Monday, March 19, 2007

Why South African Doctors are hardcore (when it comes to rare tropical diseases)...

With much amusement, I noticed that TB (tuberculosis) was number 6 on that Wikipedia Watch-Out-For-This list we've been talking about.

In South Africa, TB (next to HIV) is the highest prevalent infectious disease. Even as a first year fledgling, we were taught it's TB, TB, TB until proven otherwise. I can diagnose it in my sleep. Even interns (especially interns because they deal with the crap) treat this shit for breakfast.

AND. We don't wear masks everytime we deal with patients. Our immune systems are THAT hardcore. American medicine might think that foolhardy. We just call each other Chuck and carry on with business.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hats off to all you Norrises, interns or not. Interesting to hear TB is easily diagnosed, what's your take on this article (coming from IOL it already comes packaged with a pinch of salt, but...)
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&set_id=1&art_id=vn20070224084546586C432393

Anonymous said...

Excellent blog dude!

Love the Bara Anecdotes - nice to see other South African medical professionals also blogging away.

You a student, intern, MO or Reg then?

Anonymous said...

Ewan - it's been known for years that South African Doctors are the epitomy of Norris. We roundhouse kick patients into health. Joking.

Will take a look at that article for you.

Andy Hadfield said...

Hey Marinus - thanks for the compliment lad. Actually, there's 2 people who write for All Scrubbed - myself (not an actual doctor but an enthusiast) and a doctor who would prefer to remain anonymous - hence SA Doc. She studied at UCT Med School and practices now... Anonymous for obvious reasons. She does all the fact checking and more technical posts... I handle the general funny stuff and run the blog so to speak...

Glad you enjoy - spread the word!