MEDICAL STUDENTS SYNDROME


Medical Students Syndrome is a condition reported by those who study medicine and other students
like those of psychology in which they see themselves or others around them to be having a disease they are studying


It is considered a form of hypochondriasis( worry about having an illness), some argue it should be considered a nosophobia(an irrational fear of contracting a disease) . Medical students extensive knowledge of diseases allows them to see pain not only as pain but as a symptom of something far more complex. Though this may be funny to experienced doctors but is nevertheless real among medical students






Below are some theoretical examples






1. You just had a psychology lecture and you remembered your friend that has been having difficulty paying attention in class and you "diagnosed" him with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

2.Your friend have back pain and you suddenly concluded he has Sciatica

3.You have chest pain and your mind start wondering about its possible causes Myocardial Infarction, pericarditis, pleurisy,Pulmonary embolism, costochondritis or even esophagitis


4. Your pregnant sister have a swollen leg and you start wondering whether she has Right Ventricular Failure, Hypoalbuminemia or valvular prolapse of veins of the legs


5. Your friend had a headache and you suggested whether he has increased Intra Cranial pressure or a plaque was building up in his carotid artery










medical students syndrome





6. After playing soccer for only 15 minutes you were exhausted and breathing heavily, you start thinking if you are anemic or your heart or lung are starting to fail


7.It was in December and it was cold, the atmosphere was foggy you had a running nose and were sneezing vigorously and you start thinking if you were infected with Adenovirus or had Allergic Rhinitis

8.You had a pathology lecture and on your way home you spotted a man with a funny rash on his face and you started contemplating whether it was the Malar rash


9.You have been having leg pain for a week. Your mind have searched for every possible cause :from deep vein thrombosis to Osteoarthritis to Gout

10.A friend of yours has been falling asleep during lectures lately and you thought, it must be Narcolepsy


11.You have been studying for finals and you started experiencing eye pain,you start thinking Retinoblastoma? Optic Neuritis? Keratitis or glaucoma?