Difference between revisions of "Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy"
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| − | Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) is a disease that effects the human nerve system. It originally appeared in Japan in the 1960's, affecting thousands. | + | Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) is a disease that effects the human nerve system. It originally appeared in Japan in the 1960's, affecting thousands. For a decade and a half the Japanese public and its medical doctors were lead to believe it to be an infectious disease by overzealous virus hunters. Eventually, it was realized that doctors were accidentally causing the disease when they prescribed the medication clioquinol. |
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| + | It is an example of an iatrogenic disease. Iatrogenesis is a condition where the source of medical complications are due to the doctor. Historical examples include blood-letting. | ||
[[Peter Duesberg]] has pointed to SMON as the kind of widespread error that the medical community can make when diagnosing diseases. | [[Peter Duesberg]] has pointed to SMON as the kind of widespread error that the medical community can make when diagnosing diseases. | ||
[[Category:Diseases]] | [[Category:Diseases]] | ||
Revision as of 16:01, January 12, 2009
Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) is a disease that effects the human nerve system. It originally appeared in Japan in the 1960's, affecting thousands. For a decade and a half the Japanese public and its medical doctors were lead to believe it to be an infectious disease by overzealous virus hunters. Eventually, it was realized that doctors were accidentally causing the disease when they prescribed the medication clioquinol.
It is an example of an iatrogenic disease. Iatrogenesis is a condition where the source of medical complications are due to the doctor. Historical examples include blood-letting.
Peter Duesberg has pointed to SMON as the kind of widespread error that the medical community can make when diagnosing diseases.