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02/03/2004: "Console-kid gets DVT."
The BBC has run a story about a 14-year-old boy who developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after a prolonged gaming session on his Xbox.
DVT, also known as ‘economy class syndrome’, is normally associated with poor people that can’t afford decent seats on aeroplanes and who have to sit in a cramped cargo-holds alongside chickens and even poorer people with swarthy complexions and big hats.
After his gaming session the 14-year-old, called Dominic, got up and noticed that one of his calves had swelled up and he that had pins-and-needles in his legs. When these symptoms failed (failed) to subside, the boy’s father put them down to ‘growing pains’ but eventually (eventually!) took him to a doctor who diagnosed DVT.
A paediatric haematologist at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Liverpool said it was unusual to see FVT in healthy children and that: “The only risk factor we could find in this case was the fact that Dominic had sat on his legs for 10 hours playing computer games without moving.”
Two things:
1. Why the hell did he sit on his legs? Were his family so poor they could afford a Xbox or a chair, but not both? Didn’t he take a break during the 10 hours? I’ve played for longer that than, but even I, a most stoic gamer, needed an occasional crap.
2. Isn’t ‘growing pains’ generally used figuratively? Even if it isn’t, how the hell did the father confuse supposed growth-spurt pain with a suddenly swollen calf and numb legs? Could the family afford a child or commonsense, but not both?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3441237.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1144774.stm
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/growing_pains.html
Replies: 7 Comments
on Wednesday, February 4th, DaninVan said
Did the kid learn anything from this?
on Wednesday, February 4th, DaninVan said
1:50am (UK)
Anger over Topless Barber Shop Plan
By Jude Sheerin, Scottish Press Association
Plans for a topless barber shop today sparked a furore with women?s rights groups vowing to organise a picket and shame male customers.
Deputy justice minister Hugh Henry also expressed outrage at plans to open the shop, A Bit Off The Top, in his Paisley South constituency.
Local authority Renfrewshire Council said there was nothing it could do to prevent the shop opening in Paisley city centre.
It is due to be launched on the site of another controversial store, Bongheads, which sells drugs paraphernalia, cannabis seeds, pornography and sex toys.
Labour MSP Mr Henry said: ?I?m glad to see the back of Bongheads but I?m outraged to see a sleazy attempt to exploit the drugs culture replaced by an attempt to exploit women.?
The SNP?s Sandra White, a member of Holyrood?s cross-party group on violence against women and children, said she was ?disgusted? by the plans and vowed to picket the shop.
The MSP for Glasgow raged: ?I am appalled by this shop, it?s degrading to women and is part of this laddish culture treating women as playthings.
?This objectifying is one reason why violence against women is going up. I and other campaigners will picket the shop every day to shame men who go there.?
Edinburgh-based Scottish Women Against Pornography pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with the MSP and demonstrate outside the shop.
Spokeswoman Catherine Harper said: ?This is not the way forward for the new Scotland and just conveys women as sex objects.?
But Renfrewshire Council?s licensing board said it could do nothing to stop the shop opening on Paisley?s Canal Street.
Councillor John McDowell said: ?Like all local authorities, we don?t have the power to license this particular type of commercial venture.
?I would not welcome such an improbable business proposal. I don?t believe it would have any benefit to the trading or image of Paisley.?
The company behind the venture, Glasgow-based Urban Group, said that only those aged over 18 would be able to work in the shop.
A spokesman said: ?We view it as harmless fun and I imagine this shop would appeal to at least 50% of the local population.?
on Wednesday, February 4th, IDgaf said
Can't the council close it for health and safety reasons? Nipples and scissors don't mix.
on Wednesday, February 4th, DaninVan said
...a pair of warm soft 38's wrapped around my ears as I get my scalp massaged.
on Friday, February 6th, cockles said
:blush: Wonder if I can sue Clive Sinclair for the burn marks I got on my lap from using the ZX Spectrum too much. :confused:
on Friday, February 6th, DaninVan said
On a slightly different note:
Granny (Harry's) will be pleased!
http://www.page3.com/girls/lauren/index.html
on Tuesday, February 10th, SoulThief said
Well fuckin A. I've had way longer sessions than 10 hours, and every normal human being has to pee in those 10 hours (so I believe to think). I mean, in a couple of years we'll see headlines like this:
Dominic Patrick, 16, from Merseyside, developed severe limb seperation after forgetting to pull his hand out of the blender while trying to make a smoothie.
