Geriatric Syndromes. Iatrogenic

In this blog post and the seven following entries discuss geriatric syndromes. One of these geriatric syndromes are iatrogenic. The iatrogenic means "created by the doctor or healer." This is a condition, disease or condition caused or provoked by doctors, medical treatments or medications. This condition may also be the result of treatments other professionals linked to the health sciences, such as therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, etc.. The condition, iatrogenic illness or death can also be caused by alternative medicines. The iatrogenic usually temporary results, the proof is the following examples:

 

 
• Phlebitis postcatéter.
• Mild urinary infection after several days keep a bladder catheter.
• Phlebitis of the legs after removal of a gangrenous appendix.
• Adverse drug reactions.

 

In my opinion, there are inevitable iatrogenic such as the adverse drug reactions, but could be improved as I show in the following example:

 

• Cough that appears in the context of a treatment with an IECA (drug to blood pressure) is given an antitussive; whether the antitussive gives constipation is a laxative (3 drugs instead of simply changing the first).

 

 

 

Bibliography:

• National Library of Medicine U.S. - MedlinePlus. [Website *]. [Revised 10/05/2013, updated 3/05/2013]. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/druginformation.html