$Unique_ID{PAR00012}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Using This Medical Guide}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Using Medical Guide Signs Symptoms Home Care Precautions Medical
Treatment}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Using This Medical Guide


     Each of the following sections is self-contained and offers all the
essential information on childhood conditions and emergencies that you should
need, presented in a commonsense, readable manner and organized so as to be
comprehensible and easily accessible.
     The "Quick Reference" pages of each article summarize the most important
facts about the symptoms, home care, and precautions for each condition.  You
can see at a glance what you need to know.  Special pages designated
"Emergency Quick Reference" begin articles that deal with life-threatening
conditions.
     Each article continues with a clear description of what the particular
disease or condition is, what causes it, and, in some cases, when and in whom
it is most likely to occur.  Some diseases, for instance, occur primarily in
the first few years of life; others are particularly common among adolescents;
yet others tend to afflict people of a particular ethnic background.
     Under the heading "Signs and Symptoms" are listed the clues that should
alert you that your child may have the condition, along with brief details on
how the doctor will reach a firm diagnosis--by examining the child, for
instance, or by having x-rays done.
     Under "Home Care" are described the measures that you can take to make
the child more comfortable, such as giving aspirin or acetaminophen to ease
aches and pains or performing simple first aid for a minor cut or scrape.
You'll also learn when home treatment should not be attempted because the
child should be seen by a doctor immediately.
     Under the heading "Precautions" are listed measures to prevent your child
from getting the disease in question (for example, by keeping vaccinations up
to date) and suggestions about how to take care of the child if he or she does
get sick.  You'll also find other practical information, such as whether the
child should be isolated, whether she should use separate towels and linens to
avoid spreading an infection to other family members, and whether other family
members should be treated at the same time even if they do not have definite
symptoms of the condition.  This section also alerts you to possible
complications that require medical attention and points out any situations or
developments that are normal and don't need a doctor's care--a useful way of
finding out when it is not necessary to worry.
     The final section of each article, "Medical Treatment," tells you how a
doctor goes about treating the condition.  This section is designed to help
you understand the doctor's orders and carry them out accurately so that your
child gets well again as fast as possible.  You'll also learn if any follow-up
care or testing is going to be necessary.