A little preparation helps the surgeon see the full picture.
Write down
- Your child's age and weight.
- When the problem began and whether it comes and goes.
- What makes it better or worse.
- Any fever, vomiting, change in urine or stool.
- Any previous operation or illness, and any allergy.
Bring
- Earlier prescriptions, blood and urine reports, ultrasound or X-ray reports (and the images if you have them).
- The medicines the child is taking now.
- For a newborn, the birth record and any pregnancy scan reports.
Take a photo
If the problem comes and goes, such as a groin bulge that appears when the child cries, take a clear photo on your phone when it is visible. The surgeon can then see what the child cannot show in the room.
Bring the right person
A parent or guardian who knows the child's history should come. Please keep the child's usual feeding routine unless told otherwise; the surgeon will say if fasting is needed before an operation.
This page is for general information for parents. Every child is different: after examination and tests, an experienced paediatric surgeon decides the condition and the method of treatment. So for any problem, please consult a registered paediatric surgeon.