Signs of bacteria: Enacting Sore Throat

• In this paper I analyse the diagnostic process in relation to bacterial sore throat and how this disease comes into being, or how it is enacted, at two Swedish health centres. The empirical data analysed consist of interviews with nurses and general practioners as well as observations at the health centres. The concept of enactment implies that disease is relationally constituted in and through relations between human and non-human actors. In the paper the relations between health care personnel, bodies, symptoms, instruments, bacteria and other actors are investigated, and I discuss how different enactments of bacterial sore throat come to being depending on how these relations are organized. When doing this the clinical gaze - the diagnosing gaze that interpret signs of an underlying pathology on the patients body – is explored and in relation to the empirical material this gaze is investigated, that is, how it is employed and how it is established in relation to a number of human and non-human actors. 

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Övrig annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Other Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Enactment

Bacteria

Clinical Gaze

Sore throat

Science and Technology Studies

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)