Parents putting their children at risk due to poor diagnosis of serious illnesses

LONDON, ENGLAND, September 21, 2010 (Press-News.org) Three quarters of parents are not confident about diagnosing illness in their own children, according to results of a new survey released today.

Worryingly, nearly half of the parents surveyed are not aware of the normal body temperature range of babies and toddlers, whilst two thirds do not even know that critical body temperature varies between babies, toddlers and older children.

One of the key indicators of meningitis and many other childhood illnesses is a raised temperature, yet more than a third of parents surveyed admit they are not confident about taking their child's temperature.

Furthermore, the survey highlighted that 33% of parents use and rely on devices to measure temperatures that most health professionals consider to give inaccurate or unreliable readings, increasing the risk of incorrectly diagnosing illness in their children.

The survey, commissioned by Brother Max and supported by Meningitis Research Foundation, has been released to coincide with this year's Meningitis Awareness Week, 20-26th September 2010.

More than 1,500 UK parents and grandparents completed the survey, which identifies that there is confusion about the correct diagnosis of potentially serious illnesses such as meningitis, especially when it comes to recognising normal body temperature ranges in babies and children.

Dr Hilary Jones, Patron of Meningitis Resarch Foundation and TV medic says, "Babies, toddlers and children become poorly all the time and sometimes it is very difficult for any concerned parent to establish just how sick their child really is. Is it merely a mild viral illness or could they be showing the first signs of an ear or chest infection, tonsillitis or even meningitis? The symptoms of meningitis can also vary from baby to child and sometimes appear flu-like, such as vomiting and drowsiness".

With any illness, quick thinking and speedy reaction is key but the survey showed that parents are not confident, especially when identifying what the normal temperature range for a healthy child should be. Therefore more needs to be done to communicate correct information from early stages of child development.

Meningitis Research Foundation and Brother Max are working together to help educate parents and grandparents with clear data and key facts which will aid early and accurate diagnosis of meningitis and other childhood illnesses during Meningitis Awareness week.

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