Why do people post medical queries on here rather than going to see a professional eg. Pictures of rashes on their children? (No judgment, genuine curiosity)

This 🙈😂

To see if other people can relate or if they have had similar with themselves/their babies. You don’t always need to go doctors about little things so that’s probably why people post on here to see if they can treat things at home & ease any worries.

I've done it before while waiting for an appointment, just to see if anyone has had similar. Same as searching on Google but getting real experiences lol personally I wouldn't use any advice in place of seeing a healthcare professional, but have asked for thoughts in the meantime

@Hayley that makes sense.

@Laura ahh makes sense to me now. I was a bit concerned people were using the app instead of seeking professional advice but for support and interim help, makes sense.

I mean that's just me, I'd hope nobody was using it in place of professional help! 🙈

I mean you don't need to go to the doctor for every illness. So it's just to ask for advice? Some might not have support from other sources. Like for example me a year ago would have gone to the doctor for every little fever for my girl, but now 6 months into nursery I don't. If I'm hesitant I might ask my mum for advice and decide. Some don't have that support, so they ask here. I haven't seen a post ever where it's been an emergency, because when that happen people do go straight to doctors.

I think sometimes it’s just to work out if it’s needed. There’s mums on here who go to a&e cause their baby has a red toenail or a mosquito bite. Sometimes it’s a sense check, yep it’s just that and here’s what you can buy over the counter rather than waste medical professionals time.

I posted a while back as my daughter had a white rash. By the time I took her to the gp the rash had disappeared although I did have photos. It didn’t seem anything serious. Sometimes it’s just nice for a sounding board.

I can’t speak for everyone else but I do NOT take “advice” on here for face value. If there is something that is truly concerning to me I still see my daughter’s pediatrician. It is nice to get feedback from other moms especially if they went through something similar. Speaking with other moms does lessen the anxiety.

Agree with Hayley and Laura I think (or at least hope 😅) most do it just for extra opinions and not in place of actual medical help. I’ve never done it myself but as someone whose toddler has had HFM three times, scarlet fever, norovirus twice, COVID, and various ‘viral illnesses’, I have commented on them sometimes with my experience. In one case they said the GP told them it was chickenpox and we were all like, that’s clearly HFM 😆

Thanks everyone for your views. It's helpful to understand. I'm always weary of responding to such posts as I'm conscious I don't have the expertise but see how in the counsel of many, there could be wisdom!

In Canada I see it as people debating if they want to go to the doctors , the lines are long so it can be annoying but I always go . Plus some dislike doctors abs think that they don’t help , sometimes people wait until their situation is really bad then they go . I know in America you have to pay for a lot of things , but I’m not sure as to what extent. In Canada , you can pay to see a private doctor but it’s expensive.

So you don't end up being that new mom like my old neighbor who spent $1400 on an ambulance ride to find out that her baby had heat rash. Healthcare is really expensive in the United States, even if you have insurance. Also, the United States is big. Urgent care and hospitals might be far away. Lots of reasons.

I think it's a mix of things. 1. Maybe they're uninsured and need help deciding if it's an emergency or something they can year at home 2. Maybe they made an appt but it's in a few days or a week and they want to see if they're anything they can do right now to help 3. Maybe they've been and are being dismissed by professionals and looking online for anyone who might relate and could offer insight to their unique medical situation. 4. Sometimes they have anxiety and everything feels like an emergency and they need someone to help being them back down.

It was over $200 to just take my kid to get tested for the flu and Covid. Two swabs and that’s after the no insurance deduction

It’s when people have seen a dr/midwife etc but still ask the internet that baffles me, because obviously a bunch of randoms are absolutely more reliable than medical professionals with years of training and experience

@Ceri-Ann medical professionals aren’t always all that😂 the amount of times they have misdiagnosed me & other people I know with things or just fob you off. Sometimes people just want second opinions and this app should be a safe place to ask questions & support eachother rather then judge eachother. 😬😬

@Hayley and there’s others on the app who give quite frankly dangerous advice 🥴 if someone wants a second opinion an internet forum of people who you’ve never met, have no training and have no access to your medical notes is not the place!