It's bound to happen, but that doesn't make it any less difficult when your child becomes ill, and it can be just as difficult to know what to do in these situations. Explored below are some of the reasons for a sick visit with our Pasadena, CA, pediatrician, but to learn much more you can reach out directly to Dr. Allyson Self-Stoico of A to Z Pediatrics.
What are Sick Visits
A sick visit, as the name suggests, is a scheduled visit with your child's doctor to treat a specific issue, these are not typically urgent or emergency situations but are nonetheless issues that should be treated promptly by their pediatrician to ensure the symptoms are not part of an underlying serious issue.
It's also important to differentiate sick visits from so-called well-child visits, which can sometimes help prevent both sick and emergency visits by making sure your child is healthy through checkups and immunizations.
When to Make an Appointment
For urgent care and medical emergencies, an emergency room is usually the best place to take your child for immediate care.
Trust your judgment in these matters, but you can also consult with your child's pediatrician ahead of time during a preventive visit for added peace of mind.
But in most situations, the reasons why you may want to schedule a sick visit can be for vomiting, diarrhea, a rash that is large or painful, localized abdominal pain, or trouble swallowing, among similar types of health problems.
Sick Visits in Pasadena, CA
During a sick visit, your child's doctor will perform a physical examination and ask you and your child questions about the types of symptoms they've been experiencing as well as for how long. You'll likely be asked as well about any kind of home remedies or over-the-counter medication you may have already tried. Your child's pediatrician can then give your child a diagnosis, and if the case isn't serious you may be prescribed medication and guidance as to how to treat the symptoms going forward.
You can dial (626) 389-AtoZ (2869) to schedule a sick visit for your child in Pasadena, CA, with Dr. Self-Stoico of A to Z Pediatrics.