Context:Globally, psychiatry as a subject, psychiatrists as professionals, and patients with psychiatric disorders are subjected to cultural stereotypes and negative attitude by the general population. What is of alarming concern is that these prejudices exist within the medical community as well.Aims:This study aims at evaluating the perception, knowledge, and attitude toward psychiatric disorders, therapeutic modalities used in psychiatry, psychiatry as a subject and psychiatrists as professionals among undergraduate medical students in Karnataka.Settings and Design:This is a descriptive, cross-sectional type of study conducted in three medical colleges located in Karnataka.Materials and Methods:A sample of 500 students from all three professional phases of MBBS was selected using purposive sampling. A semistructured prevalidated questionnaire was used to assess the perception, knowledge, and attitude of undergraduate medical students toward psychiatric disorders and psychiatry.Statistical Analysis:Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16.0.Results:The undergraduate medical student population had significant shortcomings in knowledge and attitude pertaining to psychiatric disorders, more glaring in the initial years of education. A comparatively positive opinion was obtained regarding psychiatry as a subject and psychiatrists as professionals, which may reflect the changing trends and concepts, both in society and medical community.Conclusion:This study highlights the need for better educational measures at undergraduate level in order to shape a positive attitude of the health care providers towards psychiatry, which is essential for ensuring better care for patients as well as reduction of stigma surrounding psychiatric disorders.

Introduction: With marked growth of the population, rapid urbanization, inappropriate sanitisation and proliferating trend of mosquitoes, there is substantial increase in dengue infections. The fatality rate due to dengue shock syndrome (DSS) can be brought down to as low as <0.2% with careful management. Understanding the factors which are responsible for progression of the disease to the severe stage and death is essential in determining the triage and management steps. Material and methods: All patients suspected to have probable dengue / probable dengue fever with warning signs were admitted in government hospital attached to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and were given an option of enrolment in the study. After obtaining informed consent, all potentially eligible patients were screened for enrolment. All necessary blood samples needed to confirm dengue fever and other causes of fever were drawn on the first day. Platelet counts were done every day till they reach stable levels or till discharge. Results: Out of 105 cases (Dengue Fever without complications), platelet counts (median values) were taken as a parameter. It was observed that the platelet counts are at a lowest level on day 2 and day 3 and later on day 4 and day 5 it improved. Friedman's test value = 228.612 and p value <0.001 which was highly significant. Discussion: Thrombocytopenia is a distinctive feature of dengue and it has been described that its intensity correlates with the degree of viremia and with the magnitude of the immune response. It has been suggested that a progressive decrease in platelets may anticipate the severe form of dengue.

Introduction: Hyponatremia is a state of electrolyte imbalance with a high prevalence rate, it is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in our settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and etiology of hyponatremia in patients admitted in our government hospital. Material and methods: A 1-year prospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted on adult patients with moderate-to-severe hyponatremia admitted to the hospital. Patients demographics were recorded and investigations were documented. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test. Results: Vomiting (28) followed by confusion (26) was the most common complaint. Confusion was significantly high in patients with severe hyponatremia as compared to patients with moderate. Increased urine sodium levels were observed in these patients Conclusion: Patients with hyponatremia secondary to an infectious cause should be meticulously screened and timely and effective treatment of hyponatremia is determined by the effective understanding of pathophysiology and associated risk factors of hyponatremia.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is immune mediated injury of the peripheral nerves. This condition can affect any individuals with some trigger. Here the disease affected the lady in her last trimester of pregnancy which was complicated with pre-eclampsia and acute kidney injury. Later she recovered by multimodal treatment approach, with a prolonged intensive care unit stay. Currently she and her baby are stable with frequent follow up. This case highlights the fact that GBS can affect any trimester of pregnancy and her pregnancy could be a trigger. Further, treatment approach involves multiple specialties including internal medicine, nephrologist, neurologist, physiotherapist and psychiatrist.