Diaries were returned from 223 children, of whom 146 had had an AURI. The average age was eight years, and there were almost equal numbers of boys and girls. The most frequent symptoms were runny nose, cough, feeling unwell and sore throat. There was a biphasic distribution with systemic symptoms in the first three days characterised by fever, poor sleep, irritability, not playing and headache. By day four, symptoms localising the infection to the upper respiratory tract appeared with runny nose, cough, sore throat and poor appetite; these continued into the second and occasionally third week. Most symptoms lasted for 5-11 days, with a median length for all symptoms of seven days. Symptoms defined by parents tended to be scored less for severity than symptoms defined by children.

Objective-To audit avoidable deaths from stroke and hypertensive disease.Design

At an initial consultation for breast symptoms, GPs refer approximately one-third of women to secondary care. Women are most likely to be referred for a lump or for a family history of breast cancer and least likely to be referred for breast pain. The verification study suggests that relying on GPs to collect data on a specific group of patients may produce an underestimate of the consultation rates for a specified condition.

The use of social-work students as simulated patients for teaching interviewing to general practice trainees, is described. The results of analysing the video-tape feedback for one such patient, with a small group of trainees, are given to illustrate the method used.

Objective-To assess changes in general practitioners' workload associated with the new contract introduced in April 1990.