Doing the rounds

Today was my first day in the pediatric ward at MGIMS. Indeed, the first quality time I've spent on any ward. After two years at medical school, the medical staff here find that a little shocking as their medical education was highly integrated with theory and practical from very early on in the MBBS programme.

The highlight of this morning was observing the pediatric out patients, that is, the new patients arriving at the pediatric department after being referred there from the general outpatients department as non-emergency. There were all sorts of different cases, such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a simple upper respiratory tract infection. My studies to date were very helpful indeed. I could apply my theory to the symptoms and treatment of these patients. My first time in this sort of setting was fascinating.

It is a little difficult, however, because the hospital is terribly understaffed (over subscribed), and also the consultations are not in English. So if I am to get any sense out of the consultation I must wait until afterwards, at which point there is little time to discuss because everyone is in a real rush. They did find time for me however, I just had to be alert and ready with the questions I needed answering. The questions were usually general, along the lines of "What just happened? What's wrong with that child? Can you help me understand the general goings-on around me? Where am I? etc."

The highlight: Patient with congenital posterior urethral valves. A 12 year old boy (looked about 6) with short stature, secondary renal failure, hugely distended bladder, knock knees and hypercalcaemia.