Which Doctor? Trivia Quiz

Answer: toxicologist

You might have discerned from the 'toxic' in toxicology that it is the science which studies the detection and effects of poisons. The discipline studies the harmful effects of chemical substances on living organisms. Toxicologists diagnose and treat the effects of these harmful materials. Certain drugs and other chemicals can interfere with the functioning of organs, causing disease and death, e.g, Roundup Weed Killer has been found to cause Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Answer: immunologist

If you find yourself with itchy eyes and constant sneezing around the end of August in the northern hemisphere, you might want to see a doctor to find out if it's a cold or allergies. "So who ya gonna call?" You would seek out an immunologist or allergist who diagnoses and treats disorders of the immune system. These disorders can range from asthma and eczema to rhinitis and anaphylaxis.

Answer: trichologist

Trichology is a branch of dermatology which deals specifically with the hair and scalp. A more recent discipline, the Institute of Trichologists wasn't founded until 1902. The issues they deal with would include hair loss, ringworm or tinea capitas, folliculitis or inflammation of the hair follicles, psoriasis of the scalp, impetigo (which mainly affects children), fungus infections of the scalp, and seborrheic dermatitis. Hair-raising issues...

Answer: veneriologist

Just like it sounds, veneriology is a medical branch dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The specialty gets its name from Venus, the Roman goddess who is connected with fertility, as well as love and beauty. Veneriologists deal with venereal diseases which may be caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria or fungi.

Unfortunately, there is a long list of such diseases, including syphilis, gonorrhea, HPV, and herpes simplex. Early diagnosis is essential for treatment and to stop their spread.

Answer: phthisiologist

Phthisiology (pronounced much like physiology) involves the study and treatment of tuberculosis, a disease affecting the lungs. It can be found within the area of pulmonology. The term phthisiology comes from the Greek word 'phthisis' which translates as consumption, an older term for tuberculosis. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and is transmitted when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.

Answer: radiologist

So your primary care physician tells you that you need an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to diagnose a potential problem. This means you have to make an appointment with a radiologist to get an X-ray (for which you can thank Wilhelm Roentgen), an MRI, a CT scan (computerized axial tomography), nuclear medicine, ultrasound or positron emission tomography (PET), big words costing big bucks. Diagnostic radiologists look inside the body to determine the patient's condition.

Answer: bariatrician

If you have a problem with obesity which you've been unable to correct with diet and exercise, you might opt for a more dramatic solution, i.e., a gastric band. That involves bariatric surgery called a gastric bypass. The bariatrician either removes a portion of the stomach or re-sects and reroutes the small intestine to a stomach pouch. Usually, prior to surgery, there are extensive psychiatric examinations to determine the suitability of this life changing procedure.

Answer: intensivist

A board-certified doctor who provides care for critically ill patients in the ICU or Intensive Care Unit, is called an intensivist (appropriately). An intensivist or critical care physician requires advanced training and experience beyond a doctor's original speciality because he or she must deal with a range of conditions.

This is, possibly, one of the most difficult jobs in medicine, and also requires a knowledge of technical procedures and devices.

Answer: andrologist

Most of us have heard of gynecologists who deal with women's reproductive issues, but did you know that there is a specialty which deals with male reproductive issues? An andrologist handles male health issues, including fertility and urological problems, as well as anomalies involving genitalia, and surgical techniques like vasectomies and circumcisions.

The term andrology is derived from the Greek 'andros' (man) and 'ology' (study of).

Answer: neurotologist

Unlike a neurologist who deals with disorders of the nervous system, a neurotologist more specifically treats neurological disorders of the ear, and is closely aligned with otology. It is a more concentrated area of head and neck surgery or otolaryngology. To be specific, while otology deals with the treatment of middle ear disease and 'conductive hearing loss', neurotology refers to the treatment of inner ear conditions, i.e., hearing or balance disorders.

Answer: angiologist

The medical discipline which studies diseases of the circulatory and lymphatic systems is call angiology; it is also referred to as vascular medicine. An angiologist studies diseases of arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels. He or she diagnoses and treats vascular and blood vessel related problems including arterial thrombosis, embolism, varicose veins, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, in an attempt to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Answer: neonatologist

A subdivision of pediatrics, neonatologists treat newborn infants (having nothing to do with the noble gas). Often working in neonatal intensive care units in hospitals (NICUs), these physicians work with premature babies and ill infants. Among the issues they face are birth defects or congenital malformations, low birth weight, sepsis, pulmonary hypoplasia or incomplete lung development, genetic abnormalities and perinatal asphyxia.

Answer: epidemiologist

The term epidemiology is derived from the Greek 'epi' (among) 'demos' (people) and "ology' (study of), literally 'a study of what is upon the people', i.e., the study of human populations or, more simply, public health. Epidemiologists study risk factors and methods of preventive health care, with an eye toward avoiding and treating outbreaks and epidemics.

The term can be applied to animals as veterinary epidemiology or epizoology.

Answer: epileptologist

Seizures can be the result of epilepsy, so it seems logical that would be the purview of an epileptologist. An epileptologist is basically a neurologist who specializes in treating epileptics. Did you know that epilepsy is one the the most common neurologic diseases, affecting approximately 1% of the population? While the disease can cause seizures, strokes and movement disorders, it can often be treated with medication.

Answer: anesthesiologist

Hopefully this quiz has not put you to sleep; that would be the function of an anesthesiologist. The word anasthesia was actually coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes from the Greek 'an' (without) and 'aisthesis' (sensation), i.e., the inhibition of sensation. We think of an anesthesiologist as the doctor who administers gas during surgery.

However, it can also involve dispensing medication before and after an operation.