The Phenomenon of the ‘Starry Sky’ on Blood:Lesson Learned From Severe Malaria Falciparum

Severe malaria occurs when previously uncomplicated malaria infections are then turn to be full blown and tangled by serious, single or multi-organ failures or abnormalities in the patient's blood or metabolism. Clinical deterioration can happen abruptly and unnoticed, due to the masking of other prominent clinical condition like hyperthermia. Making the correct diagnosis as soon as possible is pivotal before administering antimalarial therapy. Diagnosis is made by examining the thick and thin blood films in an attempt to find malaria parasites in the blood sample.The “Starry Sky” appearance is a microscopic feature of severe malaria infection and its exclusively found only in thick blood film. The aim of this minireview is to discuss about theclinical background of“Starry Sky”appearance found in thick blood smear of severe malaria and its brief review combined with our experience in the Deptartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Kristen Indonesia, Jakarta-Indonesia, inhandled blood test from a vulnerable patient with severe malaria and how we pass on the lessons from that story to our students as part of health communication in community based Parasitology. By inserting this story to our lesson materials, we hope can build awareness among our students as future health practitioners and also to the publicthey serveas well as all stake holders; this snow ball action are currently and continously requiredto be done

Study the Impact of Cramming in Medical Students

Aim:To reveal pre-exam cramming among pre-clinical medical students, what drives this practice, failure due to cramming and the problems and difficulties related to the act of cramming.Discussion:Cramming is common practice among struggling medical students. The prevalence of cramming is like an iceberg phenomenon. The act of stacking too many information just the night before an exam probably authorize the perpetrator to remember some information in the short term period and enable them to take in enough information for the exam. Along with this practice also comes sleep deprivation, mental and emotional disturbances and even substance abuse in order to achieve good marks and passing the exam. Unfortunately for some experts, cramming is not considered as learning. Procrastination and some other reason are believed to be the reason the culprit commits cramming. Conclusion:Cramming not only changes the behavior of the perpetrator, but also has an impact on his family, classmates, environment and future.