Internet Addiction: Consequential Diseases

The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by Internet addiction:

Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59).

  • Visual disturbances

Blood, hematopoietic organs – immune system (D50-D90)

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).

  • Obesity (overweight)

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

  • Neck pain
  • Back pain due to non-physiological back strain

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

  • Alcohol abuse (alcohol dependence)
  • Depression
  • Insomnia (sleep disorders)
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome (KTS) – compression syndrome (bottleneck syndrome) of the median nerve in the region of the carpal canal.
  • Loss of control
  • Addictions, especially to medications (sleeping pills).
  • Social withdrawal

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

  • Headache
  • Nervousness
  • Irritability
  • Pain

Further

  • Limitation of the quality of life
  • Neglect of personal care and personal hygiene.
  • Loss of reality
  • Lower grades in school
  • Disruption of identity
  • Neglect of other areas of life

Prognostic factors

  • Abandonment of leisure activities and friends (special alarm sign).
  • Particularly at risk are depressives and loners