Best way to go about learning the viruses in First Aid?

[knuckles]

Does anyone have any really good methods or mnemonics for learning all the viruses and the details about each one, including capsids, nucleic acids, and details? The two charts on DNA and RNA virus seems like the most intimidating chart in the entire book to me.

Also, how often are questions about such details asked about on the actual Step 1? Thanks for any help you can offer.

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[badasshairday]

uggh, i seriously hate that stuff too. I don't know what to do, just use the FA mneumonics and brute force memorization to get through it... sorry. 🙁

 

[Rabbit Hole]

Does anyone have any really good methods or mnemonics for learning all the viruses and the details about each one, including capsids, nucleic acids, and details? The two charts on DNA and RNA virus seems like the most intimidating chart in the entire book to me.

Also, how often are questions about such details asked about on the actual Step 1? Thanks for any help you can offer.

These details can turn a difficult question into a gimme question if you know it well. Based on UW questions I have been doing - I can eliminate a bunch of answer choices and/or confirm the diagnosis simply by knowing the virus morphology. The same goes for bacteria.

You're right, the FA charts for this section are intimidating and confusing. I made my own flow charts to help me remember this stuff when I was studying for school exams. I don't mind sharing it but if you find any discrepancies please let me know because I'm using this to study for Step 1 and I don't want any mistakes.

 

[FutureDoc4]

I think you have to look for patterns. I realize that I don't have them all memorized but here are some terrific ways to work through questions I think.

a) All viruses in the "herpes" family are icosohedral, enveloped, ds DNA virsues (this includes HSV-1,2, CMV, EBV, VZV etc).

b) If it replicates in the GI tract, it is NOT enveloped (etc. Rota virus, adenovirus)

With this general knowledge, I have been able to reason through a LOT of questions.

Of course, there is also just plain memorization, but any patterns can help!

 

[MilkmanAl]

I think you have to look for patterns.

This plus brute force memorization=success. Go through that **** 15 times if you have to, but get it down.

 

[go lakers]

I made my own flow charts to help me remember this stuff when I was studying for school exams. I don't mind sharing it but if you find any discrepancies please let me know because I'm using this to study for Step 1 and I don't want any mistakes.

👍

 

[Ryu02ETL]

These details can turn a difficult question into a gimme question if you know it well. Based on UW questions I have been doing - I can eliminate a bunch of answer choices and/or confirm the diagnosis simply by knowing the virus morphology. The same goes for bacteria.

You're right, the FA charts for this section are intimidating and confusing. I made my own flow charts to help me remember this stuff when I was studying for school exams. I don't mind sharing it but if you find any discrepancies please let me know because I'm using this to study for Step 1 and I don't want any mistakes.

Thanks for sharing

 

[kryptik]

This plus brute force memorization=success. Go through that **** 15 times if you have to, but get it down.

👍

 

[knuckles]

Awesome flow chart. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[username456789]

This is the bane of my existence. I did a micro run-through back in March with CMMRS and FA, but by the time I finished all the bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, I ran out of steam and had to bail before the viruses. That chart was one of the reasons.

 

[jmcappleby]

Patterns are important, I agree. For example, I would just know all the DNA viruses and then make special note of any exceptions (Pox because of where it replicates, Parvo because it is ssDNA, etc.). Or memorize all the gram+ bacteria and now you know everything else is gram-.

Same with the RNAs - first categorize everything - segmented, dsRNA, and then you know everything else is ssRNA - I then used a mnemonic to know the negative sense and now I know everything else is positive sense.

And then you could maybe use another mnemonic to memorize all the enveloped. I didn't bother with memorizing icosahedral, etc... I honestly can't remember encountering a question where that information turned out to be crucial.

This way you sort of have everything categorized - the second you see the question mention "segmented" you can probably rule out half the answers... and then work from there.

As mentioned previously - knowing these details can trivialize potentially difficult questions. I admit the method I use isn't that great for long-term retention, but I honestly can't think of one that works that way... you're just gonna have to review it periodically until test date, I feel.

G'luck!

 

[metalrex]

CMMRS also has good mnemonic for DNA viruses thrown in there,for instance:

HHAPPPy viruses are DNA: of which 3 are naked that goes with the mnemonic "a lady is naked for PAP smear" for papavo,adeno,parv😵ne of them is boxed capsid ,that's pox.

They put the rest under the RNA tab without a mnemonic,this one can be a lil challenging.

Look through CMMRS on this section, might prove useful

Others, thanks for sharing your very useful tips!

 

[vicinihil]

Brute memorization of First Aid will get you most of the points. Coming up with silly mnemonics to remember which are DNA and everything else is RNA will also help. Some classes are more important such as Picorna so you would want to know everything about these bugs as opposed to the one that causes random desert fever or sin nombre or something. You know there definitely will be things related to HSV, HIV, HPV, Hepatitis, Influenza so those are very high yield things to know!!!

If it's truly becoming laborious and you think you are wasting your time, know the MOST IMPORTANT VIRUSES and don't bother with the rest because out of all the micro on the exam, Bacteriology and pharm of micro will play a larger role than Viruses.

 

[PistolPete]

Very nice chart, thank you!

 

[Mah]

Positive Sense
ICOsahedral
RNA virus

don't remember where the mneumonic is from!

 

[badasshairday]

Positive Sense
ICOsahedral
RNA virus

don't remember where the mneumonic is from!

MOAR! MOAR mneumonics and helpful charts/patterns please!

 

[Rabbit Hole]

I should have screwed around with the chart just to see if people were paying attention. Bet they'll pay attention now! Thank me later.

 

[Mah]

MOAR! MOAR mneumonics and helpful charts/patterns please!

Another comes to mind-
Diarrhea in kids: If you can walk, its Norwalk- otherwise its Rotavirus

Go through this page, you'll find a lot more 🙂
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=125152

 

[username456789]

Another comes to mind-
Diarrhea in kids: If you can walk, its Norwalk- otherwise its Rotavirus

Go through this page, you'll find a lot more 🙂
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=125152

It's funny that I instantly recognize several of those right off the bat from FA. So unless they stole them from there, I guess we have them to thank for getting them to add them into the book.

 

[Mah]

It's funny that I instantly recognize several of those right off the bat from FA. So unless they stole them from there, I guess we have them to thank for getting them to add them into the book.

yeah well the thread was started in 04, but some of them are pretty helpful!

 

[IM Substance P]

I wouldn't drive myself crazy over viruses. Except for the MOST clinically relevant viruses -- probably the herpes family, viral hepatides, paramyxoviruses, and whatever family influenza belongs to --I would NOT bother memorizing which ones are DNA vs. RNA, etc.