sarah darwins
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No, not an anatomical paradox, but what some British doctors have been telling people with UTIs/cystitis, the Guardian reports.
Research published in Clinical Microbiology and Infection found that 19% of infections were being missed by standard culture tests. Not such a big deal, of course, that a test should be imperfect. But the way some GPs are responding to negative test results is a very big deal indeed.
Psychologising of medical conditions seems to be epidemic in the UK now.
One of the report's authors had some advice for GPs that I'm sure we all wish they would listen to and apply across the board:
Radical idea that — doctors starting with the idea that symptoms might indicate a medical condition. Think it'll catch on?
Research published in Clinical Microbiology and Infection found that 19% of infections were being missed by standard culture tests. Not such a big deal, of course, that a test should be imperfect. But the way some GPs are responding to negative test results is a very big deal indeed.
Prof James Malone Lee, who runs a specialist clinic for chronic UTIs at Whittington Hospital in London, highlighted the inadequacies of current testing in parliament last year. “The patients attending our centre describe frequent occurrences of them presenting with typical symptoms of urinary infection but being denied treatment because the tests are negative,” he said. “They are told emphatically that nothing is wrong.”
The consequences for the minority of women who suffer chronic infections could be devastating, he added. “It is appalling that patients coming to our centre have been told that their problems are psychological.”
Psychologising of medical conditions seems to be epidemic in the UK now.
One of the report's authors had some advice for GPs that I'm sure we all wish they would listen to and apply across the board:
“The woman that is visiting you with typical urinary complaints has an infection. There is nothing more to explore.”
Radical idea that — doctors starting with the idea that symptoms might indicate a medical condition. Think it'll catch on?
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