“Most of the time your child is well—hungry at mealtime, sleeps soundly. Your family has fun together. The days fly by. Then without warning, your child is sick or injured. You’re uncertain what to do next. Should you call your child’s doctor? Should you go to the emergency department? Can you treat your child at home? What’s the current best advice for relieving your child’s symptom?” (direct quote from the book “My Child is Sick; Expert Advice for Managing Common Illnesses and Injuries”, 14th Edition, by Barton D. Schmitt)
I decided to add this “Medical Symptom Checker” for most common symptoms to help you determine how sick your child is, and if you need to call your child’s doctor. The second purpose is to help you treat your child at home when it is safe to do so. You are an important member of your child’s health care team. Trust your parental instincts; they are a special safeguard for protecting your child. And never underestimate your common sense.
In order to provide you with more medical information, I have selected a few chapters of common medical symptoms from the excellent book “My Child is Sick; Expert Advice for Managing Common Illnesses and Injuries”, 14th Edition, by Barton D. Schmitt. If you would like a more complete overview of many more medical symptoms, I would encourage you to purchase it.
Disclaimer: Please note that my Medical Symptom Checker and Dr Barton’s book are meant as a guideline. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.