This book has been written to provide general practitioners with an easy
to read, easy to consult guide, to aid in the management of the large
majority of practice emer- gencies. Each presenting problem is
approached logically with telephone assessment and advice followed by
the assessment and management necessary when the patient is seen. The
emphasis is on practical primary care with discussion of differential
diagnosis only taken as far as is needed for deciding the best immediate
course of action. Words are kept to a minimum though tables are
liberally used to summarise useful information. For each situation the
final management advice is highlighted by being presented within a
heavily lined box. Our guiding principles for emergency care, which this
book naturally reflects, are: (1) Visit first - argue or educate later.
(2) If in doubt - see the patient. To use this book for ready reference
by the telephone, in the car, or at the bedside: (i) If the patient is a
child, look at the contents list at the beginning of chapter 4 and then
turn to the relevant pages. (ii) If the patient is an adult, first
decide the system involved then look at the contents list at the
beginning of the appropriate chapter before turning to the relevant
pages.