The Family Doctor [antikvár]

Foreword Attitudes to illness have changed enormously in the last few years. People today want to know exactly what is wrong with them or their children and why, how quickly they may expect to get better, and how best to speed up that process. At the same time, we have become more self-reliant. Most of us realise that the mass of common, minor illnesses such as a cold in the head or an attack of diarrhoea do not need expert medical assessments or complex drug treatments. These disorders are self-limiting - when we fall ill in this way we get better whatever treatment is given, even if no treatment is given. The problem for ordinary people without medical training is that some symptoms such as a headache or a cough may be the first warning of a serious illness. And few events can be more alarming, or make a parent feel more helpless, than the sudden illness of a child - especially with children too young to describe their symptoms clearly. For how long does a sensible person treat the problem at home? When should you call your doctor? And when do you need to make an urgent visit to the hospital's emergency department? By following the easy-to-read decision charts in this book, you can learn to tell the difference between minor problems and conditions that need immediate medical attention. We do not believe that any book can teach you how to make a medical diagnosis, and this is not a guide to being your own doctor. What it does do, however, is to tell you when and for how long you may safely wait for things to get better, when it is sensible for you to take a medicine bought over-the-counter, and when you need medical help right away. With this book you can make better use of your doctor, calling him or her only when necessary. It will also encourage you to be self-reliant when that makes sense. The self-help decision charts contained within have been developed under medical supervision, tested on patients under real conditions, and reviewed by leading medical experts. We are pleased to add this book to the British Medical Association Family Doctor Publications, a series aimed at improving the health education of the British public.