Current issues in dermatology

The overlap between contemporary dermatology and general medicine, presents an opportunity to review recent developments affecting those mundane diseases which are nevertheless important because they form the bulk of dermatological practice. In this article the author mentions the new dermatological agents and drugs in the cure of dermatological diseases.peer-reviewe

Pruritus

Everybody is familiar with pruritus. It is defined formally as an unpleasant sensation which provokes scratching. Indeed, the biological advantage of pruritus seems to lie in the elimination of cutaneous parasites by the scratching which it provokes. Pruritus is the predominant symptom in dermatology.peer-reviewe

Prevelance of Tinea Pedis and Onychomycosis in Malta : the Achilles project

The Achilles project was set up because of the general poor awareness of foot disease, espe- cially of fungal foot infections. Foot diseases are often not viewed as a real problem, and the general public has limited knowledge of them. Most previous studies have involved small and specific population groups, such as school children, subjects visiting swimming baths, populations with specific occupations, or patients with underlying diseases like diabetes. Moreo- ver, patients often had to diagnose the condition themselves. The results of these self-assess- ments, was an underestimation of the prevalence of foot infections. (1, 2) The Achilles project was the largest epidemiological study ever to be carried out on foot health in Europe and other countries, related to the part of the body below the Achilles heel (e.g. foot, toes, toenails). Started in 1998, the aim of the project was to gain a better understanding of diseases affecting the feet and their prevalence among different patient groups with a view to improve the timely diagnosis and optimal treatment of this significant medical problem. The project also allowed an insight to be gained into the predisposing factors and quality of life in a large population, and to generate clinical data from a sample of the population. The data also served as the basis for epidemiological studies, allowing both medical professionals and pa- tients to benefit from this knowledge. The ultimate goal is therefore to increase the chance for timely diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders. Several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK), have thus far participated in this foot-screening project, which was endorsed by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) and the European Nail Society. Following the example of these countries, in 1999 Malta, Jordan and Cyprus implemented the Achilles project.peer-reviewe