Instructions for Using Parent Care

Choose the Appropriate Guideline. Topics can be found in several ways as you will see on the Choose a Guideline Page. The body-part list or drawing is most helpful if you’re not sure what to call your child’s symptom (eg abdomen gives you 5 symptoms to choose from). Choose the symptom that most closely matches your child’s illness. If your child has more than one symptom, address the most serious symptom. Serious means the symptom that potentially could cause the most harm to your child. (Example: for nosebleed and head trauma together, use the Head Trauma guideline.) If you aren’t sure, use more than 1 guideline. (Caution: don’t use the fever guideline unless fever is your child’s only symptom. If your child also has a cough, diarrhea or other symptom, go to that topic instead of fever.) Choosing the appropriate symptom is very important because it leads you to the best information for your child's illness or injury.

Read the Symptom Definition. Go to the chosen symptom and read the Symptom Definition to be sure it’s a good fit for your child. If not, consider related symptoms listed under See More Appropriate Topic.

Read the Parent Response Sections. Following the Symptom Definition in each topic there is a list of suggested Parent Responses (what action you should take). Below each of these is a list of symptoms/reasons for calling or being seen by your child's doctor. Read through these bulleted items. Read from top to bottom and don’t skip any symptoms or reasons. The purpose of these is to help you determine how sick your child is.

Symbols: > means more than or greater than
< means less than or smaller than

Follow the Suggested Parent Response. If your child has even one of the serious or other “Call Your Doctor” symptoms, stop reading the list of reasons to call your doctor and take the Parent Response action suggested in the heading above. (See the separate document on Parent Responses to Illness and Injury for definitions of each Parent Response.) If the recommendation is to call your doctor within 24 hours or during weekday office hours, refer to the Home Care Advice section to help you keep your child comfortable until then.

Follow Home Care Advice. If your child has none of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms, follow the Home Care Advice listed in the final section. But watch your child carefully for any worsening or new symptoms. If your child's condition changes for the worse, calling your doctor again is a good idea.

Reader's Responsibility. Finally, you’re in control of this process. If you think or feel your child needs to be seen, call your doctor for assistance.

Disclaimer. These guidelines have been carefully written and reviewed. They were last updated on 5/2000. The author disclaims any responsibility, however, for any harm or damage associated with the use of this information.