Medical & Health Tips & Tricks

Knowing when to take your child to a pediatrician for urgent symptoms is essential as a parent. Depending on your child’s condition, it’s always wise to consult with a reputable pediatrician for specific advice regarding your child’s health. Here are some situations that may warrant an urgent visit to a pediatrician.

High Fever

Suppose your child has a fever above 100.4°F (38°C) or a persistent fever that does not respond to over-the-counter fever-reducing medication. In that case, it’s a good idea to consult a pediatrician.

Difficulty Breathing

If your child is experiencing severe shortness of breath, wheezing, rapid breathing, or any other signs of respiratory distress, seek immediate medical attention.

Severe Allergic Reaction

If your child is showing severe allergic reaction signs, including difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives, or significant vomiting or diarrhea after eating a particular food or being exposed to an allergen, seek emergency medical care.

Head Injury

Suppose your child has had a significant head injury, such as a fall from a height, loss of consciousness, or vomiting after the injury. In that case, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly.

Persistent Vomiting or Diarrhea

Suppose your child is vomiting or having diarrhea for an extended period. In that case, it’s essential to consult a pediatrician, especially if they cannot keep fluids down or show signs of dehydration (dry mouth, decreased urination, lethargy).

Severe Pain

If your child is experiencing severe or persistent pain that over-the-counter pain medication can’t relieve, it’s advisable to seek medical attention.

Seizures

If your child has a seizure that lasts longer than five minutes or is experiencing multiple episodes without recovering in between, seek emergency medical care.

Signs of Dehydration

If your child is showing signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, decreased urination, sunken eyes, lethargy, or extreme fussiness, it’s essential to consult a pediatrician.

Remember, this is not an exhaustive list, and other symptoms or situations may require urgent medical attention. It’s always best to err on the side of caution and consult a healthcare professional when you’re concerned about your child’s health.

Fever is a common symptom in children and is often a sign that the body is fighting an infection. In most cases, fever is not a cause for concern, and you can manage it at home. However, there are certain situations when you should be more vigilant and seek medical attention for your child. Here are some guidelines to consider:

Age of the Child

Any fever should be evaluated by a healthcare professional for infants under three months old, as they have a higher risk of serious infections. For children between 3 months and three years old, a fever above 102.2°F (39°C) may warrant medical attention. A pediatrician should evaluate older children for a fever above 102.2°F (39°C) that persists for more than a day or two or has other concerning symptoms accompanying it.

Duration of the Fever

If your child’s fever lasts more than a few days or continues to rise despite home care measures, it’s advisable to consult a doctor.

Associated Symptoms

Pay attention to other signs and symptoms accompanying the fever. Seek medical advice if your child experiences severe headache, stiff neck, persistent vomiting or diarrhea, difficulty breathing, rash, extreme irritability, or any other concerning symptoms.

Dehydration

Watch for dehydration signs, such as decreased urine output, dry mouth, sunken eyes, lethargy, or extreme fussiness. If your child shows signs of dehydration, seek medical attention.

Pre-existing Health Conditions

Suppose your child has a chronic illness, a weakened immune system, or is taking medications that may suppress the immune system. In that case, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for any fever.

Convulsions

If your child experiences a febrile seizure (convulsion or twitching) during a fever, seek immediate medical attention.

Remember, these are general guidelines, and you should always trust your instincts as a parent. If you’re concerned about your child’s fever or overall condition, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional who can provide proper guidance based on your child’s circumstances.

 The first two years of a baby are crucial. They should visit their pediatrician occasionally, especially once a month. Even the ones we find healthy should see the doctor. The pediatrician will examine your baby’s growth and development and keep close tabs on your baby’s progress. Below is what you should expect during your first visit with your baby to the pediatrician.

Meet the Nurse

The nurse will be the first one to examine your baby. They will take measurements of your baby’s length and head circumference. They will also weigh them on the weighing scale. All this will be recorded in a growth chart to see how the baby’s growth progresses. The pediatrician will ensure the baby has no signs of problems with their growth.

Developmental Examination

The development of your child is essential. The doctor will establish if their growth is on track by observing their behavior. They will question various milestones they should have attained at their growth stage. If they notice anything to worry you, they will let you know and discuss the best solution during the appointment. 

 Behavioral Assessment

The behavioral and psychosocial assessment is essential. The pediatrician will ask questions about the baby’s behavior and observe their reactions and actions. 

 Neck and Collarbone Check

Some babies fracture their clavicle while squeezing through the birth canal. Therefore, the pediatrician must examine it. The pediatrician will feel the baby’s neckline while looking for a broken collarbone. If they find a bump, the damage is starting to heal. Thus, it will eventually heal on its own in a week.

 During the baby’s first appointment with a pediatrician, the parent is always nervous. With the above highlights, you now understand what to expect. 

Many families are enduring difficult times due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some parents can’t care for their children, and families face uncertainty, loss of loved ones, or employment. Unfortunately, such challenges can bring anxiety to parents, children, and families. In such situations, a pediatrician can support families, especially children facing emotional and physical distress.

A pediatrician plays a vital role in advising and educating parents on their children’s behavioral and emotional aspects. Their guidance emphasizes the essence of keeping children safe and healthy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Behavioral and Emotional Problem Screening

Pediatricians can help parents with screening their kids for behavioral and emotional problems. Also, they can screen kids for health’s social determinants, such as family functioning and food security, considering the inextricable connection between emotional and social health.

Many pediatricians ask parents about emotional and social health during regular well-check visits. That’s because they want families to understand that these aspects are as vital as physical health and end stigma towards emotional, social, and behavioral difficulties. That way, families can express issues that may affect child growth and development.

Addressing Mental Health Issues

Many kids may suffer from issues affecting them mentally in silence because parents are too busy providing for them. However, they may open up during pediatrician visits, and doctors can help parents manage stress and juvenile depression issues.

For example, some school-going children have difficulties focusing during virtual or physical classes due to the economic and emotional problems they face at home. Pediatricians can help such kids talk about the issues affecting them and, together with parents, develop a plan for ending the distractions.

Final Thoughts

Kids deserve proper care and attention from parents or guardians. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncertainty and stress, affecting even children. Pediatricians can help parents identify issues arising from the pandemic that may affect proper child growth and development. And together with parents, they can find ways to solve such problems and ensure good growth and development of the kids.

It’s no secret that most children don’t like the idea of visiting their pediatrician. However, some kids are completely petrified. And this is not surprising because most kids hate the idea of having unfamiliar persons handle them. Even worse is when the person can give them a shot. If your child fears visiting the pediatrician, here are tips for making those visits less scary for them.

Prepare the Child for a Pediatrician Visit

Before you take your child to the pediatrician, talk about the visit. Educating them in advance can alleviate their fears. For instance, you can use age-appropriate TV shows or books to explain what a pedestrian’s visit is about before you go. You can also use a toy doctor’s kit to pretend you’re the pediatrician that the child will see at the office. And this will alleviate the fears that the child might have about the pediatrician.

Don’t Joke About Needles

Most children fear visiting the pediatrician because they don’t want to get shots. Joking about needles, therefore, will worsen their fears. For this reason, be cautious when talking about injections because you can prompt needle phobia. If you must talk about needles, create the impression that shots prevent kids from falling sick and are not a form of punishment.

Accompany Your Kid

Some parents leave the responsibility of taking kids to the pediatrician to a care provider, or a grandparent. However, this approach isn’t the best if a parent can make it for the doctor’s appointment. If a kid sees that the father or mother is comfortable during the visit, they will also relax. What’s more, a child will most likely trust the pediatrician once they realize the parent does the same.

Stay Close

Your toddler will undoubtedly feel vulnerable if the pediatrician towers over them while lying down without the father or mother around. If you accompany the child and let them sit on your lap, they will feel protected and safe. And this will dispel their fears.

It’s natural for a child to fear visiting a pediatrician, especially if they know they can get a shot. Follow these tips to make pediatrician visits less fearful for your child.