Practicing without modern medicine

Another day on EFH (Emirates Floating Hospital). We casually start our morning with breakfast from 8-9, then mosey over to the hospital and wait for patients to arrive. Then, the flood gates open and there is no holding them back. I saw ~30 patients this morning from 10:30 to 12:45. That puts Peds Associates to shame! And by "I saw these patients", I mean that I saw and treated things I only remember seeing in medical school. There was a fair share of kids with the "common cold" which I am more than comfortable with but it was all of those adult issues that made you go into Pediatrics that were a bit challenging. However, we saved the lives of many today with paracetamol, metronidazole, and fluconazole. The saddest were a family with three children, a 5 yr old boy and 11 yr old girl twins who had never sat up, rolled over, talked, etc. It makes you feel rather helpless when you cannot just print out a referral to the nearest Pediatric Neurologist. You can tell them to go to the closest medical college which is 75 km away and hope that they can go, but even if they can afford the trip who knows what help they will receive. There was also a 20 yr old with some sort of peripheral neuropathy of his right leg likely secondary to polio that we weren't able to do anything for. It is quite challenging without the luxuries of modern medicine. However, everyone is so thankful and it is quite rewarding to be able to help at all. We are having our afternoon tea and then off for my first venture into the village...stay tuned!