Abdominal pain: specialised care for children suggested

Many of the surgical conditions of childhood are different from those of the adulthood and should be approached from a different viewpoint for effective treatment rather than taking them as 'matter of routine'.
Consultant paediatric surgeon Dr Zafar Nazir of the AKU talking at the AKUH's Signs, Symptoms and Care programme "Acute abdominal pains and common surgical problems in children" on Saturday said that all that a child complains should be taken seriously and looked into by specialists.
He said that complaints of similar nature from an adult and from a child might have different reasons and call for different treatment. 'To ensure that right treatment is given to a patient a consultant is always needed.'
He said: "Children are not small adults. The working of their body, the way they respond to an illness and their disease pattern all are unique and markedly different from those of adults."
He said that when a child requires medical attention, it is necessary that a paediatrician see him or her. When a child needs surgery, only a qualified paediatric surgeon should be consulted and added that in all cases specialised care should be provided to children.
Dr Muhammad Arif Mateen Khan, associate professor and consultant paediatric surgeon at AKU, in his presentation on 'cause of acute abdominal pain in children' said: Abdominal pain is a common problem in children and that there are several causes of abdominal pain that vary with the age of the child."
He said that the common cause include constipation, food poisoning and trauma. He said: "In the community diseases, such as typhoid enteritis, amoebic liver abscess and hepatitis, are quite common but in urban and rural areas."
However, he said, in rural areas the situation is even worse as health facilities are almost non-existent. As a result, many patients are admitted to hospitals when their diseases are at advanced stages.
"Belief in traditional remedies prescribed by witch doctors continue to remain strong and this too delays admission to hospitals," he said.
Dr Mateen suggested that if a child is sick and has persistent restlessness, paleness or is unable to stand or walk, has fresh blood in his stool or dehydrated he should be rushed to the nearest hospital for immediate medical care. It should be followed by specialised examination. He said only a little care would take the child out of danger and only a slip would prove fatal.