When To Call The Pediatrician: New Online Symptom Checker

Why wasn't this around when my kids were little?! HealthyChildren.org, the official American Academy of Pediatrics website for parents, features a new online tool to help gauge your child's symptoms.  No more guessing when a fever spikes or rash appears.  No more middle-of-the-night worrying. 

KidsDoc Symptom Checker allows parents and other caregivers to enter their child's symptoms into the interactive tool and receive up-to-date advice on how to treat minor illnesses at home - or when to call the doctor immediately.  Based on 15 years of clinical protocols and over 150 million phone calls across the US and Canada, each symptom care guide includes a decision chart to help you determine the severity of the illness and how to manage it.

Easy-to-navigate tabs offer Definitions, When To Call, Care Advice, and Photos (diagrams to help take away any guesswork).  "Many parents have trouble deciding whether or not to call the pediatrician when their child is sick.  This new tool will help guide them to the right decision quickly and easily," says Jennifer Shu, MD FAAP, Medical Editor, HealthyChildren.org. 

The online tool is also available as a downloadable iPhone application called KidsDoc, providing the same expert advice for on-the-go parents.

As any parent knows, children can get sick or hurt anytime, anywhere.  Now, finally, there is a handy resource to help you make a smart decision on what (if any) treatment is needed.