When to see your doctor
When should you see your doctor?
The decision to see your doctor about a particular problem is not always easy. Many people worry that they may be wasting the doctor's time with something that is trivial or likely to get better by itself. This can be an especially difficult decision when children are unwell.
There are no hard and fast rules about what can be ignored and what needs to be seen by your doctor, but these guidelines might help.
General guidelines
Most children will get 4 to 6 ‘colds’ a year. These are virus infections known as upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Usually they are all over in a day or two and cannot be cured or prevented. The usual symptoms are a slight temperature, a cough and a runny nose. Treatment can only be aimed at relieving these symptoms with things such as paracetamol, decongestants and cough mixtures, all of which can be obtained without a prescription. Most of the time your doctor is not needed, unless:
- the child seems particularly unwell, with drowsiness, difficulty with breathing, poor appetite or lack of interest in things;
- the symptoms last for more than a few days;
- there is a bad headache or earache; or
- raised temperature does not respond to paracetamol.
Other symptoms
Tummy ache is another common childhood symptom that causes concern. Most of the time tummy aches are not serious and there is no obvious cause, but they should not be ignored if they are associated with persistent vomiting, diarrhoea or loss of appetite. (It is unusual for a child to refuse 2 meals in a row unless they are quite sick.)
For adults, the decision to see their doctor is usually easier. As we get older most of us experience vague aches and pains, particularly if we've been doing some different activity, and these can usually be ignored unless they restrict normal activities or last longer than a day or two. Symptoms that adults must not ignore include:
- pains in the chest, especially if associated with exercise;
- any new or noticeable lump anywhere on the body;
- change in an existing mole or freckle;
- abnormal bleeding of any sort;
- change in bowel habit; and
- unintended loss of weight.
These lists are by no means comprehensive. Remember, it is always better to have gone to your doctor too soon rather than too late.
Last Reviewed: 12 October 2004
