Some parents did report more specific safety-netting advice
which was usually to re-consult if the illness or certain symptoms
persisted for a certain length of time, which gave some parents the
belief that longer duration indicated a more serious illness.
‘‘I was definitely under the impression, in terms of because I was
sort of told to go away and come back again, that the – it was the
passage of time that would determine whether [son’s name’s]
cough was serious or not, rather than any particular symptoms.’’
(Mother #24, 36 yrs, SES 5, 1 child: 2 yrs)