Volume 2 Issues 7 July, 2021
Never Jump to conclusions in a Hurry
It was in the Casualty Department in the CMC Vellore, I was asked to see a young 16 year old girl, who came with discomfort, pain and uneasy sensation in the inner aspect of her left thigh. On examination, I found absolutely nothing and having just finished my posting in Psychiatry, I grandiosely formulated many theoriesto fit in as to why a young 16 old would have symptoms related to her thigh. I told myself, I need to go into the psychodynamics of this problem and looked for those non‐existentclues. I told her to come on the next day so that I could spend time talking to her to find out the psychological causes. I was shocked when I saw her the next day with clear cut eruptions of “Herpes – Zoster” lesion. Needless to say I felt foolish and embarrassed and realized the pre eruption presentation what exactly what she came with, the first time. Lesson: Never jump to psychological conclusions in a hurry, however tempting it may be.
Bengaluru. chairperson of Organizing committee (ANCIPS) 2013
