Medical Mnemonics
Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy Mnemonics
Dermatology, venereology and leprosy reward the clinician who can read a lesion and place it in a differential within seconds. The mnemonics here anchor the immunobullous patterns, the connective-tissue signs, the HIV-related skin markers and the genital-ulcer organisms that examiners test heavily. Several capture drug-monitoring rules and severity scores that guide real management. Use each acronym to hold a list you already understand: know why flaccid blisters mean pemphigus, then let the phrase prompt you at the bedside. Getting the pattern right often spares an invasive test or flags a systemic disease. Every entry maps to a core NMC competency and to Indian clinical practice.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy Mnemonics
Dermatology, venereology and leprosy reward the clinician who can read a lesion and place it in a differential within seconds. The mnemonics here anchor the immunobullous patterns, the connective-tissue signs, the HIV-related skin markers and the genital-ulcer organisms that examiners test heavily. Several capture drug-monitoring rules and severity scores that guide real management. Use each acronym to hold a list you already understand: know why flaccid blisters mean pemphigus, then let the phrase prompt you at the bedside. Getting the pattern right often spares an invasive test or flags a systemic disease. Every entry maps to a core NMC competency and to Indian clinical practice.
Dermatology, venereology and leprosy reward the clinician who can read a lesion and place it in a differential within seconds. The mnemonics here anchor the immunobullous patterns, the connective-tissue signs, the HIV-related skin markers and the genital-ulcer organisms that examiners test heavily. Several capture drug-monitoring rules and severity scores that guide real management. Use each acronym to hold a list you already understand: know why flaccid blisters mean pemphigus, then let the phrase prompt you at the bedside. Getting the pattern right often spares an invasive test or flags a systemic disease. Every entry maps to a core NMC competency and to Indian clinical practice.
Mnemonics and expansions
- **FLAT versus TENSE:** Flaccid blisters point to pemphigus vulgaris (intraepidermal, acantholytic); tense blisters point to bullous pemphigoid (subepidermal). The blister roof at the bedside separates the two before any test is done.
- **Nikolsky PTS:** Pemphigus, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. The conditions where lateral pressure shears the skin; Nikolsky is negative in bullous pemphigoid.
- **FISH, LINE, GRAINS:** Fishnet intercellular IgG in pemphigus, Linear band at the basement membrane in pemphigoid, Granular IgA at dermal papillae tips in dermatitis herpetiformis. The three direct immunofluorescence patterns most often tested.
- **4 Ds:** Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Dementia, Death. Niacin deficiency, or pellagra; the photosensitive Casal necklace is the skin sign.
- **SOAP BRAIN MD:** Serositis, Oral ulcers, Arthritis, Photosensitivity, Blood disorders, Renal, ANA, Immunological, Neurological, Malar rash, Discoid rash. Covers the classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus.
- **CREST:** Calcinosis, Raynaud, oEsophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, Telangiectasia. The features of limited systemic sclerosis; the antibody is anti-centromere.
- **HEAP:** Heliotrope rash, Gottron papules, shAwl sign, Periungual telangiectasia. The cutaneous signs of dermatomyositis; screen adults for an underlying malignancy.
- **HOT KABS:** Herpes zoster, Oral candidiasis or hairy leukoplakia, Tinea or molluscum, Kaposi sarcoma, bacillary Angiomatosis, deep fungal or Bacterial, Scabies (Norwegian). Maps HIV skin disease to the falling CD4 count, from higher counts down to end stage.
- **HARD, SOFT, GROOVE:** Hard painless ulcer is syphilis, soft ragged painful ulcer is chancroid, groove sign bubo is lymphogranuloma venereum. Links the character of a genital ulcer to its organism.
- **TLMP:** Teratogenicity, Lipids and triglycerides, Liver function tests, Pregnancy test. The safety and monitoring points for isotretinoin; contraception is mandatory.
- **ADD:** Acral and periorificial Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Depilation (alopecia). The triad of acrodermatitis enteropathica from zinc deficiency.
- **SCORTEN:** Age over 40, Heart rate over 120, Malignancy, Glucose, Urea, Bicarbonate, Body surface area detached. Seven parameters that predict mortality in toxic epidermal necrolysis, each scoring one point.
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