Strengthening of primary health care: key to deliver inclusive health care.

Inequity and poverty are the root causes of ill health. Access to quality health services on an affordable and equitable basis in many parts of the country remains an unfulfilled aspiration. Disparity in health care is interpreted as compromise in 'Right to Life.

Family physicians: importance and relevance.

Due to rapid advancement in medical technology and knowledge patients today prefer treatment from specialists, if they can afford it. Medical treatment has become a purchasable commodity, to be procured as and when required, based on cost and availability.This is unfortunate but true.

CAN WE SATISFY OUR CLIENTS? INTROSPECTION.

Criticism of medical professionals is on the rise. The perception of the medical profession and the media, which educates the clientele, is widely different. The likely causes for dissatisfaction of the clientele and some possible solutions are presented.

VDRL titres in early syphilis before and after treatment.

Objective: To observe the pretreatment VDRL titres in different stages of early syphilis and evaluate the changes in VDRL titre following treatment using different treatment schedules.

Design: Retrospective study was carried out by analysing the records of cases of early syphilis treated between 1976 to 1981.

Setting: Armed Forces personnel treated at different service hospitals in India.

Tuberculoid granuloma in a clinically normal looking skin.

A case of tuberculoid leprosy showing well defined tuberculoid granuloma in the skin without any morphological changes is reported.

Multidrug therapy in hospitalised leprosy cases.

Fifty eight cases including 44 paucibacillary and 14 multibacillary leprosy diagnosed at Command Hospital SC Pune were hospitalised for the entire period of multidrug therapy. 76% cases belonged to high endemic states of India. Reactions occurred in 13 cases during treatment, type I in 10 and type II in three.

Leprosy with pellagroid features (a case report).

A case of leprosy with pellagroid features is presented. Diagnosis of leprosy was confirmed by bacteriological and histopathological examination. A therapeutic trial with nicotinic acid did not result in any improvement.

Dermatitis Cruris Pustulosa et Atrophicans.

Fifteen male soldiers having dermatitis cruris pustulosa et atrophicans were studied clinically, bacteriologically, histopathologicafly and immunologically. Average age at detection was 26 years. Skin lesions were classically distributed on the legs.

A study of palmar ridge malformation in leprosy.

Palmar ridge malformation of 150 male leprosy patients (50 multibacillary and 100 paucibacillary) were compared with matched controls. Significantly high incidence of ridge malformation was found on the palms of multibacillary leprosy patients. The acquired ridge atrophy was found in 32% multibacillary leprosy, 4.

An evaluation of palmar flexion creases and dermatoglyphics in leprosy.

The palmar flexion creases and dermatoglyphics of 150 male leprosy patients (100 paucibacillary and 50 multibacillary leprosy) were compared with 50 matched controls. Among palmar dermatoglyphics a significantly high frequency (P less than 0.001) of palmar pattern in thenar/1st interdigital area was noticed on left palm of multibacillary leprosy patients.

Study of finger print patterns in leprosy.

Finger print patterns of 150 male leprosy patients (100 paucibacillary and 50 multibacillary leprosy) were compared with 50 matched controls. Significant differences were found in finger print patterns of multibacillary leprosy patients and controls. No differences in dermatoglyphic patterns were observed between paucibacillary leprosy and controls.

Inoculation leprosy developing after tattooing--a case report.

A case of Inoculation Leprosy following tattooing in a soldier is being reported. Escape of infection in one tattoo and occurrence of disease in another when tattooing was done simultaneously, is of interest. Possible mechanism for such occurrence is discussed.

Quantification of thermal sensory loss in follow up of progress in leprosy.

Thermal sensory perception quantitatively was studied in follow up of 10 lesions (4 TT, 3 BT and 1 Indeterminate case) of cases put on poly therapy as per WHO regime, for 6 months. Significant thermal sensory improvements was noticed in 4 lesions after 4 months of therapy. Within 2 months of therapy, 3 cases showed improved perception of heat sensation but 1 showed deterioration.

Idiopathic Calcinosis of Scrotum.

A 33 year old male had a s increasing hard nodule on the lower part of the scortal skin, for the last 10 years. Histopathology revealed calcified masses without any ifflammatory recction.

Pattern of Contact Dermatitis Amongst Soldiers.

Six hundred and fifty seven cases suspected to have contact dermatitis reporting at 14 dermatological centres of armed forces hospitals during a 12-month period were investigated. One hundred sixty one cases Showed positive patch tests. Sixty-five cases showed positive patch tests with footwear materials including rubber, leather and canvas.

Quantification of thermal sensory perception in leprosy (a preliminary report).

An instrument called 'Thermosense' was designed and developed for quantitative assessment of thermal sensory perception. Preliminary testing on 20 healthy adult males showed that 39 degrees C was perceived as hot in 19 individuals on the forearm and arm. The perception on the finger tips was less than forearms.

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of leprosy in Indian armed forces.

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of leprosy in 1911 cases of the disease in armed forces personnel were studied. Typewise distribution of cases was Tuberculoid 53.53%, Lepromatous 20.

Absence of triradius d on the palm of a leprosy patient.

An extremely rare finding of absence of digital triradius d in a case of borderline tuberculoid leprosy from Maharashtra is reported with review of literature.

Inoculation leprosy subsequent to dog bite. A case report.

Development of leprosy lesion at the site of inoculation or injury is described by many workers off and on. An interesting case of indeterminate leprosy developing at the site of dog bite is being reported.