As we all know that children are not small adults, it goes without
saying that neither Pediatrics nor Pediatricians are miniaturized
versions of their counterparts in adult domain. Though there are
innumerable differences that make us unique, I have tried to touch upon
only a few for the sake of brevity.
To begin with, our waiting rooms are not like waiting
rooms of physicians dealing with adult patients, where patients unknown
to each other even avoid making eye contact. On the contrary, ours are
one of the noisiest places – second only to shopping malls – resonating
with noise, cries and laughter. Though sometimes there are small fights
but nothing that a chocolate cannot settle.
Grown-up patients and their doctors have a different
kind of relationship, with doctors being respected as some kind of
authority figures. In pediatrics, however, it is generally the other way
round. Children are given more respect by their doctors who realize that
they need their clients’ favour in order to examine them. A ‘no’ from a
child is a strict ‘no’, sure to cast doom on any prospect of physical
examination by his doctor. Kids nowadays are really smart and confident,
and you cannot help but pay attention to what they have to say. Only the
other day, I was told by a wise little boy, "Don’t ever give injections
to children. It’s not a nice thing to do to make children cry!" Well, he
had a point!
Children are very honest with their remarks and
sometimes it makes them all the more funny. There are not many boring
moments in a pediatric clinic. Once while trying to persuade a child to
get vaccination, I told him that it will not hurt him any more than a
mosquito bite. He was quick to reply: "But mosquito bites are not that
painless."
Talking about the weather does not work with us to
break the ice during consultations, but knowing and talking about
children’s favourite cartoon characters is really helpful. Most of us
know about Doraemon, Chhota Bheem and the likes more than
most adults. How thankful I am to my own kids, with whom I am forced to
watch their favorite cartoon shows. Complementing the children about
their dresses or toys helps to gain their trust and building up of
rapport, like nothing else.
The practice of pediatrics comes with its own unique
professional hazards. For example, some babies have really strong pair
of lungs as proved by their cry, and it makes me wish that I could keep
my stethoscope in my ears a little longer than needed, just to avoid the
auditory onslaught. Getting poo stains and sprinkle with a stream of
urine are parts of a routine day’s work of a pediatrician. On the
positive side, we are not repulsed by a dirty nappy and may actually
jump at the opportunity of looking at one if the baby is brought with
the complaint of diarrhea. Having loads of experience of feeding babies
and changing nappies during nursery duties may actually prove very
useful at home, and win appreciation from one’s spouse!
Though children can get really mad over something
they do not like (e.g. getting jabs), they are not the ones to
hold grudges and all is forgiven and forgotten by the next visit.
All said and done, there is nothing comparable in
Adult medicine that gives as much pleasure as watching a child smile or
laugh at you – having improved with your treatment. Being part of the
childhood of a lot of children, watching them grow and achieve different
milestones along the way gives immeasurable satisfaction about the work
we pediatricians do!
