Since I am a pediatrician, much of what I do for patients involves advice. I have tried to give some tidbits of parenting advice in the previous chapters. In the remainder of this book, I have tried to include some medical advice about common medical problems that parents may encounter. Don't expect this section to be perfect, because nothing in medicine is perfect. In medicine, there is always uncertainty, therefore there will always be exceptions to any expectation. All physicians are not the same. In some medical conditions, the right thing to do is clear-cut and all physicians will do it this way. But in other medical conditions, the right thing to do is very controversial and in such cases, physicians will make different recommendations depending on their experience, assumptions, beliefs, their relationships with patients and many other factors as well. These are often judgment calls and it should be expected that it is not possible for a physician to be correct all the time. Knowing that a physician is not always correct, you should still discuss your child's condition with your physician since most of the time, your physician will be correct.

In the following chapters, this book will make general statements about medical conditions. This cannot compare to a physician evaluating an individual patient. The physician has the ability to examine the patient and determine the specific circumstances concerning the condition of the patient. This book can only describe information in general terms. Thus, the medical information in this book, will not always be perfectly applicable to your child's condition. Again, it is always a good idea to discuss your child's condition with your physician. This book is NOT a substitute for your child's physician.

The following topics are covered:

Fever - What Does it Mean?

Controlling Fever

Seizures Due to Fever

Fever is Natural: Is it a Friend?

Colds

Antibiotics - When to Expect Them

Head Injuries, Concussions and CAT Scans

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Abdominal Pain

Is it a Broken Bone?

X-Rays

Allergic Reactions

Lacerations and Wounds - Stitches, Tape, Glue and Plastic Surgeons

Does Your Child Have an Emergency?

Illness Prevention - Vaccines

Vitamins