Sick Visits
At Carolina Pediatrics of the Triad we provide sick child visits to ensure your child receives the appropriate care by a trained professional who specializes in the health and wellbeing of children. Pediatricians have a thorough knowledge of childhood illnesses and health conditions and are trained to recognize, diagnose, treat, and prevent them to ensure your child can stay healthy and thrive throughout their childhood. We offer sick visits during the week and on weekends, which allow your child to be seen by your usual doctor or another one of our 12 board-certified physicians when necessary, instead of at an urgent care clinic or emergency facility.
The visit involves evaluating your child’s symptoms and medical history, determining the cause of the problem, prescribing the necessary treatment, providing general health advice, and discussing any other important details. Your pediatrician will also ask about whether you have tried any other treatments or home remedies. A physical examination will be done, which will be based on the reported symptoms and may include taking your child’s temperature, using a stethoscope to listen to their breathing and heartbeat, and checking your child’s neck or throat for signs of infection.
Based on all this information, your pediatrician should be able to provide a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Sometimes lab tests (CBC, COVID test, Flu test, RSV test, strep test, urinalysis, urine culture, monospot, pinworm smear, or stool exam) may also be obtained and run in our certified lab to confirm a diagnosis or to rule out certain conditions. We can arrange for X-rays or referral to a qualified specialist if needed.
Common Reason For A Sick Visit
- Fever
- Pneumonia
- Cold and flu symptoms
- Sore throat/strep throat
- Earaches and possible ear infections
- Allergies
- Headaches
- Asthma
- Unexplained rashes
- Painful urination or possible urinary tract infections
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Persistent cough
- Minor injuries (bites, cuts, burns, minor sports injuries)
At the end of a sick visit, you will be:
- Given prescriptions for medications, if required
- Advised of dosage instructions for administering the medications
- Given instructions to help relieve your child’s symptoms
- Informed about possible warning signs and how to deal with them
- Advised when to seek further medical care
Sick Child Visits FAQs
Click below to view the answer to commonly asked questions.
When Can I Schedule a Sick Visit?
If you’re ever in doubt about whether your child needs a sick visit, call our office. The friendly staff asks a few questions to determine the severity of your child’s symptoms, and then 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 morning, and Sunday morning by appointment.
What Happens During a Sick Child Visit?
The goal of a sick child visit is to quickly diagnose the problem and start treatment 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 Children's Conditions Can a Sick 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:
- Flu Upper respiratory infections
- Earaches Headaches
- Sore throat or strep throat
- Congestion
- Coughs
- Abdominal pain
- Asthma
- Rashes or hives
- Allergic reactions
- Eye discharge or infection
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
We also treats minor injuries like cuts.
When Does My Child Need Immediate Medical Care?
While all the conditions often treated during a sick visit have the potential to need immediate 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 one-year-old
- Fever that lasts longer than three days
- Unusual symptoms lasting more than three days
- Persistent pain
- Widespread rash
- Fever of 102ºF or higher plus other symptoms in children over one-year-old
Other symptoms that may appear with a fever that signal a potentially serious problem include a rash, stiff neck, vomiting, and headache.
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, call our office or book an appointment online.