Viruses on Step I

[DiverDoc]

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I have read the micro chapter in FA numerous times. However I can NEVER retain or gain anything after reading the virus section. No matter how slow I read, or If I start with that first with a fresh mind, natta goes in. It seems like If it wasnt stressed during the first 2 years, then I dont build upon it.

I dunno if its the layout of the charts or the content, (rules, with exceptions to the rules, family, sp. ect ) But my question is, how high yield are viruses on step I ? IMO as of yet, RSV, HIV, HSV, CMV, B19, Hep and a few others are the only important ones.

Thoughts?

 

[Czeckers]

i dont know the answer to the question because i havent taken it yet, but look at that table and notice the patterns moving down it. i dont have it in front of me but i think the top ones are all icosahedral. all the icosahedrals are positive except corona. all negatives are helical. stuff like that...there are patterns to the way it was presented in first aid. you can almost draw lines into the table where things change. notice the patterns and try to remember them. cover part of the page up and recite.

 

[deleted103644]

Try writing out the tables from memory repeatedly. Best way to memorize a random list of facts if you can't form connections that help you rationalize the answers.

 

[vicinihil]

Does that really help...writing stuff out like that and blindly memorizing it? I always thought step 1's stressed more understanding than being able to regurgitate it but I guess in this case, there's really no way to understand it if you dont know the basic differences between different classes. I hate viruses...

 

[RapidReview]

Does that really help...writing stuff out like that and blindly memorizing it? I always thought step 1's stressed more understanding than being able to regurgitate it but I guess in this case, there's really no way to understand it if you dont know the basic differences between different classes. I hate viruses...

i think you're right that they test alot of concepts, but i've always been under the impression that if you don't know the basic facts, how are you going to apply it?

 

[kryptik]

i think you're right that they test alot of concepts, but i've always been under the impression that if you don't know the basic facts, how are you going to apply it?

agreed, memorize the facts then learn to apply it, and from what i gather there is a fair amount of straight recall questions on the step.

 

[League54]

Try writing out the tables from memory repeatedly. Best way to memorize a random list of facts if you can't form connections that help you rationalize the answers.

+1, write it out 10x, you'll know it forever

 

[RapidReview]

+1, write it out 10x, you'll know it forever

actually, i remember someone asking one of the sdn "all-stars" a question on whether they needed to memorize the morphology of the viruses in one of the other threads (it was pollux or one of those 260+ brainiacs) and he said something along of lines of it not always being absolutely necessary but that it will help you confirm. he gave the example of diarrhea in a child and they would give the morphology of a naked, DS RNA, but without knowing that chart in FA you could still associate diarrhea in children with rotavirus. now, knowing the morphology would ease your mind that you're 100% right and in case they try to "trick" you, but that was the gist of his post.

 

[IM Substance P]

actually, i remember someone asking one of the sdn "all-stars" a question on whether they needed to memorize the morphology of the viruses in one of the other threads (it was pollux or one of those 260+ brainiacs) and he said something along of lines of it not always being absolutely necessary but that it will help you confirm. he gave the example of diarrhea in a child and they would give the morphology of a naked, DS RNA, but without knowing that chart in FA you could still associate diarrhea in children with rotavirus. now, knowing the morphology would ease your mind that you're 100% right and in case they try to "trick" you, but that was the gist of his post.

+1

Memorizing virus morphology and virus family is overkill. Those clues are helpful, but you're better off using your brain space in another way.

 

[lildave2586]

+1

Memorizing virus morphology and virus family is overkill. Those clues are helpful, but you're better off using your brain space in another way.

This was my opinion before I took the Micro shelf. Now I'm not so sure. There were a good amount of questions on that thing where knowing the characteristics of viruses was essential for getting the question correct.

 

[League54]

actually, i remember someone asking one of the sdn "all-stars" a question on whether they needed to memorize the morphology of the viruses in one of the other threads (it was pollux or one of those 260+ brainiacs) and he said something along of lines of it not always being absolutely necessary but that it will help you confirm. he gave the example of diarrhea in a child and they would give the morphology of a naked, DS RNA, but without knowing that chart in FA you could still associate diarrhea in children with rotavirus. now, knowing the morphology would ease your mind that you're 100% right and in case they try to "trick" you, but that was the gist of his post.

You may be right, but for now, I'm at least making an attempt to know the entire book cold. If time becomes an issue I'll start to prioritize.

 

[Keyser112]

actually, i remember someone asking one of the sdn "all-stars" a question on whether they needed to memorize the morphology of the viruses in one of the other threads (it was pollux or one of those 260+ brainiacs) and he said something along of lines of it not always being absolutely necessary but that it will help you confirm. he gave the example of diarrhea in a child and they would give the morphology of a naked, DS RNA, but without knowing that chart in FA you could still associate diarrhea in children with rotavirus. now, knowing the morphology would ease your mind that you're 100% right and in case they try to "trick" you, but that was the gist of his post.

+1

Memorizing virus morphology and virus family is overkill. Those clues are helpful, but you're better off using your brain space in another way.

It is definitely NOT overkill. If you want to be someone who is going to do above and beyond 220, this is one of the things you need to do. If they didn't mention the type of diarrhea or where this child was from, how would you know if it was adenovirus or rotavirus if you didn't know the viral characteristics of each of them?

 

[RapidReview]

It is definitely NOT overkill. If you want to be someone who is going to do above and beyond 220, this is one of the things you need to do. If they didn't mention the type of diarrhea or where this child was from, how would you know if it was adenovirus or rotavirus if you didn't know the viral characteristics of each of them?

i was just giving one person's POV. i should have caveated by saying that i memorized it for my micro shelf (it helped to answer a 2-3 questions maybe?) and i plan on memorizing it again for the boards.

 

[k87]

IMO viruses is somethign that you have to memorize, theres nothing really to understand there. The FA is clear enough on that topic