He came back...

Fortunately the 4 year old boy I blogged about a few days ago came for follow-up.
He arrived with his aunt, the lab results and the chest x-ray.
They came at 3pm as scheduled but I didn't get around to seeing them till about 7pm.
It was a busy day (lots of patients 70+, new lab technician, complex reviews)!
I also wanted to make sure I'd have the time to talk in depth with them.
When I called them in to my office we took a look at the results.
Unfortunately his HIV test came back positive.
Not a surprise, I guess, seeing the condition he was in, but I had been hoping for the best.
If it was negative, I would try hard to 'mend' this child (as they say here).
But with it being positive, I cannot really offer this child what he needs.
All I could do was refer the child to a specialist doctor in pediatric HIV cases.
And hope that he will be fully assessed, put on antiretrovirals if he meets criteria, etc.
I am glad that the aunt came with him and glad we know the underlying cause of his illness.
But it's sad to look into the eyes of a 4 year old child and know that he is infected for life.
And that his wellbeing depends on his family; most of which have abandoned him.
As he was holding onto me I felt terrible that I could not do more.
I know in other countries doctors are faced with the HIV dilemma everyday.
But this is one child I saw today and a child that tugged at my heart.
And it's hard to see this boy suffer as a consequence of his parents' behaviour.
I can only hope that his aunt will look out for him and learn to love him as her own.