And now for something completely different… When I was at Tripler Army Medical Center I saw a number of patients present with Hypoanesthetic Halos in Hawaii, also referred to as Thysanoptera dermatitis. It is a very unique presentation. It is believed to be caused by Thrips which are small winged insects in the order Thysanoptera… Read more »
Shingles, also known as Zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. It is a herpes virus. Following a primary infection with chickenpox (varicella) the virus settles in nerve ganglia and waits to express and raise trouble. The risk of shingles increases with age and often is related to ganglion compression or injury… Read more »
Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary anomaly of the skin manifested by depigmented milky white patches surrounded by a normal or a hyperpigmented border. It is an ancient disorder, first described in 1550 B.C….the Ebers Papyrus mentioned two forms of depigmentation that could be interpreted as leprosy or depigmentation resembling vitiligo. In 200 B.C. the Indian… Read more »
Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is also known as Von Recklinghausen’s Disease. The neurofibromas of NF1 were first described by Smith in 1849 but Frederick von Recklinghausen was credited with the discovery and coined the name for the disorder in 1882. NF1 includes more than 85% of all cases of neurofibromatosis. NF2 is referred to as central or… Read more »
Proteus Syndrome is also known as Elattoproteus Syndrome and elephant man disease. It may be confused with Neurofibromatosis and the Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick, originally believed to have neurofibromatosis, is now believed to have had Proteus Syndrome. To see images of Joseph Merrick click HERE. In 1983 a German pediatrician named the syndrome after the… Read more »