HYSTERIA – TREATMENT AND CORRECT DIAGNOSIS

May 15th, 2009

Treatment of hysteria is always difficult. It may take some time to arrive at the correct diagnosis and to exclude underlying organic illness.

Sometimes, hospitalisation may be necessary but this may give the hysteric an opportunity to observe those with organic illness, and so the symptoms may become more definite and closer to real illness and further delay proper evaluation.

The underlying inadequate personality of the hysteric makes complete recovery difficult. The aim of treatment should be to restore the person as a functioning unit of society, rather than seeking to fully unravel all the hidden conflicts which have precipitated the illness or remove all the symptoms which have developed.

Too many medical opinions and examinations are only likely to reinforce the symptoms and to create further invalidism. Those treating hysteria should remain non-judgmental and should not react to attempts to manipulate them.

Those of us with an uncompromising view of life may deplore malingering and even hysteria and show this in our attitudes to those exhibiting such symptoms.

*452/71/1*

Categories: General health | Tags: | No Comments

ANAEMIA – IRON DEFICIENCY

May 15th, 2009

An iron deficiency anaemia is likely to occur if there is blood loss and therefore iron loss as well.

The symptoms that may result from anaemia are tiredness and shortness of breath. With iron deficiency anaemia there are other symptoms such as a sore red tongue and there may be a reduced amount of acid secreted by the stomach leading to digestive problems.

The diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia is made by simple tests of the blood to determine the amount of haemoglobin and also by looking at the red blood cells under the microscope.

They will be less in number and they are also smaller and paler than normal.

The amount of iron in the blood may be measured and this reflects the amount of iron stored in the tissues.

Treatment is simple — iron tablets are given by mouth, usually in the form of the salt, ferrous sulphate which is cheap and effective.

Sometimes iron tablets may upset the bowel, causing diarrohoea or constipation. The iron will also stain the patient’s motion black and the patient needs to be warned about this.

*196/71/1*

Categories: General health | Tags: | No Comments