Topic:Psoriasis, Allergic dermatitis, scabies, eczema, vitiligo, Stevan Johnson’s syndrome,
Lichen Planus.
Question: Classify and discuss the management of adverse events following vaccination.
Click here for Reference Material-This material is informational alone and is not specifically prepared as an answer for any question. Readers may do their own research before finalising diagnoses according to the characteristics unique to each question. Readers should not proceed without cross-referencing with relevant textbooks as well as standard guidelines available.
Psoriasis can affect the nails, leading to various nail changes known as psoriatic nail dystrophy. Common nail findings in psoriasis include:
- Pitting:
- Tiny pits or dents in the surface of the nails.
- Onycholysis:
- Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed.
- Subungual Hyperkeratosis:
- Thickening of the skin beneath the nail, leading to the lifting of the nail.
- Oil Spots:
- Yellow-red discoloration and spots appearing under the nail plate.
- Nail Discoloration:
- Nails may appear yellow-brown or salmon-pink.
- Splinter Hemorrhages:
- Small, red or brown linear streaks in the nail bed.
- Leukonychia:
- White discoloration of the nails.
Topical Therapies in Psoriasis:
- Topical Corticosteroids:
- Potent anti-inflammatory agents that can reduce redness, itching, and scaling. They are commonly used for mild to moderate psoriasis on the skin and nails.
- Topical Vitamin D Analogs:
- Calcipotriene and calcitriol are synthetic forms of vitamin D that help regulate skin cell growth and reduce inflammation.
- Topical Retinoids:
- Tazarotene, a topical retinoid, can be used to normalize skin cell growth and reduce scaling.
- Coal Tar Preparations:
- Coal tar products can help reduce inflammation and scaling. They are available in various formulations, including shampoos and creams.
- Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors:
- Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are immunomodulatory agents that can be used for sensitive areas such as the face and intertriginous areas.
Systemic Therapies in Psoriasis:
- Oral Retinoids:
- Acitretin, an oral retinoid, can be used for severe psoriasis. It helps normalize skin cell growth but requires monitoring for potential side effects.
- Methotrexate:
- An immunosuppressive medication that can be effective for moderate to severe psoriasis. Regular monitoring of liver function and blood counts is necessary.
- Cyclosporine:
- An immunosuppressive agent that can provide rapid relief for severe psoriasis. It is often used for short-term treatment due to potential side effects.
- Biologics:
- Targeted biological therapies, including TNF-alpha inhibitors (e.g., etanercept, adalimumab), IL-17 inhibitors (e.g., secukinumab), and IL-23 inhibitors (e.g., ustekinumab), have revolutionized psoriasis treatment. They are administered by injection or infusion and provide specific targeting of the immune system.
- Apremilast:
- A phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor that modulates inflammation. It is an oral medication used for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
- Phototherapy (UVB or PUVA):
- Controlled exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) or psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) light can be effective for widespread psoriasis. It is often used in combination with other treatments.
- Combination Therapies:
- Combining different modalities, such as a biologic with a topical agent or phototherapy, may be considered for enhanced efficacy.
Medicivils Medical Science Optional Test Series: Better Than UPSC Medico? Introduction The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most competitive exams in the world. The Medical Science optional is a popular choice for many candidates, as it covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to the UPSC syllabus. There are many different test series available for the Medical Science optional, but one of the most popular is the Medicivils test series. Medicivils is a coaching institute that specializes in the Medical Science optional, and their test series is known for its high quality and comprehensive coverage of the syllabus. In this article, we will compare the Medicivils Medical Science Optional Test Series to the UPSC Medico Test Series, and discuss why Medicivils is the better choice for UPSC CSE aspirants. Quality of Questions The quality of the questions in the Medicivils test series is very high. The questions are well-drafted and cover a wide range of topics from the syllabus. The questions are also challenging enough to test the candidates’ knowledge and understanding of the subject. The UPSC Medico test series, on the other hand, has been criticized for the quality of its questions. Some candidates have complained that the questions are too repetitive and do not adequately cover the syllabus. Comprehensiveness The Medicivils test series covers the entire Medical Science syllabus in great detail. The test series includes full-length tests, subject-wise tests, and topic-wise tests. This ensures that the candidates are thoroughly prepared for all aspects of the exam. The UPSC Medico test series, on the other hand, is not as comprehensive. The test series does not cover all of the topics in the syllabus in equal detail. Additionally, the test series does not include any topic-wise tests. Model Answer Sheets The Medicivils test series provides high-quality model answer sheets for all of its tests. The model answer sheets are written by experienced faculty members and provide detailed explanations for all of the questions. The UPSC Medico test series, on the other hand, does not provide model answer sheets for all of its tests. Even for the tests that do have model answer sheets, the quality is often not up to par. Personal Mentorship Medicivils offers personal mentorship to all of its students. The students can get their papers evaluated by experienced faculty members and receive personalized feedback. This helps the students to identify their strengths and weaknesses and to improve their performance. The UPSC Medico test series does not offer personal mentorship to its students. The students do not have the opportunity to get their papers evaluated by experienced faculty members and receive personalized feedback. Video Solutions Medicivils provides video solutions for all of its subject-wise tests. The video solutions are taught by experienced faculty members and provide detailed explanations for all of the questions. The UPSC Medico test series does not provide video solutions for its tests. Evaluation Medicivils evaluates the students’ papers within 7 days. The students’ papers are evaluated by experienced faculty members and they receive a detailed evaluation report. The UPSC Medico test series takes longer to evaluate the students’ papers. The students often have to wait for 10-15 days to receive their evaluation reports. Conclusion Overall, the Medicivils Medical Science Optional Test Series is the better choice for UPSC CSE aspirants. The Medicivils test series offers high-quality questions, comprehensive coverage of the syllabus, model answer sheets, personal mentorship, video solutions, and prompt evaluation. The UPSC Medico test series, on the other hand, has been criticized for the quality of its questions, lack of comprehensive coverage of the syllabus, lack of model answer sheets, lack of personal mentorship, lack of video solutions, and delayed evaluation. If you are serious about cracking the UPSC CSE with the Medical Science optional, then the Medicivils Medical Science Optional Test Series is the best choice for you.
