Autism Spectrum Disorder: Lost In Space.

Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) is a developmental neurological disorders. PDD consist of Autism, Asperger syndrome, Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified Rett's disorder and childhood di sintegrative disorder. The incidence of the disease has been increased in past one decade when compared to earlier, which is due to increased awareness of the disease. The diagnosis of the PDD mainly by diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder(DSM) published by American psychiatric association. DSM V the pervasive development disorders were considered into single autism like spectrum of disorders. Autism spectrum disorder is not completely curable and hence requires lifelong management Educational and behavioral interventions are more successful when compared to medications alone. Early interventions have more positive results. The present review articles describes regarding the Pervasive developmental disorders, prevalence of autism worldwide, individual countries ,their characteristic features, diagnosis by DSM IV and DSM V, causative factors involved and management.

Study on self-medication among 2nd year medical students.

Background: Self-medication is use of medicines by individuals to treat selfrecognized symptoms and illness. Self-medication is a common type of self-care behavior in the general public, but medical students differ in such practice, as they have knowledge about drugs and diseases. Methods: The present study involved 100 2nd year final term medical students in “Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences,” Shivamogga, Karnataka. Study was questionnaire based, and the results were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods. Results: In our study, 57% were female, and 43% were male. About 60% had knowledge about over the counter (OTC) drugs and considered Ayurveda drugs also OTC drugs. 25% considered self-medication entirely safe, whereas 61% considered self-medication have advantages. Self-medication was preferred by 72% as they felt that there is no need to consult health care professionals for a simple ailment. Selfmedication was practiced by 62% students, among which 86% were appropriate, and 48% among them utilized knowledge from previous consultation. In 28% fever was the most common condition and paracetamol was the most commonly used drug. Conclusions: Self-medication was widely practiced among the students. They had good knowledge of OTC drugs. The practice of self-medication was almost appropriate. In general self-medication must be accompanied by appropriate information. Educating benefits and risks of self-medication is very much needed for medical students and the public now a day.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis: a severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare but serious is a rare but potentially lifethreatening condition. It is primarily a cutaneous reaction to various precipitating agents, characterized by wide spread erythema and detachment of the epidermis from the dermis. Among the various cutaneous adverse drug reactions, TEN occupy a primary place in terms of mortality. In TEN large sheets of skin are lost from the body surface, thereby decreasing the protecting function of the skin, which results in complications. Usually, TEN is self-limited in absence of complications. If complicated by sepsis, there will be increased chances of mortality. The main treatment would be cessation of the causative drug and early admission of the patient for supportive care and minimizing the occurrence of complications. The present articles reviews the etiology, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and treatment protocol, with a case of TEN occurrence in a child of 4 years age after consuming phenytoin syrup for febrile convulsions.