A lady walked into the lab with her child. She had a request for malaria, typhoid and PCV tests for her 10 months old baby.
While I was trying to collect the baby’s blood sample, we got talking. She asked me what could be wrong with the child that makes him fall sick often, with fever. While I was trying to get the patient’s history from her, she drifted the conversation.
She told me of how she had visited a local centre known for treating ‘umaafo‘, and was told her child doesn’t have umaafo (splenomegaly) however, she bought drugs (supposedly meant for ‘treating umaafo’) and has been giving them to the child.
“I even gave it to him before we came to your lab.” She had said.
Let’s recount the errors in her decisions as a parent:
First, she didn’t go to a hospital, she went to ‘a local center’ that treats umaafo.
Secondly, though she was told her child doesn’t have splenomegaly, she still bought drugs for splenomegaly.
Thirdly, ‘Drugs for splenomegaly?’ From my previous blog post on umaafo, treatment is based on underlying cause. There are wide range of causes, from viral to parasitic to bacterial infections, and sometimes cancer.
My question: “What drugs did they give her and what exactly has she been treating?” I felt really sad for this poor child who has being exposed to a lot of unnecessary drugs.
We all have a role to play in bridging the health ignorance gap.
Mothers, please don’t just take counsel from other mothers, go to a hospital and meet a paediatrician. You might be exposing your child to a lot of danger by self medication and visiting local stores of questionable health standards.
Health workers, please try and keep up with current health information and always educate your patients at any opportunity you get.
Her husband later came around and I had to educate them on splenomegaly, indiscriminate use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.
Our health is in our hands.
Stay informed
Maureen.
Medtrix 