Connective tissue naevus.

A case of non hereditary connective tissue naevus without any association with systemic complaints, in a 20-year old male is reported.

A clinical study of vitiligo.

A clinical study of one hundred patients having vitiligo revealed the incidence among new patients to be 1.84%. The male/female ratio was 1:1.22. Family history of vitiligo was available in 8% of our patients. The different morphological pattern consisted of vitiligo vulgaris (39 cases), focal vitiligo (27 cases), acrofacial vitiligo (18 cases), lip-tip vitiligo (7 cases), lip vitiligo (5 cases), segmental vitiligo (3 cases) and universal vitiligo (1 case). Associated diseases include atopic dermatitis (2 cases), Hansen's disease (2 cases), alopecia areata (1 case), halo naevus (1 case), chronic urticaria (1 case), lichen planus (1 case), diabetes mellitus (9 cases), hypertension (4 cases), hypothyroidism (2 cases), epilepsy (1 case) and IHD (1 case).

Pigmented xerodermoid.

An 18-year-old female who presented with features suggestive of pigmented xerodermoid is reported.

Bacterial clearance with WHO--recommended multidrug regimen for multibacillary leprosy.

Sixty multibacillary leprosy patients with an average initial bacteriological index (BI) of 2.5 were followed up after they had completed the WHO--recommended multidrug therapy regularly till attaining bacteriological negativity. The minimum duration of treatment was two years as stipulated by WHO and the maximum duration for reaching negativity was seven years (mean 4.25 years). The minimum time for the attainment of bacteriological negativity was one year and the maximum was 6.75 years (mean 3.75 years). The higher the initial BI the longer was the time taken for the attainment of bacteriological negativity. The average fall of BI per year was 0.67. Dapsone monotherapy received before the commencement of MDT, prednisolone received during therapy and the type of leprosy did not have any effect on the time taken for bacteriological clearance. There was no relapse during the period of observation (mean 2.83 years). The site to attain negativity last was the ear lobe, in 95% of the cases.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of the community and patients regarding leprosy in Mangalore--a study.

To get acquainted with the knowledge, attitude and practices of the community and the patients towards leprosy so as to evolve a suitable health education programme, a study was conducted in Mangalore as per the schedule prepared for the purpose. The information so collected has been summarised below. Very few people among the community know that leprosy is caused by a germ (8%). Knowledge regarding this was slightly better (22%) among patients. Only 15% of the community members and 42% of the patients were aware of the early signs of the disease. 54% of the community members and 41% of the patients felt that leprosy is contagious. 60% of the community and 86% of the patients were of the opinion that leprosy is curable. Many believe that leprosy is associated with deformities and disabilities (community 64%, patients 76%). Most of the community members (79%) and patients (88%) said it is necessary to attend a hospital for treatment when leprosy is suspected. 60% of the community members and 56% of the patients felt that it is necessary to segregate leprosy patients. The findings are highlighted and discussed in the article.