When children become ill, parents worry. Most parents schedule a visit to the pediatrician so that the child can be diagnosed and treated. The more information that a parent can provide, the sooner the physician can determine what is wrong.
Information About Symptoms
The first thing that the pediatrician must know is what's wrong and where does it hurt. If your child is too young - or too bashful - to speak up, tell the doctor. Describe the symptoms and when they began. Be sure to indicate anything that seemed to trigger the symptoms.
Did something seem to help the symptoms or did something else make things worse? If so, this is information that can help the pediatrician make a swift, correct determination.
If pain is one of the symptoms, make certain that the doctor knows where - exactly where - it hurts. Telling the doctor that your child's tummy hurts is vague but pinpointing the exact area of distress is not. What most call "tummy" stretches from the breastbone to the pubic region so be precise. Ask your child to describe the pain if possible. Nausea, cramping, or constant discomfort are all different and can indicate various conditions.
Give All The Facts You Have
Tell the pediatrician about any over the counter medications that have been administered. If home remedies were used, describe the action taken.
If your child was recently exposed to an illness at daycare, a play group, school, or other setting, tell the doctor. Knowing that a child has been exposed to chicken pox or strep throat can help pinpoint the diagnosis.
Mention any accidents your child has had or been involved in. If a recent fall down the stairs or a fender bender could have caused symptoms, say so.
Mention any new medications that the child may be taking.
List any unusual foods (Thai for the first time) or food that might have been spoiled or that might have made the child ill for the doctor.
If your child's basic medical information isn't available, which could happen if you're seeing a new doctor or made an emergency room visit, make sure that the facts are presented. List name, age, approximate weight, any chronic medical conditions, known allergies, any reactions to previous medications, and the pharmacy you patronize.
Don't make the doctor play detective. Provide the most complete information possible to help speed a diagnosis so appropriate treatment can be provided. Help send your child on the way back to health with current and complete facts.