Personal preference

SOME parents are adamant that their children get specialised attention.

Clarissa Chong, 40, who runs an organic products business in Selangor, made sure she consulted a paediatrician from the moment her first child was born.

The mother of two girls aged six and three firmly believes that a paediatrician can offer more specialised care.

“I normally consult the specialist for basic ailments like fever, coughs and colds, and childhood vaccinations,” says Chong.

For the past one-and-a-half years, however, she has been managing her children’s illnesses herself and self-medicating.

“For mild illnesses, I try not to see a doctor. Even when I am unwell, I avoid taking drugs unless it’s more serious. I try to drink lots of water and rest adequately.”

Chong is of the opinion that paediatricians are friendlier and gentler with children and this, she feels, is important so that her children do not grow up with a fear of (consulting) doctors.

“Some GPS tend to be more business-like and are prone to prescribing drugs easily. Paediatricians usually understand that children are more fragile.

“For example, the female specialist whom I normally see was very supportive when I was breastfeeding and later guided me on how to wean my children. She also educated me about when to give paracetamol or sponge my daughters if they have fever. She’s popular with her patients and for me, despite having to wait up to two hours sometimes to see her, I don’t mind.

“I intend to send my children to a paediatrician until they are about 12 before I switch over to our family doctor,” shares Chong.

While some would balk at the idea of being stuck in a room of squirming babies and young kids, student Jackie Matthews, 17, feels so comfortable with her childhood paediatrician that she refuses to see any other doctor.

The same specialist has been treating her since she was born, says her mother, Jennifer, who admits to being somewhat embarrassed as her children are teenagers now but the paediatrician assured her that some of his patients still see him until they get married!

“My son, Kenneth, who is 15, is more flexible as he’s conscious of the higher fees and doesn’t mind seeing a GP. But Jackie is rather sensitive, especially when it comes to injections and drawing blood, and she only trusts Dr Yap, who is extremely patient, and sometimes even draws diagrams to explain a condition,” says the 43-year-old teacher living in Selangor.

In fact, their ties with the specialist go beyond mere doctorpatient relationship.

“The children confide in him a lot, and he even counsels them about school and other matters. Also, when my son was growing up, he was such a fussy eater and I was always concerned about how he was not putting on weight.

“Dr Yap was very reassuring throughout. There had been days when my kids were feeling under the weather with no apparent symptoms, and he would spend time talking to them, sometimes up to an hour,” Jennifer relates.

When her mother had Parkinson’s, the doctor even offered them advice on caregiving. “Indeed, he has become more of a family friend,” she adds.

Usually, he charges about RM100 per visit, which includes medicines. Jennifer observed that he hardly prescribed antibiotics unless it was for a more severe condition.

Shahlyna Sharkawi takes her older children, aged 12 and 10, to see the GP only when she feels it’s nothing too serious with them.

“Otherwise, they have always seen a paediatrician. I reckon that (most) GPS are better at adult medical conditions whereas paediatricians are probably more in touch with the latest development for children,” says the 30-something lawyer from Kuala Lumpur, who also has an eight-month-old baby.

“For example, my two older daughters had contracted the rota virus before, but only now a vaccine is available. Years ago, the doctors didn’t give me adequate information. Now, through the paediatrician who is treating my baby, I found that there are different vaccinations available!

“It’s important that a paediatrician offers a personal touch and assurance, especially for first-time parents. While a busy waiting room might be an indication that the doctor is popular, it puts me off if I have to wait for hours, and expose my children to viruses and coughs,” she adds.

While charges are taken into consideration, what matters more to Shahlyna is how the specialist interacts with her children, and the rapport between the doctor and them.