Poison Oak

Photo from Consultant360.com

As the weather heats up and people are hiking and walking animals outdoors, we physicians start seeing the results of a contact dermatitis known as poison oak or poison ivy.  Some of the tell-tell signs for diagnosing this condition is the severe itching, patchy redness that is in certain skin areas only and also notice the linear streak on the top back area of

Health Care Reform Confusion

If you think you are confused about ObamaCare and what it will mean to you and your family, you are not alone.  Confusion is rampant and open enrollment for the health exchanges is supposed to start October 1.   Yes that is a mere 6  months from now!  Despite this looming date, the various States still don't know what they will be offering and doctors and hospitals also have no idea how it

Answer to Image Challenge

psoriasis

The answer to yesterday's diagnostic challenge is...drum roll...
# 3.  Psoriasis.

The scattered reddish, scaly, indurated papules on the lower back and buttocks are psoriasis.  The acupuncture needling of the skin produced trauma that caused Koebner's phenomenon and subsequent psoriatic flare.  This is a rare event and it was treated with a steroid cream.

Thanks for your guesses.

What is the Diagnosis?

Today's image challenge from the New England Journal of Medicine is a tough one.  Full disclosure - I missed it.  (bragging rights: I usually get about 99% right) 

This patient had acupuncture to the area and developed these lesions.  What is the diagnosis?
1.  Herpetic whitlow
2.  Nummular eczema
3.  Psoriasis
4.  Ringworm
5.  Scabies

Click on the image for a closer view and make your

Fake Drugs

In Africa drugs are sold without proper handling or control

Unfortunately many of the drugs that enter the United States (and other Countries) are fake.  Research shows that more than half of the drugs sold by online pharmacies may be fake. Globalization of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and distribution system is contributing to the problems of false and substandard drugs. 



A

Meat and Heart Disease

We have known for decades about heart disease and the effects of red meat and saturated fats being a cause of elevated cholesterol.  But we've also known that is not the whole story and now surprising new research is pointing to gut bacteria and the actual chemical that is produced by meat as the culprit for heart disease. 

Carnitine is found in red meat and is also used by body builders as a