14/05/2008 HFMD scare

Didn't sleep as bad as I should have last night.

Worrying Ryan had developed symptom of ‘Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease’ (EV71 virus). The deadly epidemic had claimed lives of 26 children in China recently and reported a total of 15,799 cases to 6th May (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/07/content_8117639.htm).

There a band of rash showed on his left foot palm, with two red spots like mosquito bites. In fact, Ryan did get a lot of mosquito bites at the both legs, poor angel.

Although there wasn't any other symptom - no fever, no signs on hands or in the mouth, no uncomfortable at all, the rash and red spots was a very disturbing sign.

In the morning, we took Ryan to see pediatrician. There isn't a GP referral system in China, we could just go to the clinic to see specialist consultant.

Even though we arrived early (before 8am), there were still a lot of people and sick babies. Also thanks to the 'generalised walking clinic' policy.

People filled the waiting area and spilled to corridors, access road outside. Parents swamped the reception, waiting for their numbers be called, in order of waiting number attached to the medical records of each.

Every few moment there would be fingers stirred into the piles of inch thick medical records, notably most of them were anxious mothers or grandmothers trying flipped her sick child's to the top of an ordered stack. Duty nurses were then tirelessly put it back and asked the offender to stay back, while she would also be keeping eyes on distributing more patient to be seen, calling the names on PA, sending message to electronic notice board.

There were at least 7 pediatricians on call. On arrival, you would need to decide who you would like to see, senior specialists or less senior one (there was a few 20p difference). Then if you know one by name you could opt for he or she, otherwise, one would be appointed.

I could keep on and on on this, this was a relative sense of time how long we had been waiting. Every minute was like an hour. Having my own one surrounded by sick children would made me nervous enough. And we left in a rush and forgot to bring him any supply, not even water.

Luckily, Ryan was very good, he didn’t fuss about anything, but playing my shirt button or just checking other kids around.

Two and half hours waiting later, Ryan eventually got his slice of share of consultant’s time. Pediatricians checked him and gave him a clean bill. Not prescription, this wasn't usual to my knowledge when visiting a Chinese hospital.

Put the heart back to the chest. Left Ryan with in-law, I went to collect a birthday cake for my mother.

Then took her to buy a microwave she had been indecisively milling around two department stores many times. No extravagance here, everyone in the stores know her.

It was really a simple and low key celebration.

Went to join Danni in the hospital in the afternoon.

(21 more radiations to go)