ABSTRACT
Purpose: Health anxiety is a clinical entity characterized by a pathological fear of illness. Illness cognition refers to persistent positive or negative thoughts an individual has towards illness. Evidence has shown that patients with chronic conditions who possess negative illness cognitions experience greater social, emotional, and physical difficulties than patients with positive illness cognitions. This study aims to measure the prevalence of health anxiety in a population of parents of children with cancer, and investigate the association between positive and negative illness cognitions and health anxiety. Methods: We interviewed 105 parents of children with cancer and administered Arabic versions of the Illness Cognition Questionnaire - Parent Version and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory. Results: The mean parental age was 37.7 years with the majority of participants being mothers (78.1%) and married (94.3%) and with 35.2% having completed university education. The average age of the child with cancer was 8.4 years, with the largest proportion of children suffering from leukemia. The prevalence of health anxiety among parents of children with cancer was 21%. The following two dimensions of illness cognition were significantly associated with health anxiety: Helplessness (B = 0.222, p = 0.021) and lower Acceptance (B = -0.242, p = 0.008). Other variables associated with health anxiety were perceived inadequate income (B = -0.238, p = 0.021) and personal illness or illness of a family member/close friend (B = 0.251, p = 0.013). Conclusions: Parents of children with cancer may experience health anxiety. Predictors of health anxiety include feelings of helplessness, lower acceptance, inadequate income, and extended family illnesses.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/psychology , Attitude to Health , Neoplasms/psychology , Parents/psychology , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Neoplasms/therapyABSTRACT
A case of Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) presenting to the Emergency Department with pyrexia and rigors is discussed.
ABSTRACT
A case of pyrexia from abroad presenting to the emergency department is discussed. The causes of such pyrexia are outlined and the investigations are described. We stress that vaccination is not foolproof from acquiring an infection from abroad.
Subject(s)
Emergency Treatment/methods , Fever of Unknown Origin/microbiology , Paratyphoid Fever/diagnosis , Salmonella paratyphi A , Travel , Adult , Anorexia/microbiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Bradycardia/microbiology , Ceftriaxone/therapeutic use , Communicable Disease Control , Contact Tracing , Disease Notification , England/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Incidence , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Pakistan , Paratyphoid Fever/complications , Paratyphoid Fever/drug therapy , Paratyphoid Fever/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Vaccination , Vomiting/microbiologyABSTRACT
Lisfranc fracture-dislocations are rare, and their correct diagnosis is important. Misdiagnosis is common and can lead to chronic disability. Two cases of Lisfranc fracture-dislocations are presented and emphasis is made on the diagnosis in the Emergency Department.
