Wednesday, December 14, 2016
A tip for confusing things
Primary Health Care
Today its a short post ( a mnemonic actually ;p ) on the principles and elements of primary health care. (I was asked in SPM viva a few days back. ;p )
As a rule, always find a mnemonic in the name itself, I took care of it and made it in the easiest way possible. So here it is ..
C- Community participation
A- Approach (multi- sectorial)
R- Right technology (appropriate)
E- Equitable distribution of health services.
Elements of primary health care: MI NEEDS
- MCH and family planning
- Immunization
- Nutrition
- Education
- Endemic and common diseases
- Drugs provision
- Sanitation.
Thats all
Happy Medicowesome :)
- Jaskunwar Singh
Caput v/s Cephalhematoma - Ways to remember.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Langerhans cell histiocytosis notes and mnemonic
Hey!
I'm clearly doing a lot of notes + mnemonic posts. Here's another one on Langerhans cell histiocytosis!
Langerhans lingers
L - Lytic lesion of bones
I - Diabetes Insipidus
N - Nil
G - Eosinophilic Granulomas
E - Exophthalmos
R - Rrrrr.... :P
S - Skin rash
From study group:
Any mnemonic for Hand Schuller Christian disease?
Mnemonic by IkaN: Hands LIE
Lytic bone lesions
Insipidus (Diabetes Insipidus)
Exophthalmos
Mnemonic by Dev: CDE
Calavarial skull defect
Diabetes insipidus
Exophthalmos
Disclaimer: It's a morbid mnemonic. If you are sensitive and religious, don't read it.
Mnemonic by Vinayak: Jesus CHRIST was killed by hammering nails into his HAND, he DIed, his hands' bone got LYSED and we celebrate EXmas:
For calvarial skull defects, you know, wood was also hammered into his head. DI is diabetes insipidus. EX is exophthalmos.
That's all!
-IkaN
Monday, December 12, 2016
Study group discussion: Skeletal resistance to PTH in CRF
ECG basics
So basically, ECG is an electrical representation of heart activity on ECG paper.
Here are some important postulates of ECG paper:
The needle of galvanometer travels 300 big squares in 1 minute or 60 seconds.
That makes 0.2 seconds for each big square.
In turn each big square is divided into 5 small boxes /squares.
So we get each small box counting about
0.04 seconds.
So let's review all calculations:
1 Big square = 0.2 seconds.
1 small square = 0.04 seconds.
Each P wave travels about 2 and 1/2 small squares making upto 0.1 second.
The segment PQ (Sometimes we use PR) again takes 2 and 1/2 small squares making upto 0.1 second.
QRS complex used another 2 and 1/2 small squares making another 0.1 second.
While S-T segments uses 10 small squares forming using 0.4 seconds.
Note: We normally consider 2 and 1/2 small squares but there can be 2 or 3 small squares.
~Ojas
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Pentavalent vaccines
Let's discuss something about the pentavalent vaccines and what advantage they have in the immunization of newborns..
Friedreichs Ataxia notes and mnemonic
Here's another notes + mnemonic post on Friedreichs Ataxia
Genetic stuff:
- Due to mutated frataxin gene
- GAA trinucleotide repeats
- Autosomal recessive
- Mitochondrial iron accumulation due to loss of iron transporter coded by frataxin gene results in oxidized intramitochondrial iron accumulation.
Clinical stuff:
- Cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of death in FA. Cardiomegaly, conduction defects, murmurs, fibrosis are seen.
- Musculoskeletal abnormalities like foot deformities (Hammer toe, pes cavus, pes equinovarus) and scoliosis is seen.
- Diabetes mellitus is seen in 20% of patients
Neurologic stuff:
- Nystagmus
- Titubation
- Dysarthria
- Dysmetria
- Ataxia of trunk and limb movements.
- Loss of proprioception and vibratory sense.
- Extensor plantar response, absence of deep tendon reflexes and weakness is found.
That's all!
Stuff.
-IkaN
Mnemonic: Friedreichs FRIEDS!
Duodenal atresia notes and mnemonic
Duodenal atresia
Hey!
In this post, I wanted to emphasize duodenal atresia is associated with double bubble sign.
It's common in Downs syndrome and polyhydramnios maybe seen in utero.
Bilious vomiting is seen because the obstruction is after the ampulla of Vater.
Because the child is vomiting, abdominal distension is not seen.
That's all!
I need sleep right now.
-IkaN
The Sustainable Development Goals: Mnemonics and explanation
Hi everyone! I'm back with a note. This time on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's).
This is a crisp summary of what we need to know about them as Doctors or Health Care Practitioners (in any part of the world). They're so important that a major chunk of the Coldplay concert in Mumbai was based on them. (And every other person spoke about them. How Magic-al).
And they're Also very important for the Community Medicine students from India. So here goes :
SDG's were adopted by nations of the world on 25th September, 2015 to be achieved till 2030.
They want to do 3 P's.
End Poverty,
Bring Prosperity to all and
Protect the planet.
A. The important Health related Goals :
(Mnemonic by our IkaN)
pH HE EWE
(HE EWE as in Adam and Eve)
1 Poverty
2 Hunger
3 Health care
4 Education
5 Equality
6 Water
7 Energy
B. Goal 3: Ensure Healthy lives and Promote Well Being.
Targets
Remember: BAMS VIP
Baby Adult Mother Sex.
(OR : Adult and Mother have Sex to get Baby)
Vaccine. Infections. Pollution.
Baby:
- Neonatal Mort - has 12 letters , so to be reduced to less than 12 by 2030.
- Under 5 Mortality Rate - 5*5 = 25. So less than 25 by 2030
Adult:
- Decrease the burden of NCDs to one third of present.
- Mental health burden to be reduced. Tobacco control.
- Drug abuse to be tackled.
Mother:
- Maternal Mortality to less than 70 per 1 lakh world wide.
Sex:
- Sexual health and reproductive health strengthening.
Vaccines:
- Promote and develop.
Infections:
- Tackle TB HIV Malaria Other tropical diseases Diarrheal diseases.
Pollution:
- Air, Water, Soil, Noise pollution to be tackled.
Kudos to IkaN who helped me out of this tough spot. This was a life saver and you're the best :* :)
Hope this helps everyone.
Until next time.
~A.P.Burkholderia
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Transient synovitis vs septic arthritis
Hello!
In this post, I'll talk on how to to differentiate transient synovitis from septic arthritis.
Transient arthritis is non specific inflammation of the synovium, related to infection or trauma.
Septic arthritis is bacterial infection of the synovium of the joint.
Modified Kochers criteria can help distinguish the two.
Fever > 38.5
ESR > 40 mm/hr
WBC > 12,000 cells/mL
CRP > 20 mg/dL
Inability to bear weight on the affected limb
More the criteria, more likely the child has septic arthritis.
Here's a mnemonic for modified Kochers criteria: FEW Can Bear Kocher!
Fever, ESR, WBC, CRP, weight bearing.
Acute transient synovitis is the most common cause of painful hip in a child younger than 10 years. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and can mimic Osteoarthritis, Legg Calve Perthes disease, SCFE.
Treatment: Rest, anti inflammatory agents.
That's all!
-IkaN
Myotonic dystrophy notes and mnemonic
Hello!
Here are my notes + a mnemonic
Congenital myotonic dystrophy
- Autosomal Dominant
- CTG trinucleotide repeat
- Genetic anticipation seen
- Hypotonia "floppy infant"
- Hollowing of temporal bones
- Tenting of upper lip
- Respiratory muscle weakness
- Arthrogryposis
- Posterior subcapsular cataracts (Subcapsular spokes in stellate conformation)
Juvenile myotonic dystrophy
- Facial and upper body weakness (Hatchet face due to temporalis, masseter, facial muscle atrophy; frontal baldness)
- Inability to relax muscle (Sustained grip)
- Cardiomyopathy
- Heart block
- Congestive heart failure
- Intellectual impairment
- Gonadal atrophy
- Posterior subcapsular cataracts
- Thenar, hypothenar muscle atrophy (Myotonia evident on percussion)
- Tongue depression
- Dementia
That's all!
Be kind.
-IkaN
Henoch Scholein purpura notes and mnemonic
Hello! Here are my notes + mnemonic on HSP.
IgA-mediated vasculitis of small vessels (IgA and C3 in skin, renal glomeruli, and gastrointestinal tract).
Most common cause of nonthrombocytopenic purpura in children.
Usually follows an upper respiratory infection.
Clinical features are:
Maculopapular rash below waist (Progresses to petechiae to palpable purpura).
Abdominal pain.
Arthritis.
Glomerulonephritis.
That's all!
-IkaN
Friday, December 9, 2016
Rheumatoid arthritis mnemonic
Here's an old mnemonic on some of the clinical features of Rheumatoid arthritis.
Well, the name itself tells it.. RHEUMATOID ;p
R- Respiratory distress (Interstitial lung disease, bronchiolitis, pleural effusion)
H- Haematological manifestations (anemias, thrombocytosis, neutropenia)
E- Extra- articular RA (ExRA)
U- Urinary tract infections (mainly drug- induced)
M- Median nerve compression/ Morning stiffness
A- Amyloidosis
T- Tenosynovitis and bursitis
O- Ocular manifestations (Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, scleritis, episcleritis)
I- Immunologic manifestations (Sjogren's, Felty's and Caplan's syndrome)
D- Deformities (boutonniere, swan- neck, button- hole)
Thats all :)
- Jaskunwar Singh
A case on Medical ethics
Today I am gonna discuss with you a simple case based on medical ethics. A Forensic Medicine professor asked me in final viva last year. So here it goes...
Thursday, December 8, 2016
3 month old with hypotonia
3 month old baby with history of honey intake (Given by grandpa) presents with constipation, feeding difficulty, hypotonia. What is the cause of the baby's symptoms?
1. Ingestion of preformed toxin
2. Ingestion of pesticide
3. Ingestion of bacterial spore
4. Bacterial infection of the meninges
5. Urinary tract infection
Answer given below:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
If you picked 1, you're wrong.
Infant botulism is caused by botulinium spores in honey, corn syrup that germinate and multiply in the intestinal tract and produce toxin.
Adult botulism is caused by ingestion of preformed toxin.
I just wanted to make that point clear. And emphasize how tricky any exam can get with word play.
Don't stress.
That's all! =)
Oh and the answer is 3.
-IkaN
How to apply for USMLE exams
Many medicowesomites have asked about how to apply for their USMLE exams. Finally, here is the procedure. Sorry this took so long
I have answered all the queries in the end.
If you have any more questions, comment in the commments section below and I'll try to reply :)
Descriptive Epidemiology
Here's a video telling you a little bit of the Descriptive Epidemiology.
Let me know how you like it and I can continue to make some more to finish it up and tell you more about Epidemics!
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Stigmata of infective endocarditis
Here is another stigmata apart from those mentioned previously by IkaN in a post here,
Stigmata of infective endocarditis:-
(Remember- It's all in the hands)
- Janeway's lesions: non- tender, erythematous macules on the palms and soles.
- Osler's nodes: ephemeral spots of painful nodular erythema on hands and feet.
- Splinter haemorrhages: seen on the nails.
Thats all!
- Jaskunwar Singh
Glaucoma
There is damage to the optic nerve, etiology of glaucoma is yet to be known.
Buerger's disease
Here's a short post on important points in diagnosis of Buerger's disease (don't confuse the name with Berger's disease which is IgA nephropathy) also known as Thromboangiitis obliterans.
- Recurrent inflammation and thrombosis of small and medium sized vessels
- Hands and feet are affected the most
- Vasculitis and ischemia (causing blackish discoloration of skin)
- Chronic smoking (a definite predisposing/ risk factor)
Clinical features and diagnostic criteria:
- male patient 30-40 years of age
- history of chronic tobacco use
- Angiography: - cock- screw appearance of arteries of wrists and ankles
- tree root/ spider leg appearance due to collateral circulation
- Exclusion of other vascular diseases ( Raynaud's phenomenon, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, endocarditis, hypercoagulable states, auto-immune disorders) is important.
- Skin biopsy (rare)
Note: A possible Rickettsial infection (mostly Rickettsia rickettsiae) could be there which adds on to the pathology of the disease! (usually in cases of amputation of the affected area)
Thats all!
- Jaskunwar Singh