20 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
SICKNESSES THAT ARE HARD TO TELL APART
Sometimes diseases that have different causes and require different treatment result
in problems that look very much alike. For example:
1. A child who slowly becomes thin and
wasted, while his belly gets more and more
swollen, could have any (or several) of the
following problems:
• malnutrition (see p. 112)
• a lot of roundworms, p. 140, (usually together
with malnutrition)
• advanced tuberculosis (p. 179)
• a long-term severe urinary infection (p. 234)
• any of several problems of the liver or spleen
• leukemia (cancer of the blood)
2. A n older person with a big, open, slowly
growing sore on the ankle could have:
• bad circulation that results from varicose
veins or other causes (p. 213)
• diabetes (p. 127)
• infection of the bone (osteomyelitis)
• leprosy (p. 191)
• tuberculosis of the skin (p. 212)
• advanced syphilis (p. 237)
The medical treatment for each of these diseases is different, so to treat them
correctly it is important to tell them apart.
Many illnesses at first seem very similar. But if you ask the right questions and know
what to look for, you can often learn information and see certain signs that will help tell
you what illness a person has.
This book describes the typical history and signs for many illnesses. But be careful!
Diseases do not always show the signs described for them—or the signs may be
confusing. For difficult cases, the help of a skilled health worker or doctor is often
needed. Sometimes special tests or analyses are necessary.
Work within your limits!
In using this book, remember it is easy to make mistakes.
Never pretend you know something you do not.
If you are not fairly sure what an illness is and how to treat it,
or if the illness is very serious—get medical help.