Helping parents of children with respiratory infections decide when to seek medical help: an appropriateness study

Multidisciplinary panel of 12 healthcare professionals rated the appropriateness of care setting for 1,134 scenarios in children aged >12 months and defined the respiratory tract infection symptoms that parents might regard as ‘normal’ and therefore suitable for care at home.

SPS commentary:

Panellists agreed the following:

  • Home care would be appropriate for children with up to 1 week of ‘normal’ infection symptoms (cough, sore throat, ear pain and/or runny nose, with or without eating adequately and normal conscious level).
  • Presence of 2 or more additional symptoms generally indicated the need for a same-day GP consultation, as did the presence of shortness of breath.
  • Assessment in the Emergency Department was considered appropriate when 3 symptoms were present and included shortness of breath or wheeze

 

British Journal of General Practice