2ND BHMS PATHOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, AND PARASITOLOGY SYLLABUS: A DETAILED GUIDE FOR STUDENTS (2022-2023 ONWARDS)

Hey future homeopaths! 🎓 If you’re in your 2nd BHMS, you’re probably curious about the Pathology, Microbiology, and Parasitology syllabus. Do not worry—I’ve got you covered!
This post provides a detailed breakdown of the entire syllabus, so you know exactly what to expect.
From understanding disease mechanisms to mastering lab techniques, we’ll cover it all.
Let’s dive in!

The 2nd BHMS course includes 8 subjects:

Pathology and Microbiology
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Homoeopathic Materia Medica
Organon of Medicine and Homoeopathic Philosophy
Practice of Medicine
Surgery
Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Homoeopathic repertory

2ND BHMS NEW SYLLABUS 2022-2023: SUBJECTS, EXAM PATTERN, AND STUDY TIPS FOR BHMS STUDENTS

2ND YEAR BHMS EXAM PATTERN (2022-2023) – COMPLETE GUIDE WITH SUBJECT-WISE MARKS & STUDY TIPS

Why Study Pathology, Microbiology, and Parasitology?

Pathology, Microbiology, and Parasitology form the backbone of medical science.

These subjects help you understand the morphological changes in cells and tissues, the role of microorganisms in disease, and the parasitic infections that affect human health.

For homoeopathic students, these subjects are not just about memorizing facts; they’re about connecting the dots between disease mechanisms, clinical symptoms, and homoeopathic principles.

This knowledge helps you:

Understand the pathological basis of diseases.
Interpret lab reports for accurate diagnosis.
Integrate pathology with homoeopathic philosophy and materia medica.
Recognize the miasmatic perspective of diseases.
Develop skills in identifying gross and microscopic tissue changes.

Preamble: Pathology and Microbiology

Pathology and Microbiology provide a comprehensive understanding of the pathologic basis of disease.

They enable you to:

Understand the natural course of diseases, including their clinical manifestations, complications, and sequelae.
Discriminate between symptoms of the patient and the disease, as per Hahnemannian principles (Aphorism 3 of the Organon of Medicine).
Substantiate the miasmatic perspectivewith pathological findings for accurate homoeopathic prescriptions.
Determine the scope, limitation, and prognosisof a case by understanding susceptibility.
Explore immune-mediated illnesses, where homoeopathic interventions can play a significant role in alleviating suffering and promoting cure.

The teaching of these subjects is vertically integrated with organ systems, recognizing deviations from normal structure and function, and horizontally aligned with Homoeopathic Philosophy, Materia Medica, and Repertory.

This integration ensures a holistic understanding of disease and its management.

Course Outcomes

By the end of the 2nd BHMS course, students will be able to:

Recognize the importance of Pathology and Microbiologyin the Homoeopathic system of medicine.
Understand morphological changes in cell structureand the mechanisms of etiological factors causing such changes.
Integrate Pathology and Microbiologywith Homoeopathic Philosophy, Materia Medica, and Repertory.
Classify diseasesas per Master Hahnemann’s teachings.
Understand common and important diseasesbased on their evolution, etiopathogenesis, pathology, progress, and prognosis.
Develop skills in identifying pathological features, especially histopathological changes and gross pathological specimens.
Interpret laboratory reportsfor diagnosis and treatment purposes.
Appreciate the role of Pathology and Microbiologyin the Homoeopathic system.

Learning Objectives

Pathology

Understand the mechanisms of disease and their progression.
Learn to recognize abnormal signs and symptoms in patients.
Develop the ability to form a differential diagnosis.
Apply laboratory methods to rule out disease conditions.
Study general concepts of immunity and immune-mediated diseases.
Recognize gross and histological tissue changes associated with diseases.

Microbiology

Understand the role of microbes in daily life and disease.
Study the main characteristics of clinically important microorganisms.
Learn to observe and measure microbial growth.
Master aseptic techniques to prevent contamination.
Understand methods for the prevention, diagnosis, and control of infections.

Parasitology

Study the life cycles and pathogenesis of common parasites.
Learn to identify parasitic infections through lab techniques.
Understand the clinical manifestations and management of parasitic diseases.

Table of Contents

THEORY SYLLABUS

GENERAL PATHOLOGY

Cell Injury and cellular adaptation
Inflammation and repair (Healing).
Immunity
Degeneration
Thrombosis and embolism
Oedema
Disorders of metabolism
Hyperplasia and hypertrophy
Anaplasia
Metaplasia
Ischaemia
Haemorrhage
Shock
Atrophy
Regeneration
Hyperaemia
Infection
Pyrexia
Necrosis
Gangrene
Infarction
Amyloidosis
Hyperlipidaemia and lipidosis
Disorders of pigmentation
Neoplasia (Definition, variation in cell growth, nomenclature and taxonomy, characteristics of neoplastic cells, aetiology and pathogenesis, grading and staging, diagnostic approaches, interrelationship of tumor and host, course and management).
Calcification
Effects of radiation
Hospital infection

SYSTEMIC PATHOLOGY

In each system, the important and common diseases should be taught, keeping in view their evolution, aetio-pathogenesis, mode of presentation, progress and prognosis, namely:

Mal-nutrition and deficiency diseases.
Diseases of Cardiovascular system
Diseases of blood vessels and lymphatics
Diseases of kidney and lower urinary tract
Diseases of male reproductive system and prostate
Diseases of the female genitalia and breast.
Diseases of eye, ENT and neck
Diseases of the respiratory system.
Diseases of the oral cavity and salivary glands.
Diseases of the G.I. system
Diseases of liver, gall bladder, and biliary ducts
Diseases of the pancreas (including diabetes mellitus)
Diseases of the haemopoetic system, bone marrow and blood
Diseases of glands-thymus, pituitary, thyroid, and parathyroid, adrenals, parotid.
Diseases of the skin and soft tissue.
Diseases of the musculo-skeletal system.
Diseases of the nervous system.
Leprosy

IMMUNOLOGY

Development of immune system
The innate immune system
Non-specific defence of the host
Acquired immunity
Cells of immune system; T cells and Cell mediated immunity; B cells and Humoral immunity
The compliment system
Antigen; Antibody; Antigen – Antibody reactions (Anaphylactic and Atopic); Drug Allergies
Hypersensitivity
Immuno-deficiency
Auto-immunity
Transplantation
Blood group antigens
Clinical aspect of immuno-pathology.

MICROBIOLOGY

(I) General Topics

Introduction
History and scope of medical microbiology
Normal bacterial flora
Pathogenicity of micro-organisms
Diagnostic microbiology

(III) Bacteriology

Bacterial structure, growth and metabolism
Bacterial genetics and bacteriophage
Identification and cultivation of bacteria
Gram positive aerobic and facultative anaerobic cocci, eg. Streptococci, Pneumococci.
Gram positive anaerobic cocci, e.g., peptostreptococci
Gram negative aerobic cocci, e.g., neisseria, moraxella, kingella.
Gram positive aerobic bacilli, e.g., corynebacterium, aacillus anthrax, cereus subtitis, mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. leprae, actinomycetes; nocardia, organism of enterobacteriac group.
Gram positive anaerobic bacilli, eg. genus clostridium, lactobacillus.
Gram negative anaerobic bacilli, eg. bacteroides, fragilus, fusobacterium.
Others like- cholerae vibrio, spirochaetes, leptospirae, mycoplasma, chlamydiae, rickettsiae, yersinia and pasturella.

(IV) Fungi and Parasites

Fungi – (1) True pathogens (cutaneous, sub-cutaneous and systemic infective agents), (2) Opportunistic pathogens.
Protozoa – (1) Intestinal (Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidum parvum), (2) Urogenital (Trichomonas vaginalis) 3) Blood and Tissues (Plasmodium-species, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma species, leishmania species).
Helminths – (1) Cestodes (tapeworms)- Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, (2) Trematodes (Flukes): Paragonimus westermani, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium (3) Nematodes– Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides, Stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Brugia malayi, Dracunculus medinensis, Loa loa, Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancroftii.

(V) Virology

Introduction
Nature and classification of viruses
Morphology and replication of viruses
DNA viruses:
- Parvo virus
- Herpes virus, varicella virus, cmv, ebv.
- Hepadna virus (hepatitis virus)
- Papova virus
- Adeno virus
- Pox virus- variola virus, vaccinia virus, molluscum contagiosum etc.

RNA viruses:

Orthomyxo virus: Entero virus, Rhino virus, Hepato virus
Paramyxo virus- rubeola virus, mumps virus, influenza virus etc.
Phabdo virus
Rubella virus (german measles)
Corona virus
Retro virus

(g) Yellow fever virus

(h) Dengue, chikungunya virus

(I) Miscellaneous virus

Arena virus
Corona virus
Rota virus
Bacteriophages

(VI) Clinical microbiology

(1) Clinically important micro-organisms

(2) Immunoprophylaxis,

(3) Antibiotic Sensitivity Test (ABST)

(VII) Diagnostic procedures in microbiology

(1) Examination of blood and stool

(2) Immunological examinations

(3) Culture methods

(4) Animal inoculation.

(VIII) Infection and Disease:

(1) Pathogenicity, mechanism and control

(2) Disinfection and sterilisation

(3) Antimicrobial chemotherapy

(4) Microbial pathogenicity

HISTOPATHOLOGY

Teaching of histopathological features with the help of slides of common pathological conditions from each system.
Teaching of gross pathological specimens for each system.
Histopathological techniques, e.g., fixation, embedding, sectioning and staining by common dyes and stains.
Frozen sections and its importance.
Electron microscopy; phase contrast microscopy.

PRACTICAL SYLLABUS

(1) Clinical and chemical pathology: Estimation of haemoglobin (by acidometer), count of red Blood cells and white blood cells, bleeding time, clotting time, blood grouping, staining of thin and thick films, differential counts. Blood examination for parasites. Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate.

(2) Urine examination, physical, chemical microscopical, quantity of albumin and sugar.

(3) Examination of faeces: physical, chemical (occult blood) and microscopical for ova and Protozoa.

(4) Methods of sterilisation, preparation of a media, use of microscope. Gram and acid-fast stains.

Motility preparation. Gram positive and negative cocci and bacilli. Special stains for Corynebacterium gram and acid-fast stains of pus and sputum.

(5) Preparation of common culture medias, e.g. nutrient agar, blood agar, Robertson ‘s Cooked Meal media (RCM) and Mac Conkey‘s media.

(6) Widal test demonstration.

(7) Exposure to latest equipment, viz. Auto-analyzer, cell counter, glucometer.

(8) Histopathology

Demonstration of common slides from each system.
Demonstration of gross pathological specimens.
Practical or clinical demonstration of histopathological techniques, i.e., Fixation, embedding.
Sectioning, staining by common dyes and stain. Frozen section and its importance.
Electron microscopy, phase contrast microscopy.

This guide is designed to help you:

Understand disease mechanismsand their pathological basis.
Master lab techniquesfor accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Integrate pathology and microbiologywith Homoeopathic philosophy, Materia Medica, and Repertory.
Develop clinical skillsto identify and manage diseases effectively.

Remember, these subjects are not just about memorizing facts—they are about connecting the dots between disease processes, clinical symptoms, and Homoeopathic principles. By mastering these topics, you’ll be better equipped to:

Interpret lab reportswith confidence.
Recognize miasmatic influencesin disease progression.
Provide holistic careto your patients.

Whether you’re preparing for exams or building a strong foundation for your clinical practice, this guide is your go-to resource.

Keep revisiting it for quick revisions, last-minute prep, and deeper insights.

Got questions or need further clarification? Drop them in the comments below—let’s learn and grow together! 🌿

Happy studying, and best of luck for your 2nd BHMS journey! 💪📚