General
handbagositis
What does handbagositis mean?
A jocular pseudo-diagnosis extending the 'handbag positive' sign into fake disease form.
"Another case of handbagositis on the geriatric ward."
Origin
British slang; 'handbag' plus the '-itis' suffix.
Frequently asked questions
What is handbagositis?
It's a joke pseudo-diagnosis for a confused elderly patient (often female) who clutches a handbag, extending the 'handbag positive' sign into a mock disease name.
Where does the term come from?
British hospital slang, formed by adding the medical suffix '-itis' to 'handbag.'
Is it a real illness?
No, it's not a genuine diagnosis. It's staff humour, not a clinical condition.
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