
Where is the first place you turn when your child is sick? Do you rush off to the emergency department at the first cough or cold? Do we immediately ring the GP and make an appointment?
Well, no, it seems the majority of us turn to the Internet after all there is a vast network of resources right there at your fingertips.
But the reliance of the Internet as medical resource has worried many Facebook groups who are fearful that mothers will take unqualified advice and unknowingly put a child’s life in danger. This has prompted one Facebook group to bring in an in-house doctor to solve problems and point parents in the right direction.

It comes right alongside a worrying result from Queensland Health research that recently showed that 71 per cent of parents said the Internet was the first place they went for health advice. The most popular advice sought was about toddler behaviour and child development closely followed by immunisations, and rashes and skin infections.
And at the same time the Australian Child Health Poll found that six out of 10 Australian parents had used websites, blogs and online forums for children’s medical information in the past six months.
If you are a member of an online mother’s Facebook group it’s something you will be very familiar with.
From the what-rash-is-this post to the mothers who make recordings of their child’s cough.
Does this sound like whooping cough to you?
To the odd posts you get about children falling, or scratching themselves, burning their hands or bumping their heads.
Should I take him to emergency? What would you do?