Child chronic illnesses a cause of emotional trauma

Growing instances of depression and suicidal tendencies is registered among local children suffering from chronic illnesses as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy etc.
Child psychologist, Dr Abdul Ghani and Endocrinologist, Professor Jamal Raza associated with National Institute of Child Health (NICH) in an interview with APP here said suicidal tendencies among young above seven years, particularly those in adolescence, is more evident as they could realise more the fact that the said ailments are not curable.
It is not only the stigma often attached to said ailments but realisation that they are not 100 percent fit to participate in all extra curricular activities further adds to their gloom.
Meanwhile, consciousness that arranging treatment for the chronic diseases is in itself a difficult provision for their care-takers also is noticed to be another cause of agony. The cited scenario as more pertinent to children belonging to families with limited resources and parents already pressurised.
To a query, Dr Ghani reminded that young children who may not express their displeasure quite well in face of inconvenience and helplessness manifest their depression through frequent but unexplainable bouts of head ache or pain in different parts of the body and at times even incontinence (loss of control in passing urine).
As for a little older children withdrawal and reluctance to comply with prescribed dosage of drugs on regular- basis could be registered, Dr Jamal Raza said mentioning that this further aggravates their physical as well as emotional well being.
These extremely sensitive kids are fully conscious of the inconvenience caused to their care takers in visiting hospitals, -From far off places, at regular intervals along with poor understanding regarding required care and caution in administration of therapy.
Dr Raza in this context specifically referred to the plight of a 12-year-old girl suffering from diabetes being regularly brought to NICH by her aunt who is hostile towards her niece.
The girl, whose father abandoned her along with his wife for bear sing a child suffering from diabetes, had also lost her mother at the tender age of six, considers treatment and therapy absolutely futile in face of harsh environs around her, in particular context of economic hardship.
Parents exposed to financial and social difficulties and bearing vagaries of life often tend to vent, their frustration on their off spring, Dr Ghani said adding that the fact is overlooked that the practice to emotionally abuse kids casts a severely negative impact on many of their off spring.
Dr Ghani answering a question regarding incidence of depression among Pakistani children in general, said the number of such cases as increasing and it is often the pediatricians and at times even teachers who urge parents to ensure psychiatric support.
Misconceptions about psychological mode of treatment is a major convincing many of the parents to bring their children to psychiatrists, Dr Ghani said.
"Parents ought to be receptive," he said adding that acceptability on part of parents to ensure treatment guarantees early and absolute recovery of the suffering child.