In your message dated Saturday 3, August 1996 Adrian wrote :
> I reproduce below the patient note from my first experience of the
Internet
> in medicine, on a Healthcall deputising visit...
> "
> 06/05/96 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx n Xxxxxx Xxxxx
> 20:27 Chickenpox. aged 29. Children also got it. Seen on Sat but
not
> offered Acyclovir.
> Internet connection, therefore has same references as I do.
> Advised too late now, cool skin etc.
> "
> She was covered in spots, and very cross. Personally I think I
would have
> given her the Acyclovir to start with. The Web page she consulted
advised
> Acyclovir...
You cannot be serious! (McEnroe,J, Wimbledon 198? - can't remember).
Spending over UKP100 to treat spots and a flu-like illness in a non
immune compromised healthy adult would have been an immoral waste of
money. So far as Web pages' medical advice is concerned - well I'd be
sceptical - Web pages are not peer reviewed and you can't rely on
their advice - it's only some other person's opinion. Even if an RCT
showed a significant reduction in the length of the illness and the
severity of the symptoms that still doesn't mean that the improvement
was clinically important or necessary - certainly not to the tune of a
hundred pounds.
Toby
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| Dr Toby Lipman EMail [log in to unmask]
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