Which Doctor? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tropical medicine specialist

Dengue fever is classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) by the World Health Organisation. It is caused by a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes.

In UK medicine, to qualify as a tropical medicine specialist you have have knowledge of the full list of NTDs and a wide range of diseases that thrive in hot or humid conditions. Training involves developing a detailed understanding of virology and microbiology. Though it is not an accredited specialisation in the US, training in tropical diseases there covers very similar topics.

Once qualified, a tropical medicine specialist will deal with people who have acquired infections on their travels as well as managing community and hospital acquired infections.

Answer: Psychiatrist

Psychiatry is a specialised area of medicine focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. Psychiatrists are trained to understand the complex interrelation between mental and physical health.

Bipolar disorder is characterised by periods of depression alternated with periods of mania, or hypomania, a state of abnormally high energy and mood. Each state can last for a few days or sometimes for more extended periods.

Answer: Endocrinologist

Endocrinologists are focused on conditions related to the endocrine system, or the body's messaging processes. The thyroid gland is a key organ in this system, issuing hormones to other organs in the body to regulate their function. Other organs in the endocrine system include the pituitary gland, the ovaries and the testes.

Thyroid disease is when the gland is not functioning properly, whether that be underperformance (hypothyroidism) or over-performance (hyperthyroidism). An endocrinologist will establish the cause and treat the symptoms.

Answer: Obstetrician (OB/GYN)

Pre-eclampsia is a very dangerous disorder suffered by some women during pregnancy. The high blood pressure that sufferers endure can have significant knock-on effects on multiple organs in the woman's body and in severe cases can be life-threatening.

An obstetrician is responsible for looking after pregnant women and the children they carry. Frequently combined with gynaecology (hence OB/GYN), obstetrics is heavily supported by midwifery, who will look after the lower risk deliveries and pregnancy care, with the obstetrician being brought in for complex cases and potential caesarean sections.

Answer: Dermatologist

A dermatologist specialises in conditions affecting the skin, hair and nails. One such condition is eczema, a term that is sometimes interchangeable with dermatitis and covers a large range of skin conditions. Most commonly eczema refers to atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis, a condition in which the skin becomes dry, itchy and cracked.

The key to treatment of the condition is establishing the cause which can be environmental, such as allergies to detergents or common foodstuffs like orange juice.

Answer: Otorhinolaryngologist

The name otorhinolaryngologist comes from the ear (oto), nose (rhino) and throat (laryngo). As a consequence they are sometimes known as ENT doctors but they treat a wider range of conditions associated with the head and neck.

A perforated eardrum is when a hole develops in the middle ear either through trauma, infection or changes in pressure in the ear. Though such an injury can heal without treatment, it sometimes requires surgery to close the hole and enable the regrowth of the tympanic membrane.

Answer: Nephrologist

Polycystic kidney disease is when cysts grow on both kidneys. It is a genetic condition caused by a protein that interferes with the normal growth of the renal tubules.

Nephrology is also known as renal medicine and deals with anything to do with the kidneys. This could be kidney stones, auto-immune disease or acute kidney injury. Nephrologists will also treat diabetic patients and those with hypertension or high blood pressure.

Answer: Rheumatologist

Rheumatologists are specialists in chronic inflammatory diseases of bones, muscles, joints or soft tissue. Osteoarthritis is one such disease, a degenerative disease of the joints that can be caused by an old injury or prolonged stress on the joints. It produces pain and increased stiffness but can be managed with the right advice from a rheumatologist.

Answer: Orthopaedic surgeon

Orthopaedics concerns all the body parts that aid movement (aside from the brain): bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves. So a broken leg would fall into that category. A compound fracture is also known as an open fracture and is when the break has also broken the skin. Such injuries are very serious and frequently require the intervention of an orthopaedic surgeon to reset the bones, fix any internal damage and close the wound.

Answer: Gastroenterologist

A peptic ulcer is a break in the lining of the small intestine. If it is in the stomach it is known as a gastric ulcer whereas if it is in the duodenum it is a duodenal ulcer. It has multiple causes and can have a variety of complications and consequences including serious ones such as stenosis, a narrowing of the intestines, causing blockages.

A gastroenterologist is a specialist in the organs and systems involved in digestion, including the stomach, liver and pancreas.