Irish parents need more education on treating minor illnesses to cut down on unnecessary trips to the doctor, according to a Monaghan GP.
Dr Illona Duffy was speaking after UK doctors called for primary school children to be taught techniques to prevent minor illnesses in order to stop unnecessary GP visits clogging up the system.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Dr Duffy said Irish schools have done a great job teaching children about protective measures since the pandemic began.
She noted, however, that many parents are still unsure whether their child needs to see a doctor when they are feeling under the weather.
“I think training parents and educating parents on how to manage minor illnesses and to know when you actually do need to seek GP care [is something we should consider],” she said.
“I think, especially now since COVID, what we are noticing in General Practice is, we had kind of 18 months where children were not meeting the normal viral infections they normally do. So, we didn’t see the children with the gastroenteritis, the vomiting and diarrhoea and we didn’t see the children with the coughs, the sneezes, the sore throats and the earaches we normally would.
“Now what is happening is, after that year and a half, in a way, many parents have become a little deskilled.
“They have been kind of told to be worried if there are any coughs, sore throats, earaches or high temperatures in case it could be COVID, but once they have had the COVID test that can leave the anxiety – what if it is something else?
“Should I be seen by a GP? How do I handle that temperature? Are they really sick? and more importantly – I want them better fast.”
Symptoms
Dr Duffy said it is often hard for new parents to know whether they should be worried about minor symptoms.
“The reality is, what we are seeing now is the return to school and a massive spread of normal children’s viral infections such as the adenovirus, the RSV and all of the things that some children do get quite sick with,” she said.
“That is because they are meeting and they are congregating despite the measures that are in place … which we know probably are not adequate.”
UnderTheWeather
She encouraged parents who have concerns about sick children to consult UnderTheWeather.ie
"It gives you advice on when to see your GP and when to be worried and know that your child might need more medical attention,” she said.
You can listen back here:
