The accuracy of the clinical histories given by mothers of seriously ill African children.
The mothers of 87 Gambian children with a potentially fatal illness were interviewed at the time that their children were admitted to hospital and attempts were made to establish a diagnosis using the mothers' history alone. In 66 cases (76%) initial diagnoses corresponded to the diagnoses esta...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1987
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| Summary: | The mothers of 87 Gambian children with a potentially fatal illness were interviewed at the time that their children were admitted to hospital and attempts were made to establish a diagnosis using the mothers' history alone. In 66 cases (76%) initial diagnoses corresponded to the diagnoses established finally by clinical and laboratory investigations. Diagnoses established at second interviews held with 51 mothers 1 month after their children had left hospital were accurate in 88% of cases. Gambian mothers can describe accurately a serious illness in their children and they can, therefore, be relied upon to give accurate information about an illness from which a child has died. |
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