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Common Ailments There is no substitute for an in-person, hands-on physical exam and detailed medical history. But all too often kids decide to get sick in the middle of the night or on the weekend, when the doctor’s office is closed. For after-hour questions, we are there for our patients—you can always page the on-call doctor by calling one of the main numbers. Either I or one of my amazing colleagues will return your call immediately. We will then figure out together if this is a medical emergency that warrants an emergency department visit or whether we can find a way to make your child feel better until the morning. Many parents can identify common problems such as pink eye, strep throat, or ear infection. But doctors cannot prescribe antibiotics or make a definitive diagnosis over the phone. In the past, antibiotics were prescribed too freely, and today we are seeing the ramifications—bacteria have become resistant to the old antibiotics. It’s crucial that we save antibiotics for when a child really needs them. I hope this
page provides you with some guidance when your child has certain
complaints or symptoms. This advice in no way replaces a personal
assessment; please always feel free to call
us whenever your child doesn’t feel well, regardless
of the time of day. |
