When Your Child Is Sick: A Home Guide for Parents Canadian Edition

Britta Santowski is a freelance writer in Victoria.

This book is divided into two sections: flowcharts and descriptions of
disorders. The flowcharts begin with the more obvious symptoms (skin
problems, speech problems, headaches), and, depending on the
accompanying conditions (fevers, duration, recurrence), you are directed
to possible ailments. The second section offers a cursory overview of
ailments such as anemia, ear infections, and digestive disorders.

Information is extensively cross-referenced, making it an easy-to-use
manual. The flow chart refers to the ailments, and the table of contents
and index are thorough and well organized. As can be expected with any
overview guide, it is not comprehensive. For example, skin rashes can
have hundreds of different causes. This guide covers those most common
to children, such as eczema, diaper rash, and fungal infections.

If used as a tool in addition to medical consultation, this book can be
an excellent preliminary resource for parents. It can aid you in
determining what may be wrong, and will allow you to somewhat
knowledgably discuss symptoms and solutions with your family doctor.