Douleurs neuropathiques : quelques pistes pour une évaluation structurée et une prise en charge spécifique et globale [Neuropathic pain: tips and tools for specific and comprehensive pain management]

Les syndromes neuropathiques sont caractérisés par une douleur d'intensité élevée, de longue durée et résistante aux analgésiques classiques. De fait, il existe un risque important de répercussions sur la vie et le bien-être des patients. A travers une vignette clinique, cet article abordera le diagnostic, le traitement spécifique et l'impact de la douleur neuropathique sur la qualité de vie et les conséquences psychologiques associées, comme la dépression et l'anxiété. Nous présenterons des outils validés qui permettent d'objectiver la composante neuropathique aux douleurs et les comorbidités psychiatriques associées. Cette évaluation globale favorise un meilleur dialogue avec les patients ainsi que l'élaboration de stratégies thérapeutiques, notamment par le biais d'antidépresseurs, dont l'efficacité sera discutée en fin d'article. Neuropathic pain syndromes are characterized by intense and long lasting pain that is resistant to usual analgesics. Patients are therefore at high risk of decreased quality of life and impaired well-being. Using a case report, we will consider in this article the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain as well as its impact on the quality of life including psychological consequences such as depression and anxiety. We will present simple and reliable scales that can help the general practitioner evaluate the neuropathic component of the pain syndrome and its related psychiatric co-morbidities. This comprehensive approach to pain management should facilitate communication with the patient and help the practitioner select the most appropriate therapeutic strategy, notably the prescription of antidepressants, the efficacy of which we will discuss at the end of the article.

Newborn Hearing Screening (English and translations)

Your baby will be given a series of routine health checks in the first few weeks of life. This will include a hearing screen. The hearing screen uses a quick simple test to check the hearing of all newborn babies. � .

Newborn blood spot screening (English and 10 translations)

The newborn blood spot pre-screening information leaflet for parents has been revised to include information about sickle cell disorders (SCD) and medium chain�acyl coA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) family history. The revised pre-screening leaflet should be given to all pregnant women by 30 weeks gestation and reissued to parents following delivery, before day five.Further information about screening and the care of children with SCD is available at:

The Northern Ireland Breast Screening Programme - Guide for health professionals

This booklet is aimed at GPs and practice managers to enable them to promote informed choice for women invited for breast screening.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening: Things you need to know (English and translations)

This information leaflet is for all men invited to take part in the Northern Ireland Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme. Men will automatically be invited for screening in their 65th year, while men aged over 65 can request a scan through the central screening office.

The European Respiratory Society spirometry tent: a unique form of screening for airway obstruction.

In order to raise public awareness of the importance of early detection of airway obstruction and to enable many people who had not been tested previously to have their lung function measured, the European Lung Foundation and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) organised a spirometry testing tent during the annual ERS Congresses in 2004-2009. Spirometry was performed during the ERS Congresses in volunteers; all participants answered a simple, brief questionnaire on their descriptive characteristics, smoking and asthma. Portable spirometers were freely provided by the manufacturer. Nurses and doctors from pulmonary departments of local hospitals/universities gave their service for free. Lower limit of normal (LLN) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria for diagnosing and grading airway obstruction were used. Of 12,448 participants in six congress cities, 10,395 (83.5%) performed acceptable spirometry (mean age 51.0 ± 18.4 yrs; 25.5% smokers; 5.5% asthmatic). Airway obstruction was present in 12.4% of investigated subjects according to LLN criteria and 20.3% according to GOLD criteria. Through multinomial logistic regression analysis, age, smoking habits and asthma were significant risk factors for airway obstruction. Relative risk ratio and 95% confidence interval for LLN stage I, for example, was 2.9 (2.0-4.1) for the youngest age (≤ 19 yrs), 1.9 (1.2-3.0) for the oldest age (≥ 80 yrs), 2.4 (2.0-2.9) for current smokers and 2.8 (2.2-3.6) for reported asthma diagnosis. In addition to being a useful advocacy tool, the spirometry tent represents an unusual occasion for early detection of airway obstruction in large numbers of city residents with an important public health perspective.

Breast screening: For women with a higher risk of breast cancer

This leaflet explains breast screening for women with a higher risk of breast cancer.

Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae/Carbapenemase Producing Organism (CPE/CPO) Screening Information leaflet

Information for patients being screened for Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae/Carbapenemase Producing Organism (CPE/CPO)

Bowel cancer screening: how to take your test (for people who are partially sighted)

This leaflet provides step-by-step instructions on using the Faecal Immunochemical�Test (FIT) for bowel cancer screening. This kit is slightly different to the one we usually use as part of Northern Ireland��'s bowel cancer screening programme. It is easier to complete for people who are partially sighted and is sent following discussion with the screening helpline team.

Bowel cancer screening: the facts (English and 10 translations)

This leaflet provides information on bowel cancer and the Northern Ireland Bowel cancer screening programme.The translations are of the 2010 versions when screening was for 60-69 year olds but this has been extended to 60-74 year olds.

Bowel cancer screening: how to take the test (English and 10 translations)

This leaflet provides step by step instructions on using the Faecal Occult Blood test (FOBt) for bowel cancer screening.The translations are of the 2010 versions when screening was for 60��-69 year olds but this has been extended to 60��-74 year olds.

Bowel cancer screening: the next step (English and 10 translations)

This leaflet provides information on further investigations participants may require, including colonoscopy.The translations are of the 2010 versions when screening was for 60��-69 year olds but this has been extended to 60��-74 year olds.

Bowel cancer screening: the repeat test (English and 10 translations)

This leaflet provides step by step instructions on using the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) for bowel cancer screening.The translations are of the 2010 versions when screening was for 60��-69 year olds but this has been extended to 60��-74 year olds.

Cervical screening: your results explained (English and 11 translations)

Testing for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) as triage and test of cure was introduced into the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme on Monday 28 January 2013. This policy change will significantly alter the screening pathway for women with a mild dyskaryosis or borderline smear result.