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Introduction: Ageing is a complex, natural process. Due to structural and physiological changes that occur as a consequence of intrinsic and extrinsic aging, the elderly population is highly susceptible to dermatological disorders. These changes are associated with significant morbidity and stress. Hence, it is important to have a better understanding of the dermatological needs of elderly patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern and frequency of geriatric dermatoses in patients attending the Skin Outpatient Department (OPD) at a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy at BPS Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat), Haryana, India, from September 2022 to February 2023. A total of 300 patients aged 60 years and above, of either sex, who consented to participate were enrolled. Detailed history taking and dermatological examinations were performed, and relevant investigations were carried out. Data was collected, entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet, and analysed for frequency, percentage, and mean of variables. Results: Out of the total 300 patients, 155 (51.66%) were males and 145 (48.33%) were females. The majority of patients belonged to the age group of 60-69 years (n=171, 57%). Wrinkling (n=287, 95.66%) was the most common physiological skin finding, followed by dry skin (n=157, 52.33%). Among pathological dermatoses, infectious dermatoses were present in (n=134, 44.66%) patients, followed by eczemas (n=92, 30.66%). Papulosquamous disorders were seen in (n=17, 5.66%) patients. Hypertension was the most common systemic illness present in (n=53, 17.66%) patients. Conclusion: Physiological and pathological skin changes in the elderly are a common cause of consultation in dermatology OPD. Physiological changes were seen in all patients. Among pathological changes, infections were the leading dermatoses, followed by eczemas and papulosquamous disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Epilepsy is the commonest childhood neurological disorder mostly affecting children in the first decade of life. Globally, school teachers have many false beliefs and misinformation about epilepsy. The knowledge and attitude of teachers towards students with epilepsy have a huge impact on their future life. Aim: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy of school teachers towards students with epilepsy. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 20 August 2022 to 31 October 2022 at BPS GMC for women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana, India, using self-administered questionnaire including randomly selected 427 school teachers from 15 schools of Haryana (India). The questionnaire included the scale of Attitude Towards Persons with Epilepsy (ATPE), a summated rating scale for measuring knowledge and attitude. Several additional knowledge and attitude items were also evaluated. Effect of socio-demographic characteristics of participants were also evaluated as a predictor of knowledge and attitude. Data was collected and statistics were applied using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software and p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean age of teachers in the present study was 37.7±8.8 years (range=23-58 years). Among the total participants, 79.4% were female teachers. They had approximately two times higher probability of getting a good knowledge and attitude score. Age group 30 to 50 years had higher chances of getting a good knowledge score. Teaching experience has a positive effect on the knowledge score. Awareness about epilepsy was quite high (85%). Only 14% teachers had previous or current contact with persons with epilepsy. A total of 10.7% teachers had performed first aid management of seizures and 9% of teachers thought that epilepsy is contiguous. The median score for knowledge and attitude were 6 (range= -21 to +26) and 25 (range=-19 to +62), respectively showing overall good knowledge and attitude score. But there were deficits in individual items score and first aid management of seizures. Conclusion: The overall result of study indicated a good knowledge and attitude towards students with epilepsy, among the participant teachers. Although there were some deficient areas which need to be improved regarding knowledge and attitude and first aid management of seizure episodes. There is a pressing need for integration of educational training courses about epilepsy in the teachers training curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectiveness of diverse eco-safe strategies against mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) infesting Indian mustard was evaluated for two years with 11 treatments viz., Beauveria bassiana @ 108 CS ml-1, neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) @ 5 per cent, neem oil @ 5 per cent, B. bassiana @ 108 CS ml-1 after clipping of infested twigs (CIT), nimbecidine @ 0.03 per cent, NSKE @ 5 per cent after CIT, neem oil @ 5 per cent after CIT, nimbecidine @ 0.03 per cent after CIT, clipping of infested twigs alone, dimethoate 30 EC @ 625 ml ha-1 and control. The pooled data revealed that dimethoate contributed maximum efficacy in reducing L. erysimi population over control (89.74 %), followed by B. bassiana after CIT (83.16 %) and nimbecidine @ 0.03 per cent after CIT (80.51%). Seed yield (1716 kg ha-1) was maximum in dimethoate, followed by treatments B. bassiana @ 108 CS ml-1 after CIT (1636.5 kg ha-1) and nimbecidine @ 0.03per cent after CIT (1608 kg ha-1), whereas minimum (1211 kg ha-1) in the control. The gross income (Rs 64350 ha-1) and net return (Rs 18017 ha-1) were highest in dimethoate, followed by B. bassiana @ 108 CS ml-1 after CIT with gross income of Rs 61388 ha-1 and net return of Rs 13865 ha-1. The incremental cost-benefit ratio was also maximum in dimethoate (1: 19.58), followed by B. bassiana, nimbecidine and NSKE treatments (1: 6.33 to 7.27). Results suggest that B. bassiana @ 108 CS ml-1 after CIT and nimbecidine @ 0.03 per cent after CIT can be used as a non-chemical control option as a substitute to chemical control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Skin disorders are common in paediatric age group and are associated with significant morbidity and stress. These differ from adults in clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis. Data on pattern of paediatric dermatoses can be used in planning healthcare programs. Aim: To study the clinical pattern and prevalence of various skin conditions in paediatric age group in tertiary care centre of rural Haryana, India. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College (W) Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana, India. A total of 1,003 consecutive Outpatient Department (OPD) patients upto age of 14 years presenting with skin conditions were included in study from a period May 2021 to January 2022. Various parameters like age, gender, pattern of distribution and type of skin lesions were assessed. Results were entered in excel sheet and frequency, percentages were calculated. Results: Out of 1,003 patients 56.53% were males and 43.47% were females. Maximum number (33.20%) of patients were in the age group of 1-5 years. Scabies (24.12%) was the most reported dermatological condition. Majority of dermatoses belonged to infections (32.40%) and infestations (24.83%) followed by eczemas (17.34%). Bacterial infections (15.25%) were most common infections followed by fungal (10.37%) and viral (6.78%) infections. Conclusion: In the present study, infections and infestations were most common dermatological conditions. This study provides insight about the pattern of various dermatoses among children in rural setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]