Changes in understanding of illness as the child grows.

There is increasing evidence that inadequate and often inaccurate information about the bodyl-3 and reasons for illness4 exists among adults. Pendleton and Hasler5 attribute the failure of much com- munication between doctor and patient to this lack of relevant information, characteristic of much of the population. If communications with adult patients are difficult, the problems with children are even greater. The uniqueness of the child's thought means that the paediatrician often has little insight into the child's perceptions and understanding of illness and its treatment; the child's thought pro- cesses often seeming bizarre and unpredictable to the adult. A sizeable body of research is now available, however, which suggests that the child's knowledge of the body and how it works, as well as knowledge about the causes and prevention of illness and treatment, develops in a systematic manner. The implications for the paediatrician are that awareness of this sequence may not only aid on August 8, 2023 by guest.