A Pediatric Physical Exam Requires Special Skills And Infinite Patience

By Marissa Velazquez


When a loved one is ill it is always traumatic for the next of kin but it is especially difficult to see a sick child. Many parents feel inadequate and helpless because there is nothing that they can do to ease the pain and to make things better. It is certainly best to seek medical assistance whenever a child is ill, especially if they experience pain or discomfort. A pediatric physical exam is the only way in which the ailment can be diagnosed and treated.

Children that are ill must be handled in a much different way than would be the case with adults. Sick children often do not understand the very concept of disease and they can become muddled and scared. That is why there are pediatricians that are specially trained to handle ill kids. These experts are specialists that received advanced training after completing their ordinary medical degrees.

Children need to be attended by specialist doctors because their medical needs differ from those of adults. Children are still developing and at each developmental phase they may develop different types of diseases and other medical conditions. The treatment used with young patients often differs from those used on adults and the medication used is also often uniquely developed for children. Some types of disease are almost exclusively found in children.

Pediatricians have to examine their patients without the benefit of being able to ask questions. Parents may sometimes provide vital information but the diagnostic skills of the physician have to be extraordinary. Children may also view the pediatrician as hostile and they may refuse to cooperate. They see the examination and the treatment as threatening. That is why pediatricians need special skills and endless patience.

Another great challenge faced by pediatricians is the behavior of parents and loved ones. Many parents refuse to leave the side of the sick child. They often try to answer questions on behalf of the patients and they are known to interfere with treatment procedures because they cannot bear to witness the agony suffered by their children. They are also notorious for dithering before giving permission for urgent treatment.

Pediatricians go to great lengths to create a consulting atmosphere that will keep their patients calm and occupied. They offer toys and games to play with and they make sure that they utilize a peaceful color scheme that will appeal to their patients. They make sure that their patients are not scared by harsh lights, loud voices and arrays of threatening equipment.

Children are much more likely to cooperate and to remain calm if they are familiar with the environment and the people that work there. That is why it is vital to take the child for visits to the pediatrician from an early age. If they know the doctor they will develop trust and will therefore not be scared when they need to be injected, for example.

It is only natural that parents will do everything they possibly can when a child falls ill. Because children are often not able to describe their own symptoms accurately, it is best to insist upon a thorough pediatric physical exam when they are obviously not well. Children can become very ill very quickly and timeous action is always the best course of action.




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