2023-11-13 15:39:11
Within the framework of the Day of the Dead, Marco Aurelio Martínez Rivera, fifth semester student of the Bachelor of Surgeon and belonging to the 12th generation of the Combined Studies Plan in Medicine (PECEM), with the accompaniment and support of Dr. Gerard López García , academic at the Department of Physiologytalked regarding the physiology of diseases behind myths and legends.
Thus, in the “Dr. Fernando Ocaranza”, on October 30, explained that vampires, with their characteristics of paleness, fatigue and weakness, are surprisingly connected with the common symptoms of anemia, which include paleness, fatigue and tachycardia. Delving into it as a medical condition in which hemoglobin, a protein essential for the formation of red blood cells, is compromised. Additionally, porphyria, often known as “vampirism,” was explored for presenting photosensitivity, pruritus, skin changes, and red teeth; consequence of a genetic disorder that contributes to the excessive accumulation of porphyrins, precursor molecules of the heme group.
Likewise, pathogens such as the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, the bacteria Clostridium perfringens and prions stood out, causing diseases such as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, myonecrosis (gas gangrene) and kuru, respectively. All of them with clinical manifestations that resemble the behavior of a zombie: ataxia, weakness, apathy, tremors, confusion and paralysis.
In turn, se explained the medical condition of generalized hypertrichosis, also known as “werewolf syndrome,” in which excessive hair growth occurs on various parts of the body, including the palms and face.; due to an alteration in the follicles in the dermis, which causes their continuous production.
Similarly, The talk detailed how the bacteria Clostridium tetani and the rabies virus (Lyssavirus) can manifest symptoms that have historically been misinterpreted as demonic possession, such as aggression, hydrophobia, and muscle spasms.
Photographs: Brisceida López
Other interesting connections were the association of catalepsy with the character of Sleeping Beauty, Freddy Krueger’s relationship with parasomnias (nightmares, sleepwalking, sleep paralysis) and Brugada syndrome, and the story of Frankenstein as an example of galvanization and defibrillation.
The presentation, transmitted by Facebook Live y YouTubenot only provided a deeper insight into the relationship between medicine and popular culture, but also promoted the importance of education and respect for diverse experiences and beliefs in the field of health with the aim of raising awareness regarding the rejection of the unknown and the way it affects people.
At the end, a Kahoot dynamic was held, giving away candy as a prize to the first three places, and In conclusion, curiosity was promoted as a motivation to expand the horizons of knowledge in favor of patients..
By Athziry Portillo
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