Falling standard of examinations in the medical sciences.

Despite the strictly specified criteria laid down by the Medical Council of India the standard of examinations in the medical sciences in the country is continuously falling. This is mostly because of lack of sincerity and integrity of many examiners. This is an unwelcome situation and requires serious thought and appropriate urgent remedy.

Cerebral malaria in pregnancy.

Three cases of cerebral malaria during pregnancy are described. One patient had intrauterine foetal death and died, one patient delivered a dead baby and the other had severe postpartum haemorrhage. Cerebral malaria worsens the outlook both for the mother and for the foetus.

Fatal pancytopenia in falciparum malaria.

Various pernicious syndromes in Plasmodium falciparum infection are being reported with increasing frequency from tropical countries. A rare case of fatal pancytopenia associated with falciparum malaria is described. The patient developed fulminant aspiration bronchopneumonia which was unresponsive to antibiotic therapy and contributed to the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome. He also had severe uncontrolled gastrointestinal bleeding and possibly an intracerebral haemorrhage. Anaemia and thrombocytopenia are well known in malaria but severe leucopenia is very rare and pancytopenia has not been reported.

Extrapyramidal syndrome in falciparum malaria.

Three unusual cases of falciparum malaria with extrapyramidal syndrome are reported. Two of these cases had extrapyramidal features at admission and the other one developed them after quinine therapy.