The current WHO system of leprosy classification based on NSL seems to be best among available clinical criteria. Uniform and sensible application of this criteria itself assures appropriate categorizing and leprosy treatment with reasonable sensitivity and specificity.

Background:The rampant, disturbing, and dismal unrestricted use of topical corticosteroids on face results in steroid-induced dermatitis termed topical steroid-dependent face (TSDF). It is an embarrassing and irritating condition for a patient. There is paucity of data from India regarding the effect of TSDF on the quality of life (QoL) of such patients.Aims:The aim of this study was to study the effect of TSDF on the QoL of patients with the help of a validated, easy-to-use, and reproducible dermatology life quality index (DLQI).Methods:A cross-sectional study was done among the outpatients seeking treatment for TSDF at a tertiary care hospital of a medical college. Patients were administered Hindi questionnaire version of DLQI. Controls were apparently healthy age- and sex-matched individuals.Results:DLQI scores revealed that TSDF had some effect on QoL in 98.11% of study patients. Study group had a mean DLQI score of 11.49. Statistically significant higher DLQI scores were recorded among females, patients aged <20 years and those who had no formal education/illiterate.Conclusions:TSDF affects QoL in majority of patients and it has a very large effect on the QoL in more than one-third of the patients.

Introduction: The term “chronic dermatophytosis” can be described as patients who have suffered tinea infections for more than 6 months, with or without recurrence. Since last few years we are facing an onslaught of chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis. These infections are increasingly becoming debilitating with severe symptoms like itching and increasingly showing lack of response to traditional treatment, hence it has become utmost important to assess impact of dermatophytosis today on quality of life of patients. Objectives: To determine quality of life in patients with chronic dermatophytosis using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Materials and Methods: Adult literate patients having chronic dermatophytosis which was confirmed by KOH mount were included in the study. History, clinical features and other relevant details were included in a proforma. All patients were asked to fill DLQI questionnaire in Hindi. Controls having disease for less than six months were also included. Data thus obtained was collected and tabulated. The data was analysed using SPSS software and relevant statistical tests were used. Results: Total number of cases collected were 263, 137 controls were also included. In gender distribution, cases had 71.86% males and 28.14% female while controls had 63.5% males and 36.5% females. Mean DLQI of cases was 14.28+/-5.16 and controls was 11.56+/-3.60. DLQI distribution of cases -162(61.6%) had very large effect, 64(24.33%) had moderate effect, and 32(12.17%) had extremely large effect on DLQI. Domains of Symptoms and feelings (72.67%), work and school related activities (69%) and treatment related problems (67.67%) posed maximum impairment. Quality of life derangement increased significantly with presence of lesions on both exposed and non exposed sites and increase in body surface area. Conclusion: While superficial dermatophytosis affects quality of life (QoL) in all patients, chronic dermatophytosis has a significantly more derogatory effect on the QoL of a person with some of the patient also showing extremely large effect on QoL.

Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), primarily effecting nerve and skin. Ultrasonography (USG) in the diagnosis of nerve involvement in leprosy is still in a preliminary stage, but it can be used to identify the early changes in the nerves. Aims: To assess the role of USG in identifying nerve involvement across the spectrum of leprosy. Methods: Thirty newly diagnosed, untreated cases of leprosy were recruited and classified into paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) on basis of histopathology findings on skin biopsy. USG of ulnar nerve (UN), median nerve (MN), lateral popliteal nerve (LPN) and posterior tibial nerve (PTN) was done to identify the changes across the disease spectrum. Results: Thirty patients (16 multibacillary, MB and 14 paucibacillary, PB) with a mean age of 28•83 ^18•57 years, M:F of 2:1 were studied. The nerves were significantly enlarged in USG examination in the MB group as compared to PB group for UN, MN, LPN and PTN (P ¼ 0•004, 0•018, 0•019 and 0•020 respectively). 41 nerves that were not thickened clinically were found to be enlarged on USG (UN 3, MN 21, LPN 6 and PTN 11). Conclusion: USG can be a useful tool for identifying early nerve changes, as compared to clinical examination, as USG is more sensitive. Hence it may help to identify nerve involvement in an early stage and initiate treatment before any severe damage occurs.

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