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Symptom Diary

When a child is ill for a few days, the details blur: when did the fever start, what medicine was given at what time, how many wet nappies today? Write each one here as it happens, and hand the doctor a clear timeline instead of a memory.

The Diary

Saved on this phone only. Nothing is sent unless you choose to send it.

Add an entry

    Nothing written yet. Start with the first thing you noticed and roughly when.

    If You Remember Nothing Else

    1. Write the time next to everything — temperature, medicine, feeds, nappies.
    2. Record medicines by name, strength and amount, including anything from a chemist or herbal.
    3. Note the first sign you noticed, and when things changed.
    4. Take photos of rashes, stools or medicine packs to show the doctor.
    5. A diary helps the doctor; it never replaces coming in when you are worried.
    Limi Children's Hospital parent library

    What Is Worth Writing Down

    WhatWhy it helpsExample
    Temperature, with the timeShows the pattern: every evening, every other day, or climbing over days38.9 °C at 21:00, before medicine
    Medicines givenAvoids double doses between carers, and shows what has already been triedParacetamol syrup: the strength on the label and the amount given, at 21:10
    Feeds and drinksHow well a child drinks is one of the clearest signs of how unwell they areBreastfed 5 minutes only; half a cup of ORS
    Wet nappies or weesFewer wees is a sign of dehydrationLast wet nappy 14:00
    Stools and vomitsNumber, colour, blood — photos helpWatery, yellow, no blood
    Sleep and behaviourHard to wake or unusually quiet mattersPlayed for an hour after medicine
    Tests and resultsStops tests being repeatedMalaria rapid test negative at pharmacy, Monday

    Sharing It with the Doctor

    Show the diary on your phone at the start of the appointment, or print it. Send a copy to yourself or a family member on WhatsApp so it survives a flat phone battery. The WhatsApp button opens WhatsApp with the diary written out, and you choose who receives it. Nothing goes to the hospital unless you send it.

    When several people care for your child — a parent, a grandmother, a nanny — agree who writes the diary, or share the phone, so every dose is recorded once.

    Check the what to bring list before you set off.

    Questions Parents Ask

    Where is the diary stored?

    Only in this browser on this phone. If you clear your browser data, use a private window, or change phones, the diary will not be there. Copy it or send it to yourself to keep it.

    Can it remind me when the next dose is due?

    No. Dosing intervals depend on the medicine and your child, so follow the pack or your prescription. The diary shows you exactly when the last dose was given.

    Is it private?

    Yes. No one, including the hospital, sees it unless you show or send it.

    Sources

    1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Fever in under 5s: assessment and initial management (NG143), safety-netting advice. 2019, updated 2021.
    2. World Health Organization. Caring for the sick child in the community. 2011.

    Written for parents and carers in NigeriaClinically reviewed by Limi Children’s Hospital cliniciansLast updated September 2026Next review due September 2027

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    Bring the Diary to the Appointment and Show It to the Doctor First.

    Book a Visit Choose the clinic and a time online. For any worry, start with general paediatrics — the team brings in the right specialist. Open the calendar Call the Hospital The children's hospital is open day and night. Coming in with a very unwell child? Call on the way so the team can prepare. 0813 408 5400  or  0809 059 9995 Plan Your Visit 39 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse 2, Abuja. What to bring, HMO and NHIA approvals, and what happens on the day. Directions and checklist

    If your child is seriously unwell, do not book and do not wait for a message reply. Come to Limi Children's Hospital now, day or night, or go to the nearest emergency department if you cannot get here quickly. Have someone else drive if you can, so you can watch your child, and call 0813 408 5400 on the way so the team can prepare. See the signs that mean go now.

    Call the hospital