a fixed duration of two years.

Forty-six, newly detected, previously untreated multibacillary (MB) patients with a bacterial index (BI) of > or = 3+ who had received WHO/MDT for 2 years were followed up for a total duration of 424 person-years and a mean duration of 9.26 +/- 2.98 years per patient. The BIs of the patients continued to fall, and all of the patients, except one, reached skin-smear negativity. WHO/MDT was well accepted and well tolerated. Relapse, which was defined as an increase in the BI of 1+ or more with or without clinical evidence of activity, was observed in only one patient, giving a relapse rate of 2.2% or 0.23 per 100 person-years in patients with a BI of > or = 3+ after long-term follow up. This patient was started on a second course of WHO/MDT to which he responded favorably. WHO/MDT for a fixed duration of 2 years for MB patients as recommended by the WHO is vindicated.

Papillon-lefevre Syndrome : Improvement of Skin Lesions After the Loss of Permanent Teeth.

A case of Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) showed improvement of skin lesions after the loss of permanent teeth which is an unusual feature. The case is being reported because of this feature.

Pattern of skin diseases in Bantwal Taluq, Dakshina Kannada.

A survey was conducted to find out the pattern of skin diseases among patients who attended the fortnightly medical camp held in Bantwal Taluq, a rural area. Infective disorders were found in 42.68% and non infective in 41.58%. Among the infective disorders fungal infections were most common (24.08%). Among the non infective dermatoses eczemas were most common (33.93%). On comparing the proportional infectivity rate of infectious diseases among males and females it was found that in scabies males were more affected than females.

Prevalence of various dermatoses in school children.

In a school survey of 1161 children from 2 different schools studying in 1st to 5th standard between the age of 6 and 12 years, 890 (76.65%) students were found to have disorders of skin and its appendage. Most of the dermatoses were asymptomatic and were diagnosed in the routine examination. Nevoid conditions were seen in 255 (21.96%) students. Communicable dermatoses were noted in 221 (19%) students and nutritional deficiencies were seen in 78 (6.71%) students. Rest of the students had miscellaneous condition. Health education and good personal hygiene will definitely help to improve the health status of the school children.

Dermatoses of the hand-an observation.

After going through 1000 case files of patients registered in the skin department of K.M.C. Hospital, it was found that 166 (16.6%) of them had dermatoses restricted to their hands. Based on the clinical findings and clinical diagnosis recorded, the various dermatoses were tabulated and evaluated. Ninety-two males and 74 females had dermatoses of hands. Warts and eczemas formed the major chunk of cases. Females out numbered males among patients with warts and eczemas.

K A P study on HIV / AIDS among first year MBBS students.

This Kap (Knowledge, Attitude, Practical) study was to assess the current level of knowledge among first year M.B.B.S. students about AIDS at the point of entry to medical course. One hundred and seventy-one students were given a pre-tested close ended questionnaire. Overall level of knowledge about AIDS was found to be 64.91%. Male students were found to have better knowledge regarding transmission and prevention of AIDS than female students. Misconceptions were found to exist regarding mode of transmission, prognosis and prevention. Awareness programmes should be initiated among M.B.B.S. students in the first year itself, so that, lacunae can be rectified.

Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus.

87 patients including 64 males and 24 females with diabetes mellitus and skin diseases were studied. The skin manifestations were common during the fifth decade of life. Maturity onset diabetes had increased incidence of skin disease. Incidence of skin disease was common in early diabetes. Infections both bacterial and fungal were seen in majority of patients. Specific cutaneous markers and metabolic changes were rare and seen in long standing diabetes. Infections were the common problems which recurred subsequently.