A clinico-epidemiological study of 230 cases of herpes zoster revealed an overallincidence of 0.6 percent. Out of 230 patients 160 were males and 70 females (male and female ratio being 2.2:1). The maximum incidence was noted in the second and third decades. A higher incidence was observed in the months of March, April, May and then in August, September and October. A confirmative history of chicken poxin the past was available in 34 (14.7%) patients only. There was no appreciable difference between right and left side involvement, except for the cranial segments, where the right side was predominantly involved. Thoracic segments were most commonly (55.2%) involved followed by cervical (19.5%), lumbo-sacral (13.9%) , and cranial (11.3%) segments. Prodromal symptoms were recorded in 20% patients. Among the cranial nerves, ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve was most commonly (57.7%) affected. Post herpetic neuralgia was noticed in 14.3% patients.

Of the hundred cases clinically Diagnosed as dermatophytosis, -fungal elements were demonstrated by KOH Preparation in 52 cases and was isolated by culture in 42 cases. The most common age group involved was between 21 to 30 years. Crural region involvement was the most common among males, whereas waist involvement was more common among females. Trichophyton mentagrophytes (46.90%) and T. rubrum (31.9%) were isolated in most cases.

Results of patch tests obtained with 24 hour and 48 hour occlusion periods using antigen impregnated-discs' (AID) and antigen-containing-saucers(ACS) were studied in 168 patients. Of the 411 patches appr, 4 the results in 400 (97.3210/o) patch tests were concordant (91 positive and 309 negative reactions with both the 24 hour and the 48 hour occlusions tests), while 10 patch test reactions were positive only with 48 hour occlusion, and 1 patch test reaction were positive only With 24 hour occlusion. Of the 91 patch test reactions positive with both the 24 hour and the 48 hour occlusion tests, 81 patch test reactions were equally severe, while 10 patch test reactions were stronger with the 48 hour occlusion test. The discordant reactions were obtained with Lantana camera (3), inerium variabilis (4), Allium cepa (1), and potassium dichromate. (1), while concordant results were found with Parthenium hysterophorus, Calotropis procera, Argemone me)acana, nitrofurazone, neomycin, nickel sulphate an paraphenyl-nediamine. The discordant reactions were obtained almost equally in the summer, winter and rainy seasons.

A case of phaeohyphomycosis in a three-year-old female child born to consanguineous parents is reported. The causative agent was Exophiala jmmlmei. The lesions were found in skin, subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes and limb bones, which makes it a rare case.

Ninety two episodes of gonococcal urethritis treated with one of the following regimens viz: (A) 3 m. u. of fortified procaine penicillin made by adding 1 m.u. of crystalline penicillin to 2 m.u. of fortified procaine penicillin intramuscularly with one gram of probenecid orally, (B) 3 m.u. of above fortified procaine penicillin intramuscularly alone, and (C) 400 mg single oral dose of doxycycline produced success rates of 95,76.2 and 66.7% respectively. Post gonococcal urethritis was detected in 37% patients. Thirty four (45.94%) of the 74 isolates of N. gonorrhoeae were relatively resistant (MIC 0. 12 units ml) to penicillin. None of the 74 Neisseria gonorrhoeac strains was beta lactamase producing.

Sixty untreated patients of gonorr ioea were subjected to clinico- bacteriological study with special reference to betalactamase producing strains. Unilateral epididymitis was observed in 2 and multiple peri-urethral abscesses were found in 1. One male patient was asymptomatic. One strain of gonococcus isolated from an unmarried male patient showed resistance to 10 IU penicillin disc and positive rapid iodometric test for beta-lactamase enzyme.

A case of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is reported. The patient had extensive verrucous scaling resembling porcupine man. There was associated bilateral foot deformity in the form of congenital club foot.

A 32 year old female developed erythema dyschromicum perstans. The lesions were predominantly located on the extremities and were stationary. The response to treatment was unsatisfactory.

Two cases of subcorneal pustular dermatosis are reported; one wag a male child and the other a young female. Both cases responded to dapsone. Follow up of one patient for one and half year has shown no recurrence without daps one.

Cuteneous leishmaniasis is extremely uncommon in eastren Libya. Seven patients were seen over a period of ten years, of whom 5 had visited areas which are endemic foci, while 2 were foreign nationals. Rifiimpicin was effective in 3 patients while it was a failure in 2. Metronidazole was used in 2 patients with success, while one patient responded to co-trimoxazole.