If you have to google it…

We get it. When you’re worried about your health or your child’s health, and you have an entire world’s worth of information at the tips of your fingers, why wouldn’t you search online for answers?

Dr Bernard Linde, a paediatrician from Stellenbosch, says he appreciates it when parents do some online reading before a consultation.

“Parents sometimes think that their doctor will be annoyed by their lists of questions, but it actually indicates structured thinking and a need for practical advice with a specific goal in mind,” he says. However, he adds that he is sometimes astounded by how badly people differentiate between science-based advice and unfounded suggestions by other people.

Websites aren’t always written in the most accessible language, and few of us ever bother to look at the source of the information or how recent it is. Sometimes, the best medical and health websites aren’t the first ones to pop up either, and when they do, they aren’t always that easy to navigate.

TRY THESE TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SEARCHES AND AVOID CYBERCHONDRIA

• To narrow down your search, put the words in quotes, for example: “baby porridge”.

• If you aren’t looking for recipes, exclude them by adding the word and a minus symbol. Like this: “baby porridge” -recipes.

• If you are looking for even more specific advice, add the relevant words, for example: “baby porridge” constipation -recipes.

• To broaden your search, add the symbol ~ to your search before the word you are using. For instance, if your search “~baby porridge” you will also get results that include infant porridge.

• When searching for something on your favourite or most trusted site, use the word site, and don’t include www. Like this: site:parent24.co.za “baby porridge”.

• For rashes or visible symptoms, you can use Google options for images and videos. Just brace yourself for some really awful images of extreme cases though.

• If you’d rather read, use the Google option for more to see a list of books, apps and charts on the topic that interests you.

• Other useful settings: You can opt for any country or South Africa, you can opt for any time, or most recent, and you can even set the reading level to basic, intermediate or advanced.

WHAT NOT TO DO

If you want ”evidence” that Elvis is alive, the internet will provide. To get to the facts of a matter, you have to be a bit more savvy. Here’s how to navigate the web with more confidence:

• Don’t ask Google a question. So search for ”measles symptoms” instead of ”Does my child have measles?”

• Beware of forums, chat groups and social media groups. They can be great sources of support and practical information, but don’t use any information that is shared there to self diagnose or treat. There are people out there who for whatever reason relish spreading false information. Block them.

• Always ask your doctor’s opinion, even if you’re tempted to try ”just herbs” that a stranger on a forum recommended.

• Just because someone on a website has a dr or a prof before his or her name, doesn’t necessarily make the information reliable.

• The most reliable and trustworthy sources of medical information are the relevant government departments and academic institutions.

For other sites, see if they have a HonCode certificate. Visit hon.ch/HONcode.

• Educate yourself and learn how to separate fact from fiction by watching the quick tutorial at medlineplus.gov/ webeval/webeval.html.