The purpose of these topics (guidelines) is to help you determine how sick you or your child may be and if you need to call your doctor. The second purpose is to help you treat yourself or your child at home when it is safe to do so. Your doctor's advice and your good judgment should always take precedence over information in these guidelines.
Choose the Appropriate Topic:
Topics can be found 2 ways: browsing alphabetically by symptom category or use the search box for a key word.
Choose the symptom that most closely matches the symtpom/ illness or injury. If more than one symptom is involved, look first for the most serious symptom. Serious means the symptom that potentially could cause the most harm.
Example: for nosebleed and head injury together, use the Head Trauma topic. If you aren't sure, use more than one topic.
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 the illness or injury
The Topic Pages:
Each page has navigation tabs to three options:
- Symptom Description
- Should I Call?
- Care at Home
The step 1 tab--Symptoms--Read the "Symptom Description" to be sure it's a good fit for the concern. If not, consider the list of other symptom options provided in the RELATED SYMTPOMS section of links.
The step 2 tab--"Should I Call?"-- This section is composed of possible responses or options for what action to take. Below each option is a list of symptoms and/or reasons for calling your doctor or taking your child in for medical care. Read through these bulleted items from top to bottom and don't skip any symptoms or other items. The purpose of this content is to help you determine how sick you or your child is and to assist you in choosing an appropriate course of action.
The step 3 tab--"Care at Home"--You will find helpful advice to use if you determine care can safely be continued at home or steps to take while you are waiting to receive care from your doctor.
Follow the Suggested Action Response to Illness or Injury:
If you or your child has even one of the serious symptoms, stop reading the list of reasons to call your doctor and take the response action suggested. If the recommendation is to call your doctor within 24 hours or during weekday office hours, refer to the "Care at Home" recommendations under the step 3 tab, to help you keep you or your child comfortable until then. But watch carefully for any worsening or new symptoms. If conditions change for the worse, calling your doctor is a good idea.
Understanding the "Should I Call?" Recommendations
By reading the questions and using your common sense, you should be able to select one of the action options from the following five response categories:
- Call 911 NOW (an ambulance may be needed) IF:
Definition: This may be a life-threatening emergency.
Action: Immediately call 911or your Emergency Medical Response system.
- Call Your Doctor NOW (night or day) IF:
Definition: This may a non-life-threatening emergency or urgent condition.
Actions: Call your doctor immediately.
- If you can't reach your doctor within 60 minutes or you do not have a personal doctor, go to the nearest Intermountain KidsCare/InstaCare clinic or emergency department by automobile NOW.
- Call Your Doctor WITHIN 24 HOURS (during regular daytime office hours) IF:
Definition: This may be a non-urgent illness that may require a specific test (such as a throat culture) or an antibiotic (such as for an ear infection). You or your child may need to be seen, but it can safely wait for up to 24 hours.
Actions:
- If the office is open, call now.
- If the office is closed now, but will be open within 24 hours, call when it opens.
- If the office won't be open within the next 24 hours, call your doctor's answering service for assistance.
- If you don't have a personal doctor, go to the nearest Intermountain KidsCare/Instacare within the next 24 hours.
- Call your doctor during weekday office hours IF:
Definition: This may be a nonurgent symptom or illness that has lasted longer than expected (such as a persistent cough or localized rash) but usually carries no risk of complications. You or your child may need to be seen in the office but can safely wait a few days if it's the weekend or a holiday.
Actions:
- If the office is open, call now.
- Otherwise, call during scheduled weekday office hours on Monday - Friday. (This category therefore excludes weekends and holidays.)
- If you don't have a doctor, choose a doctor and make an appointment to be seen within the next 3 days.
Definition: This may be a mild illness that's usually self-limited or harmless and can be safely cared for by you at home
Actions:
- Call your doctor if the condition becomes worse or if you or your child develop a symptom listed in ANY of the "Call Your Doctor" categories.
- If your child has none of the Call Your Doctor symptoms, follow the "Care at Home" recommendations listed under the third tab.
Reader's Responsibility:
Remember that you are in control of this process. If you think you or your child needs to be seen, call your doctor for assistance. And if you think you're dealing with a medical emergency, call 911or your local EMS immediately.
Disclaimer Notice: These guidelines have been carefully written and reviewed. They were last updated on 8/2002. The author and knowledge-base provider disclaim any responsibility, however, for any harm or damage associated with the use of this information.</li>
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