42 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
SIGNS OF DANGEROUS ILLNESS
A person who has one or more of the following signs is
probably too sick to be treated at home without skilled
medical help. His life may be in danger. Seek medical
help as soon as possible. Until help comes, follow the
instructions on the pages indicated.
page
1. Loss of large amounts of blood from anywhere in the body. . . . . . 82, 264, 281
2. Coughing up blood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
3. Marked blueness of lips and nails (if it is new). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4. Great difficulty in breathing; does not improve with rest. . . . . . . . . . . . 167, 325
5. The person cannot be wakened (coma). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
6. The person is so weak he faints when he stands up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
7. Twelve hours or more without being able to urinate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
8. A day or more without being able to drink any liquids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
9. H eavy vomiting or severe diarrhea that lasts for more than one day
or more than a few hours in babies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
10. Black stools like tar, or vomit with blood or feces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
11. Strong, continuous stomach pains with vomiting in a person who
does not have diarrhea or cannot have a bowel movement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
12. Any strong continuous pain that lasts for more than 3 days. . . . . . . . . . 29 to 38
13. Stiff neck with arched back, with or without a stiff jaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182, 185
14. More than one seizure (fit) in someone with fever or serious illness. . . . 76, 185
15. H igh fever (above 39° C) that cannot be
brought down or that lasts more than 4 or 5 days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
16. Weight loss over an extended time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 400
17. Blood in the urine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146, 234
18. Sores that keep growing and do not go away with treatment . 191, 196, 211, 212
19. A lump in any part of the body that keeps getting bigger. . . . . . . . . . . 196, 280
20. Very high blood pressure (220/120 or greater). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
21. Problems with pregnancy and childbirth:
any bleeding during pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249, 281
high blood pressure (160/110 or greater). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
long delay once the waters have broken and labor has begun . . . . . . . . . . 267
severe bleeding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264