This entire week had been full of enjoyment as well as very tiresome for me. My tiredness had turned me lethargic, being one of the reasons for me getting up late today. The watch kept tickling at around 8:55 AM when the first ray of light introduced me to the new day. I instantly got ready and made my way towards the canteen to have juice. Juices are the best breakfast in summer. I joined my friends and then we were all confused about whether to go to the new or old OPD. Being extremely excited, we headed towards our new OPD building about which we have been imagining for last 2 years. The building’s construction started when we were in the second year. And finally, when our MBBS curriculum is about to get over, we are blessed to attend clinics in the new building.
Unfortunately, today was not that lucky day. We got instructed to go to the old OPD building as per our routine schedule. Pediatric posting hasn’t been as fascinating as expected till now. We reached the first floor of the OPD, the location of our pediatric OPD. But the demonstration room was locked. We had no place to sit. These all things kept on adding to my laziness. I somehow managed to get some space to stand under the fan, courtesy weekend, otherwise, the entire area is fledged with patients and their relatives. I always wonder how doctors can work under such conditions. Anyways, I kept standing and had a speculative look all around, I could see guardians holding their kids waiting for their turn. The vaccination room just opposite the OPD was not as plethoric as always. Amidst my superficial inspection, one of the patients came up to me and asked “Sister, yeh 51 number kahan hai (where is this number 51?).” “I am not sister”, I said in myself and directed him the way towards 51 number OPD.
One of my batchmate then said, “Let’s take a history”. I agreed with him as there was no point in standing there and wasting time. I started searching for a neonate and while my eyes were searching for a newborn, my view took a halt at a 5 – 6 year old boy held in his father’s arm. It seemed as if there was something weird. I went close to him and observed; there was a swelling in his right infra-orbital region. He seemed to have a typical saddle nose. I wondered if he is having any genetic disorder. My curiosity increased and I started inspecting him. He was wearing a brown colored shirt whose upper 2 buttons weren’t tugged revealing a little swelling on his sternum. I moved down and found similar swellings just above his wrist and elbow [metaphysis of long bones]. I asked if such swellings are present in other parts of the body and they said yes, there are a few in the legs as well. I then started to elicit the history.
He had suffered from dengue in Dec’16 for which he was given fluids and platelets. After that, he was discharged and his guardians took him to his native village where he developed measles [knowns as “choti maataji” in local language]. According to their orthodox tradition, a child is not supposed to be taken anywhere when he develops the so called “Mataji” and that’s why they hadn’t consulted any doctor. And then he has had these swellings for last 20 days. I inquired if he had taken a vaccine for measles but there wasn’t any proper answer. We took the case to a senior doctor and after examining she suspected it to be a malignancy. Upon asking the father about why he took so long to bring the baby to the hospital, he said he came on a holiday and the OPD was closed after which they had come today.
“Such a careless attitude.”
We always try to detect cancer at the earliest so as to start the required treatment and then there are parents like this who give such lame excuses. The senior doctor has ordered several investigations and asked the patient to get admitted. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be cancer but if it does then who is at fault. The society always blames the doctor but what about such cases where the parents themselves bring their kids when they are at the extreme of the disease because for them it’s easier to beat a doctor rather than bringing their kids to the hospital on time.
“Adopting the right attitude can prevent a life. If you really care about your loved ones then make an effort not an excuse”
“Rehabilitation is not the absence of disease, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than the disease.”
