HOW TO EXAMINE A CHILD SUSPECTED TO BE ILL:

Te Ao Hou, April 1958, Page 63

HOW TO EXAMINE A CHILD SUSPECTED TO BE ILL: (A) Look at the child. (B) Ask him how he feels. (C) If necessary, examine scalp, ears, face and skin generally. (D) Take his temperature. (Pulse will not help very much.) (E) Look at tongue and throat—if you can. (F) Feel glands in neck. (G) Examine any part complained about. Look him over in leisurely fashion. Notice his general appearance, the way he is made and covered, how he stands or sits, colour, etc. Does he look like an ill child? If so, what seems to be troubling him, and where? Ask him how he feels, quietly, sympathetically, firmly. Press your questions gently. He can often tell you quite a lot. Scalp For head lice, examine systematic fore and aft partings across the scalp. Nits, tiny specks firmly fixed to hairs, most easily seen behind the ears, are the eggs of the head louse. Ringworm of the scalp is indicated by circular scaly balding areas with broken-off hairs on them, usually near edge of scalp at the back. Swollen glands develop at the back of the head in German measles, with a rash and mild general upset. (Rash begins on face, scalp, and neck, and spreads downwards over the body and limbs.) Ears Discharge from the ear or earache should always receive medical attention. Face Face may show flush, pallor, anxiety, pain. Bloodstained discharge from the nose, and sore lip where it touches, often means a diphtheria carrier. Impetigo consists of yellow crusting on a sore and is very contagious. In mumps there is a tender swelling in front of the ears and behind the angles of the jaw, one or both sides. There is pain on opening mouth and temperature is usually raised, but not always. Skin Scabies is known as “the itch”. The itch is worst in bed at night. Rash occurs between the fingers, front of the wrists, inner side of the elbow, front fold of the armpits; perhaps also on the abdomen, buttocks, etc. Ringworm of the body is a circular rather itchy area with a slightly raised, reddish, blistery spreading edge, forming ring shapes.