For many children, respiratory illness is common. This can be stressful for you and your child. Knowing when to seek care for respiratory illnesses can help you manage symptoms, prevent further complications, and ensure your child's condition doesn't worsen.
Here's how pediatric urgent care is beneficial for your child's respiratory illnesses.
What Are the Most Common Respiratory Illnesses Children Experience?
The common cold and the flu are extremely common in children. These illnesses are commonly caused by a virus, and they are not treated so easily with medication. Often, these conditions must run their course. A doctor can offer ways to make this more comfortable, however.
Other common illnesses include pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs, and bronchitis, an inflammation of the airways. Children can also suffer from croup, an infection of the upper respiratory tract.
When Should You Seek Pediatric Urgent Care for Respiratory Illnesses?
If your child is exhibiting serious symptoms, it's important to seek pediatric urgent care. These symptoms may include difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, wheezing, fever, and congestion. You should get emergency care if your child struggles to breathe.
Your local pediatric urgent care center can provide fast treatment for respiratory illnesses. The medical team will assess the severity of the condition before providing treatment.
What Treatment Options Do Pediatric Urgent Care Centers Offer?
Often, urgent care centers are able to provide medication to reduce symptoms. For instance, the doctor may offer a fever reducer or cough suppressant. If the illness is more serious, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
In some cases, the doctor will offer nebulizer treatments. A nebulizer is a device that converts liquid medication into a mist, which is inhaled. This helps the medication to reach deep into the lungs and can be especially effective for conditions like asthma and bronchiolitis.
Some children may benefit from advanced treatments, including IV fluids and oxygen therapy. These options are available at pediatric urgent care centers and can help to treat severe respiratory illnesses.
Does Pediatric Urgent Care Offer Follow-Up Care?
Yes, most pediatric urgent care centers provide follow-up care for respiratory illnesses. This may include monitoring the child's condition and providing additional treatments if necessary.
Doctors can also offer education about preventive measures. For example, your child's doctor can provide education about good hygiene at school.
Visit a Pediatric Urgent Care Center for Respiratory Issues
If your child is suffering from a respiratory illness, visit a pediatric urgent care center in your area. Urgent care centers provide quick access to medical treatment so your child can feel better sooner.
Share4 April 2023
I am a mother of four wonderful children, and like other parents, I have been to my fair share of health care clinics. It seems like my children are always getting scrapes and coming down with colds. When I was a new parent, I never knew whether I should take my injured or ill child to the emergency room or local urgent care facility. I received some simple advice from a seasoned parent that made my decisions easier that I want to pass onto all new parents, along with other health tips I've learned. he told me that she tended to take her children to the ER when they were bleeding or had very high temperatures and took them to the local urgent care for any other problem. I have followed her advice ever since, and my children remain healthy and happy!
