Video game-related health problems

Video game-related health problems can induce repetitive strain injuries, skin disorders or other health issues. Other problems include video game-provoked seizures in patients with epilepsy.[1] In rare and extreme cases, deaths have resulted from excessive video game playing (see Deaths due to video game addiction).

There may or may not be an accompanying video game addiction. Video games have also been linked in some studies to aggressive behaviour and violence or fearful behaviour by its players in the short term although other studies have not supported this link.[2][3][4]

Studies have mainly reported health problems in children, mainly boys. Several specific names have been given to video-game related health problems, for example PlayStation thumb, Nintendinitis and acute Wiiitis; however, the literature does not seem to support these as truly separate disease entities.[5] Video game consoles linked to medical problems include the PlayStation and the Nintendo Wii, although it is unknown whether certain types are more connected to these problems than others.[6]

Physical signs linked to excessive video game playing include black rings in the skin under the eyes and muscular stiffness in the shoulders, possibly caused by a tense posture or sleep deprivation.[7]

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Musculoskeletal problems

When questioned, children often admit to having physical complaints during video game playing, for example pain in the hands and wrists, back and neck.[8][9][10] Ergonomic measures could improve postural problems associated with video game playing.[9]

A 2004 case report in The Lancet, authored by a 9-year-old boy, mentions the Playstation thumb, which features numbness and a blister caused by friction between the thumb and the controller from rapid game play.[11][12] Using dermoscopy, dermatologists found point-like hemorrhages and onycholysis (letting go of the nail) in a patient who presented with hyperkeratosis.[13]

Nintendonitis has been used to describe tendon injuries (tendinosis) of the hands and wrists in Nintendo players.[14]

A 2010 case report in the New England Journal of Medicine reported a fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal after using a Wii balanceboard; this was dubbed a Wii fracture.[15]

Skin problems

Nintendinitis has been associated with skin ulceration.[16]

PlayStation palmar hidradenitis is a skin disorder induced by console gaming. Painful lesions on the palms and fingers are the main features. It differs from recurrent palmoplantar hidradenitis in that it affects only the hands.[17]

Vision problems

Video game playing may be associated with vision problems.[5] Extensive viewing of the screen can cause eye strain, as the cornea, pupil, and iris are not intended for mass viewing sessions of electronic devices.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Shoja MM, Tubbs RS, Malekian A, Jafari Rouhi AH, Barzgar M, Oakes WJ (March 2007). "Video game epilepsy in the twentieth century: a review". Childs Nerv Syst 23 (3): 265–7. doi:10.1007/s00381-006-0285-2. PMID 17211654. 
  2. ^ Huesmann LR, Taylor LD (2006). "The role of media violence in violent behavior". Annu Rev Public Health 27: 393–415. doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144640. PMID 16533123. 
  3. ^ Ferguson CJ, Kilburn J (May 2009). "The public health risks of media violence: a meta-analytic review". J. Pediatr. 154 (5): 759–63. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.11.033. PMID 19230901. 
  4. ^ Browne KD, Hamilton-Giachritsis C (2005). "The influence of violent media on children and adolescents:a public-health approach". Lancet 365 (9460): 702–10. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)17952-5. PMID 15721477. 
  5. ^ a b Gillespie RM (2002). "The physical impact of computers and electronic game use on children and adolescents, a review of current literature". Work 18 (3): 249–59. PMID 12441565. http://iospress.metapress.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&issn=1051-9815&volume=18&issue=3&spage=249. 
  6. ^ Bonis J (June 2007). "Acute Wiiitis". N. Engl. J. Med. 356 (23): 2431–2. doi:10.1056/NEJMc070670. PMID 17554133. 
  7. ^ Tazawa Y, Okada K (December 2001). "Physical signs associated with excessive television-game playing and sleep deprivation". Pediatr Int 43 (6): 647–50. doi:10.1046/j.1442-200X.2001.01466.x. PMID 11737743. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=1328-8067&date=2001&volume=43&issue=6&spage=647. 
  8. ^ Burke A, Peper E (2002). "Cumulative trauma disorder risk for children using computer products: results of a pilot investigation with a student convenience sample". Public Health Rep 117 (4): 350–7. doi:10.1016/S0033-3549(04)50171-1. PMC 1497444. PMID 12477916. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1497444. 
  9. ^ a b Ramos EM, James CA, Bear-Lehman J (2005). "Children's computer usage: are they at risk of developing repetitive strain injury?". Work 25 (2): 143–54. PMID 16131744. http://iospress.metapress.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&issn=1051-9815&volume=25&issue=2&spage=143. 
  10. ^ Zapata AL, Moraes AJ, Leone C, Doria-Filho U, Silva CA (June 2006). "Pain and musculoskeletal pain syndromes related to computer and video game use in adolescents". Eur. J. Pediatr. 165 (6): 408–14. doi:10.1007/s00431-005-0018-7. PMID 16552547. 
  11. ^ Vaidya HJ (March 2004). "Playstation thumb". Lancet 363 (9414): 1080. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)15865-0. PMID 15051306. 
  12. ^ Karim SA (June 2005). "Playstation thumb--a new epidemic in children". S. Afr. Med. J. 95 (6): 412. PMID 16100887. http://blues.sabinet.co.za/WebZ/Authorize?sessionid=0:autho=pubmed:password=pubmed2004&/AdvancedQuery?&format=F&next=images/ejour/m_samj/m_samj_v95_n6_a14.pdf. 
  13. ^ Bakos RM, Bakos L (December 2006). "Use of dermoscopy to visualize punctate hemorrhages and onycholysis in "playstation thumb"". Arch Dermatol 142 (12): 1664–5. doi:10.1001/archderm.142.12.1664. PMID 17179012. 
  14. ^ Macgregor DM (October 2000). "Nintendonitis? A case report of repetitive strain injury in a child as a result of playing computer games". Scott Med J 45 (5): 150. PMID 11130299. 
  15. ^ Eley KA. A Wii Fracture. N Engl J Med 2010; 362(5): 473-474.
  16. ^ Koh TH (2000). "Ulcerative "nintendinitis": a new kind of repetitive strain injury". Med. J. Aust. 173 (11-12): 671. PMID 11379534. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/173_11_041200/koh/koh.html. 
  17. ^ Kasraee B, Masouyé I, Piguet V (April 2009). "PlayStation palmar hidradenitis". Br. J. Dermatol. 160 (4): 892–4. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09058.x. PMID 19239462. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=0007-0963&date=2009&volume=160&issue=4&spage=892.