Sick Child Visits
When your child is sick, it may be important to have prompt medical attention that helps them feel better and gets them on the road to healing. We understand parents’ worry and offer same-day sick visits to quickly assess your child and determine your child's medical needs.
Prior to calling the office, we encourage you to check our website. We have put a lot of time, knowledge and love into our website and hope that it will provide you with invaluable medical guidance and convenience. Please consult our "Pediatric Symptom Checker" and "What's Going Around?" for up-to-date virtual advice! You can also consult our Medication Dosing Chart and Tricks to get Your Child to Take Medications pages for more guidance.
If you have questions about your child’s health that are not answered by our website or you need to schedule a sick visit, please call the office so our nurse triage team can talk about your child’s symptoms and schedule a visit based on their health needs.
You can also use the online booking tool in our MyChart patient portal to make an appointment. Learn more here.
When your child is sick, call the office as early in the day as possible so they can schedule a same-day visit if necessary.
If you have questions about your child’s symptoms or you need to schedule a sick visit, explore our website symptom checker, call our office, or book an appointment online.
Sick Child Visits FAQs
When can I schedule a sick child visit?
If, after consulting our website, you are still in doubt about whether your child needs a sick visit, please call our office. The friendly and knowledgable staff asks a few questions to determine the severity of your child’s symptoms, and then will help you decide if you need to come into the office.
You can schedule same-day sick visits any time the office is open, which includes every weekday, Saturday and Sunday mornings (closed Sundays in the summer), and Monday-Thursday evening hours by appointment. You can also use the online booking tool in our MyChart patient portal to make an appointment.
What happens during a sick child visit?
The goal of a sick child visit is to quickly assess the child, diagnose the problem and start treatment (if necessary) that will help your child feel more comfortable. In addition to reviewing your child’s symptoms and medical history, a sick visit may include blood tests, a urine test, and a physical exam that includes checking your child’s heart, neck, throat, and ears.
What conditions can a sick child visit treat?
Sick visits treat many types of injuries and illnesses that need same-day or next-day medical care. Children’s symptoms can change quickly, so don’t hesitate to call if your child’s symptoms get worse.
The following are some of the most common conditions treated during sick visits:
- Upper respiratory infections
- Earaches
- Headaches
- Sore throat (viral) or strep throat (bacterial)
- Congestion
- Cough
- Abdominal pain
- Asthma
- Rashes or hives
- Allergic reactions
- Eye discharge or infection
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
We also treat minor injuries like abrasions, cuts/lacerations, sprains, and concussions.
When does my child need immediate medical care?
While all the conditions often treated during a sick visit have the potential to need emergent care, some symptoms are red flags that your child needs quick medical attention.
Call us immediately for the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4ºF or higher in children younger than 3 months old
- Worsening fever that lasts longer than three days
- Unusual symptoms lasting more than three days
- Persistent pain
- Widespread rash
- Persistent fever of 102ºF or higher plus other symptoms in children over 4 months old that last for more than 3 days
Other symptoms that may appear with a fever that signal a potentially serious problem include a rash, stiff neck, vomiting, and headache.
Our sincere and knowledgeable triage team will listen to your concerns and help you make the decision to either be seen in the office or seek more emergent care.
