Dealing with a child patient who does not feel well and who is afraid can be difficult, for the child and for you. Here are some helpful tips to improve the situation:

a. Be calm, patient, and gentle.

b. Be honest. NEVER lie to a child patient. Tell him when he will feel pain during the examination. If he wants to know if he is sick or hurt, tell him that he is, emphasizing that you are there to help him.

c. Try not to separate the child from his parents–even if the parents are also injured. The child may imagine the situation much worse than it is if he is not with his parents.