Know your Doctor!

Kazi Raquibul Islam

You have got a disease (do not panic, but imagine!). So, you should go to a doctor for treatment purpose. Medical terms are complicated that you often get confused which type of physician you should consult with. But when they are broken up into their root parts (mostly Greek and Latin) they become comparatively simple. The following includes the lists of doctors describing their fields so that you should know where to go. Cardiologist: 'Cardio' means heart while 'Logos' means knowledge. So a person who is expert in the diagnosis and treatment of the heart is a Cardiologist. Dentist: 'Denti' means tooth. So for the treatment needed for your teeth, you should go to a dentist. Dermatologist: 'Derm/Dermat' means skin. So a dermatologist is a specialist of skin deasease. Gastroenterologist: 'Gastro' means stomach while 'Entero' means intestine. A Gastroenterologist treats patient having difficulty in his/her stomach or intestine or both. Haematologist/Hematologist: 'Haem/Hem' means blood. A haematologist is that specialist who treats blood related diseases. Hepatologist: 'Hepato' means liver. A hepatologist is a specialist in liver and gall-bladder disease. Nephrologist: 'Nephro' means kidney. So should go to a nephrologist when you have difficulty in your kidney (Generally urine related). Neurologist: Neuron is the main unit of the brain. A neurologist treats neuron related diseases. Oncologist: 'Onco' means cancer. An oncologist is a cancer specialist. Ophthalmologist: 'Ophthalmo' means eye. An ophthalmologist treats disease of eye. Orthopaedic surgeon: 'Ortho' means straight while 'Paedi' means child. Etymologically it is meant straight-child. But an orthopaedic surgeon is a surgeon dealing with straightening bones — that means dealing with the disease of the bones! Psychiatrist: 'Psych' means mind. A psychiatrist deals patients having mental illness.
The writer is a medical student of Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital (SOMCH). E-mail: raquib2001@yahoo.com