Responses of children to hospitalization

A review is given of the symptoms following traumatic hospitalization experience of children and the factors which influence the way in which they behave, when they are hospitalized. The ways in which the hospitalization syndrome may be prevented are discussed, with particular emphasis on the importance of maintaining the child's relationship with the parents by having a liberal policy as regards visiting or by a rooming-in system. Ordinary school activities, play-therapy, occupational therapy and hospital libraries may play a very important role in preventing hospitalized children from becoming self-absorbed. Although the hospitalization syndrome has been known for 30-35 years, we still have insufficient information about what factors make a child predisposed to develop such a syndrome.