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Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Primary scarring alopecias (PSAs) are a rare group of dermatological disorders with overlapping clinical features. They result in permanent hair loss and significant psychological morbidity., Aims: To analyze the clinico-epidemiology of PSAs of the scalp, along with clinico-pathological correlation., Methods: We conducted a cross sectional, observational study including 53 histopathologically confirmed cases of PSA. Clinico-demographic parameters, hair care practices, and histologic characteristics were noted and statistically analyzed., Results: Among 53 patients (mean age 30.9 ± 8.1 years, M: F 1:1.2, median duration 4 years) with PSA, lichen planopilaris (LPP) was most common (39.6%, 21/53), followed by pseudopelade of Brocq [30.2%, 16/53], discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) [16.9%, 9/53], and non-specific scarring alopecia (SA) (7.5%, 4/53), while central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), folliculitis decalvans, and acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) accounted for 1 case each. Forty-seven patients (88.7%) demonstrated predominant lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate, while basal cell degeneration and follicular plugging were the commonest histological changes. Perifollicular erythema and dermal mucin deposition were noted in all patients with DLE (both P < 0.05). Nail involvement ( P = 0.004) and mucosal involvement ( P = 0.8) were more common in LPP. Single alopecic patches were characteristic of DLE and CCCA. Hair care practices (non-medicated shampoo > oil) had no significant association with the subtype of PSA. ( P = 0.4)., Conclusion: PSAs are a diagnostic challenge for dermatologists. Thus, histology and clinico-pathological correlation should be performed in all cases for proper diagnosis and treatment., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Indian Journal of Dermatology.)

Introduction: Trophic ulcer is a dreaded complication of leprosy. Secondary infection compounds the damage to the already neglected ulcer., Aims: To find out the bacterial pathogens in the isolates from trophic ulcers of leprosy and to find the drug sensitivity of the aerobic isolates so as to start a suitable antibiotic therapy., Methodology: An institution-based, cross-sectional study done over a period of 2 years. Swab was taken from the deeper part of the ulcer. It was put on a suitable culture media. Bacteriological profile was determined and antibiogram was done subsequently., Results: Sixty patients with trophic ulcer secondary to leprosy were screened, among which all were screened for aerobic isolates and 38 were screened for anaerobic isolates. Among the aerobic isolates, 88% of patients were culture-positive. The most common organism was Staphylococcus aureus (37.7%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.64%), Proteus mirabilis (15.09%), Escherischia coli (13.2%), Klebsiella (9.43%). Maximum overall sensitivity was seen with amikacin (93.1%) and linezolid (89.65%). Maximum overall resistance was noted with cotrimoxazole (58.62%) and coamoxiclav (51.72%). Among the 38 patients cultured for anaerobic isolates, 17 were culture-positive for anaerobic organisms. Isolates showing Peptococcus were 6 (15.7%), purely Peptostreptococcus were 4 (10.5%), purely bacteroides were 3 (7.8%), and mixed growths were 4 (10.5%)., Conclusion: Secondary bacterial infection is quite common in leprosy trophic ulcers. The most common organism was Staphylococcus aureus . Isolates were mostly sensitive to amikacin and linezolid and resistant to cotrimoxazole and coamoxiclav. Anaerobic isolates were not uncommon, with Peptococcus being the most common among them., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Context: Illnesses affecting sexual organs and its correlation with improper sexual behavior lead to a negative attitude and discriminating behavior towards people affected by such disorders., Aim: The aim was to study the stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among patients attending Suraksha clinic at a tertiary care hospital in northern India., Settings and Design: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study., Subjects and Methods: The present study was conducted at Suraksha (STI) clinic, King George's Medical University, Uttar Pradesh. A total of 487 STI patients (clinically and/or laboratory-confirmed) were contacted telephonically, of which 49 finally participated in the study. Stigma was assessed using modified and pretested version of India HIV-related stigma scale adapted in context to sexually transmitted diseases., Statistical Analysis: Quantitative variables were expressed as mean with standard deviation, and independent sample t -test was used to compare the mean values. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: Mean scores of enacted, vicarious, felt normative, and internalized stigma for 49 patients (out 487) who finally participated in the study were 0.04±0.11, 0.55±0.70, 1.21±0.96, and 0.86±0.67, respectively. Unmarried/divorced/separated patients had significantly higher vicarious and felt normative stigma scores as compared to married individuals. Mean score for felt normative stigma was significantly higher among homosexual/bisexuals in comparison to heterosexual individuals., Conclusions: Efforts should be directed towards the provision of integrated services through sexual health-oriented campaigns to address the stigma associated with STI in a more comprehensive way., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Placement of decorative tattoo on the skin may lead to various immunological, infective, and coincidental complications. Inoculation of human papillomavirus leading to development of verruca is an uncommon complication of tattoos. The present report highlights the development of verruca vulgaris, developing after 2 years of tattooing in a young male., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest. What is new? Prolonged latency period before the onset of verruca over tattoo is an uncommon entity, which may be seen in Indian patientsCarbon particles present in black dye impart an immunocompromised area for the growth of HPV.

Drug hypersensitivity is an unpredictable, immunologically mediated adverse reaction, clustered in a genetically predisposed individual. The role of "hapten concept" in immune sensitization has recently been contested by the "pharmacological interaction" hypothesis. After completion of the "human genome project" and with the availability of high-resolution genotyping, genetic susceptibility to hypersensitivity for certain drugs has been proved beyond doubt though the trend is ethnicity and phenotype dependent. Application of this newly acquired knowledge may reduce or abolish the morbidity and mortality associated with cutaneous drug hypersensitivity.

Background: There have been various controversial reports regarding the efficacy of topical agents in topical therapy of alopecia areata., Aim: The study aims to find out the effective ones among the readily available ones for a dermatologist., Materials and Methods: Eighty patients were chosen from the skin OPD of Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal, after evaluating the exclusion criterions. Treatments were continued for 3 month period and a follow up after further 3 months. After dividing them into four groups-group-I (topical steroids), group-II (topical tretinoin 0.05%) group-III (dithranol paste 0.25%), and group-IV (white soft petrolatum jelly)-patients were evaluated., Results: Seventy percent of group-I, 55% of group-II, 35% of group-III, and 20% of the control group (white soft petrolatum jelly) responded favorably. Side effects in the form of dermatitis and hyperpigmentation were seen in group-III. However, no patient discontinued from the study., Conclusion: We conclude that both topical steroids and tretinoin were fairly effective in limited variant of alopecia areata.

This paper reports the findings obtained from an epidemiological study conducted on the Totos-a sub-Himalayan tribe who were at the verge of extinct in early 70's in the state of W.B. The place in which they live is not easily accessible to the outsiders. The present study investigated socio-demographical aspects and the level of psychiatric morbidity within the Toto community. The study had been conducted on the total population of 1021 as available in the study period of 6 weeks. A socio-demographic profile on the tribal community had been drawn. The findings showed that proportion for male and female were close to each other, though, interestingly children below 15 years of age had accounted for almost half of the entire population. The socio-demographic profile that included other bio-social and social cultural factor were also discussed. Psychiatric morbidity was investigated within the Toto community. The results showed about 50 per thousand of the Toto population were psychiatrically morbid with females being more affected than that of males. The rate of variation of different psychiatric disorder had been studied and the obtained findings indicated that the Totos mostly suffer from depression though other disorders were also found of very low rate compared to that of depression. The findings of psychiatric morbidity had been discussed with each of the socio-demographic factors after proper statistical analysis.

A door to door field-survey was conducted in two villages by a team of psychiatrists with the aim of assessing the mental morbidity of the population. The present communication is restricted to the mental morbidity of the elderly population aged 60 years and above. The total sample comprised 183 persons (male 85, female 98). Majority of the families (44.2%) belonged to class IV according to Pareek and Trivedi's scale. Sixty one percent of the elderly population was mentally ill. Women had a higher rate of morbidity than men (77.6% and 42.4% repetitively). The overwhelming majority of the affected persons were depressives. Rate of dementia was low.

The same team of workers surveyed a rural and an urban sample of the same tribe (Santal) by the same method. It was found that urbanization had little effect on the total mental morbidity. But stress-dependent disorders were commoner in the urban tribe.

A case is described of bilateral frontal lobe CT Scan abnormality associated with ECT in an adolescent. Possible causes and risk factors are discussed.

An epidemic psychogenic disorder called "Jhin-Jhini" which broke out in a village in West Bengal, is described. Tlie social anthropological perspective is explored.

58 cases of suicide were recorded in one year in a cluster of villages comprising a police-station area. The incidence was 43.4 per lakh. Women out numbered men. Two-thirds of the victims were aged below 25 years. In women the commonest cause of suicide was quarrel with husband and in men it was quarrel with parents. Poisoning with insecticide was the mode of suicide in an overwhelming majority of cases. The situational, psychological and socio-cultural perspectives have been discussed.

Leprosy, one of the most chronic tropical diseases, acts as a unique psychosocial stressor for the social stigma associated with it. The present study assessed the nature of such stigma and its possible effect on the patient's mental health. Leprosy patients perceive that (a) their illness evokes public fear and hate, (b) it is degrading and humiliating and they should be segregated from family and society and (c) it is incurable and a consequence of sin. Psychiatric morbidity is commoner among the in-patients (64%) than among the out-patients (25%).

A field survey of psychiatric morbidity was conducted in a village by a door to door survey. The survey was repeated after 10 years by the same team and by the same method. The aim was to compare the rates of mental morbidity of the community at the interval of a decade and to trace out during the second survey all the persons - both ill and well - found in the first survey and to assess their mental health status.Though the total morbidity did not change from 1972 to 1982 there was a definite rise in the rates of morbidity of Hysteria and Anxiety showed a slight fall in 1982. The health population of 1972 traced and assessed in 1982 showed a lower rate of morbidity than the total population of 1982. The rate of recovery of the morbid stock assessed after ten years was about 29 % and as many as 14.8% of the morbid people died during this period. This death rate is much higher than that of healthy population assessed after ten years (h.9%). 47.8% of the cases detected in the first survey were found to be ill during the second survey richer with the same diagnosis or with a new diagnosis.

Thirty married males with sexual dysfunction were first examined by the venereologist in the STD clinic. Then they were assessed with General Health Questionnaire-36 items (Physical illness items removed) (GHQ-36P) and Hamilton Rating Scale for depression (HRS-D). Results were compared with properly matched controls. 53 % of the patients belonged to age group of 25-34 years. Erectile importence was the most common type' of sexual dysfunction. 80% of the patients scored high(≥ 5) in GHQ-36P. Depression of moderate to severe degree were present in more than 75% of the high scorers.

21 married men were treated for erectile defect and premature ejaculation (both primary & secondary) by modified Masters-Johnson technique. 16(76.2%) recovered. The success rate was higher in secondary cases (83.3%). Best results were obtained in 30-39 yrs age group. The modified technique has been described in detail. Factors favourable and unfavourable for success have been discussed.

The study was designed to explore the non-psychotic morbidity amongst the referred cases with somatic symptoms. After excluding all organic, psychotic and mentally retarded cases 81 patients were assessed by General Health Ouestionnaire-36. Physical Illness Items removed (GHO-36P) and diagnosed according ICD-9, 39 matched subjects were taken as control and was assessed also by GHQ-36P. Anxiety neurosis was more common among these patients who were suffering for less than 6 months whereas depression was more common among patients who were suffering for more than a year. Referred cases had significant differences in GHQ-36P scoring.

The mode of spread of epidemic Koro in a village in West Bengal has been described and the psychological principles involved in it have been explained.