It was Aarti’s second day of pediatric postings. She had barely gotten used to the colorful walls and the shrill cries of infants when she was called to Bed 6 — a quiet 7-year-old boy named Raju who hadn’t spoken a word since being admitted the day before.
His mother sat by him, her saree faded, eyes filled with worry. “He doesn’t talk. Since last week. He just sits like that, staring at nothing. He eats very little. We thought it was fever. But the doctor said nothing is wrong.”
Aarti examined him — vitals were normal, no signs of infection or trauma. His physical exam was unremarkable. But his eyes… they told a different story. Blank. Withdrawn.
She gently asked the mother, “Has something happened at home? Something that might have scared him?”
After some hesitation, the mother whispered, “His father passed away suddenly… ten days ago. He saw everything. He hasn’t spoken since.”
Suddenly, it clicked. This wasn’t a case of fever, or infection. It was selective mutism or acute stress reaction—the kind no stethoscope could diagnose.
With the help of the psychiatry team, gentle counseling began. Over a week, Raju started responding to colors. Then toys. Then, finally, words.
Key Learning Points:
- Not every illness is physical. Psychological trauma can mimic medical conditions.
- Empathy and careful history-taking are as powerful as any diagnostic test.