How Long?

Duration of illness is often an important part of history taking when we see patients. I am not sure if it is a local phenomenon but patients tend seem to have difficulties with this all the time...

Lokun: "So uncle, how long have you had this symptom?"

Ah Pek: "Wah, very long...". He goes into deep pondering...

Lokun: "How long is very long ar?"

Ah Pek: "So long, I can't remember.. you know, it's not like some other long part of my body that can be measured, hehe."

Lokun: "Ok, long as in 5 cm 10cm or... See, now you confuse me! I mean days, weeks, months, years?"

Ah Pek: "Ya, very long liao......" And he continues his deep pondering.

To be fair, its not just the elderly gentlemen who frustrate doctors, many young people can't seem to provide proper duration of their illness. We don't need to know the exact number of days, but roughly, can or not?

Buay tahan.....