Sick Child Visit

What is a sick child visit?

A sick child visit refers to a checkup for a child when they are sick. The purpose of a sick child visit is to diagnose and treat a specific area of concern affecting the child’s health. This differs from a well-child visit, which is just a routine to check for the growth and development of the child.

When should I bring in my child?

If a child is experiencing acute symptoms, unless they are life-threatening, they should be brought to the pediatrician to seek medical attention. Most pediatricians encourage parents to call ahead to schedule an appointment. This allows the child to be seen quickly without having to wait with other sick patients. Some of the serious symptoms that need immediate attention include:

• High fever in children younger than one-year-old
• High fever in children older than one year old accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, confusion, headache, or stiff neck
• High fever or persistent fever that lasts more than three days in a row
• Widespread rash
• Rashes that look like chicken pox
• Rashes that are accompanied by heavy breathing
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Any unusual symptom that lasts for more than three days in a row
• Persistent pain, such as stomachache, sore throat, headache, or an earache

At the end of a sick child visit, the parent will be notified of the cause of their child’s illness and possibly be:

• given a prescription for medications, if needed
• given dosage instructions on administering medications
• given instructions to help relieve the child’s symptoms
• informed about possible warning signs and how to deal with them

How does a sick child visit work?

Sick child visits usually take anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes. They involve checking the child’s symptoms, determining the cause of the problem, prescribing the right treatment, and discussing other important details with the parent. The pediatrician will ask about the child’s symptoms, when they began, and the family’s medical history. This is typically followed by a physical examination, which will be based on the reported symptoms.