KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

My three years old niece is now in ICU (Intensive care unit) and is currently in semi-coma state.

She contracted foot mouth disease 2 weeks ago but recovered quite quickly. After that, she started feeling sleepy and kept sleeping. She vomitted after eating. She was brought to KK hospital specialist 1 week ago and they feel that she just had bloated stomach.

Until the day before, she rarely waked up again. My sister quickly brought her to the hospital. Without making sufficient examnination, they concluded that she has Meningitis.

My sis discovered that the child is getting jaundice and the eye is starting to turn yellowish. After alerting the doctor to do a check relating to this symptom (what irony, non doctor have to teach doctor what to do?), they now concluded that her liver is significantly damaged and ammonia level in the blood is extremely high (an indication of damage liver). Shouldn't they have checked the ammonia level in the blood in the first day of admission?

Does anyone here have any such experience with child? What is the best that we can do?

Is she under subsidised team care or a private patient under the care of a senior consultant?

Is there a difference? I do not know.

Which senior consultant in KK is the best?

There is a huge difference, although if you asked the staff at the hospital, they would tell you it's "all the same". But that isn't true.

I heard that the teaching in the restructured hospitals isn't as good as before. The younger doctors are thrown into the deep end without much help. They may not be experienced enough to read the case accurately.

I don't know who the best senior pediatrician in KKH is, but generally, the heads of department should be reliable.

How do we choose the scheme?

Request for an upgrade? Was she previously in a B2 or C-class ward?

If she was in B1, it would mean that she is already a private patient.

Ok. Thanks alot!

I guess there is no such thing as appointing one specific senior consultant to see her? The head for liver has already just seen her.

Her family can request for a specific doctor if she is a private patient. The charges, however, will be significantly higher.

http://www.kkh.com.sg/PatientsAndVisito ... ldren.aspx

Hope your niece recovers soon.

She is in ICU now.

I guess B1, B2 etc...won't make a difference at this stage. Senior consultant already seen her.

I am slightly relief to hear her voice over the phone just now fussing and asking for milk.