Tuberculosis is an infection caused by a Mycobacterium called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It is a condition favoured by high population density, promiscuity (poverty, intravenous drug abusers, HIV) and the use of immunosuppressants (biologics, ciclosporine…). It is frequent in Sub-Saharan Africa, but new cases are a cause of concern, notably in China, Russia, South-East Asia and some…
Malaria is a common infection caused by a unicellular organism called a Protist. It is transmitted by a mosquito called Anopheles. After a period of between two weeks and several months (occasionally years) spent in the liver, the malaria parasites multiply within red blood cells, causing symptoms that appear cyclically. Symptoms include fever, and headache.…
Influenza (flu) is an ubiquitous infection caused by a RNA virus. Symptoms of the disease include sore throat, fever, cough, chills, myalgia, headache, asthenia (fatigue), general discomfort. Influenza can evolve into pneumonia, which can cause death. There is a infinite variety of different genotypes. Two proteins on the viral surface called Haemagglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase…
Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland What is Hansen’s disease? It is an infection caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium Leprae. How is it transmitted? This is still incompletely understood but it would be airborne. It is not transmitted during birth and even prolonged contact does not guarantee transmission. How is it diagnosed? Examination…
Esthetic (Aesthetic) clinics are trendy and the offer in esthetic treatments has all but exploded: lasers, plastic surgery and even non surgical treatments. As diverse as wine, good ones and less good ones are available, to not say more. On a global scale, new esthetic clinics have opened their doors. Existing clinics have expanded. How…
We consider important for medical practitioners to be able to ask for a second opinion when necessary. However, due to the practical difficulty of doing this, we wish to add value to this information website by giving you the possibility to ask the advice of a board certified dermatologist. We are proud to announce Prof…
Alcohol consumption is a difficult to control epidemic. In some countries alcohol consumption is part of the culture and its consumption starts young and continues until death. In countries such as Russia (Russian Federation), alcohol consumption levels have reached such alarming levels that it is responsible for a reduction of life expectancy to 60 years…
Low rates of clinical recurrence after biopsy of benign to moderately dysplastic melanocytic nevi (DN). Goodson AG, Florell SR, Boucher KM, Grossman D. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Apr;62(4):591-6. Epub 2009 Dec 16. Clinical fear of melanoma leads to complete excision of dysplastic naevi (DN) when biopsy reveals postive margins. However this study opens the…
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT) All porphrias are hereditary except PCT type I PCT type I also as symptomatic protoporphria Epidemiology: affects males from 40 onwards, often with a history of alcohol abuse Three categories PCT I: symptomatic protoporphyria, non hereditary, 80% of PCTs, deficit in uroporphrinogen decarboxylase (only in hepatocytes) PCT II: : autosomal dominant,…
Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland Cirrhosis Spider naevi: present in 75% of the time on the face and trunk rarely unilateral of the nevoid type, which abundance would correlate with the existence of oesophageal varicosities (Foutch et al). Nails total apparent leuconychia (Terry’s nails): 80% of patients with cirrhosis. Proximal 2/3 white, presumed…
