Nutritional status and morbidity profile of children with leprosy contact in a rural community.

An observational pilot study was conducted to assess the nutritional status and morbidity profile of childhood contacts of leprosy in an endemic area (Chengalpattu) in India. A total of 70 such children were included in the study. Sociodemographic data were collected using a one-to-one interview method and the children were evaluated by dermatologists qualified in paediatric leprosy. The obtained data were computed. Three children were diagnosed to have leprosy through this study. Nutritional status assessment in these children demonstrated malnutrition, a common finding. Regular contact screening of children in endemic areas for early case detection, disability prevention and thereby prevention of community transmission is mandatory. Further research is needed concerning the role of malnutrition in children and its relation to morbidity in leprosy. The closeness and duration of contact of leprosy is also an important risk factor. Effective strategies to diagnose subclinical infection are needed.

Palmoplantar psoriasis- ahead in the race-a prospective study from a tertiary health care centre in South India.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common and chronic T cell mediated skin disorder with varied clinico-morphological types. Most of the published studies have reported chronic plaque type psoriasis to be the commonest type. AIM: To find the incidence of palmoplantar psoriasis in a tertiary health care centre in South India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study done over a period of six months recruiting the patients attending the Dermatology out-patient department in a tertiary health care centre. RESULTS: Incidence of palmoplantar psoriasis was found to be highest among all morphological forms of psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Incidence of palmoplantar psoriasis is under-expressed. It is actually ahead in the race.