"Lethargic" and Other Adjectives
Vincent J. Menna MD1
1 Doylestown, PA
An anathema for the general pediatrician is the task of ascertaining the significance of a child's symptoms relayed over the telephone by a parent. The use (or misuse) of certain words by a parent may determine whether a child is examined. Many other factors also are involved, including an anxious parent, the "vulnerable child" syndrome, a visiting grandparent, and a tired doctor.
"Lethargic" is the most common malapropism. We often have heard the history that a child has a fever and is lethargic. Is it meningitis, septicemia, or just a viremia? Being unsure, one certainly must see the patient. Usually, at the time of the office visit, it requires a receptionist and two nurses to restrain the patient.
