Indexing Title: RDELEON’s Medical Anecdotal Report [04-7]

MAR Title: This Too Shall Pus!

Date of Medical Observation: September 15, 2004

Narration:

            GA a 2 year old Female was referred to our department by the Department of Pediatrics for evaluation and management of multiple masses probably abscesses. The patient was initially seen by one of my co-residents and was scheduled for an emergency Incision and Drainage and was endorsed to me for the said procedure.

            Since I was the one who will do the operation that day, I went to the Pedia Ward to see the patient. As I examine the patient I noticed several masses all over the baby’s body from head to foot. The sizes of the mass range from 3x3 cm to as big as 10x10 cm. My initial count was 8 abscesses. The child was becoming irritable while I was examining her so I stopped and asked the mother what happened but she didn’t answer me. So instead of dwelling on the cause of the condition of the patient, I explained to her the procedure and its possible complications.

            At around 10:30 pm the patient was wheeled in the Operating Room to under go Incision and Drainage. The procedure was done with no apparent intra-operative complication. I counted the number of abscesses and all in all there were 14.

Insight: (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical) (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcement)

             As physician, we should do a complete and thorough Physical Examination to our patient no matter how irritable and uncooperative the patient is. We should know how to deal with patient regardless of age. And when dealing with a pediatric patient, we should be more patient and innovative in doing our examination.

            With this kind of case, parents should be educated not reprimanded. They didn’t want their children to suffer this condition or any conditions it’s just that they just don’t know what to do. As a physician, it is our responsibility to teach our patients and the relatives on what to do and when to seek medical attention.