What is an alternative to the Emergency Room if my child needs help after hours?

For non-emergencies you can either treat the symptoms and call us for a morning appointment or take the child to one of the “after hour” or ”urgent care clinics”.

For a true medical emergency go to the nearest Emergency Room.

My child has asthma and is having an “asthma attack”. What are signs of trouble?

Any signs of respiratory distress: rapid breathing, intercostal retractions (sucking the rib cage muscles in), audible wheezes, and/or severe persistent cough. Any child with those signs needs to be seen immediately!

If your child is not showing those signs, give him or her asthma medicine (preferably nebulizer treatment) and if you do not see improvement arrange for a visit.

Do not give any cough medicine during asthma attack!

What is the best over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrup and decongestant?

Cough may be sign of severe or chronic illness especially the one associated with high fever, wheezing or persistent nighttime cough. Any child with persistent or severe cough should be evaluated.

As far as cough that is part of Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)…there is no perfect cough syrup. All OTC medications are very similar and they have a very limited therapeutic value. Use it for temporary relief and only in recommended doses. Give plenty of fluids, moist air, treat fever if present…and come in to the office if the cough does not get better.

My child is crying and pulling ears. I think he/she has ear infection. Does he/she needs antibiotics immediately? What do I need to do in the middle of the night?

Your child may or may not have an ear infection and if symptoms do not resolve or the child develops a fever or ear discharge, you need to bring your child to the office. Based on the exam your child may or may not need antibiotics. But there is no benefit starting antibiotics immediately. If symptoms start in the evening or middle of the night you can wait and bring your child to the office in the morning.

You can give Advil or Tylenol for comfort. If your child has frequent ear infections ask us for anesthetic ear drops (like Auralgin). They are quite effective and you can use them as needed provided there is no significant discharge from the ear.

My child has frequent ear infections. Does he/she needs “tubes”?

In most cases the answer is NO. Please talk to us about prognosis and treatment options of frequent ear infection.

What is the fever and what do I need to do when my child has one?

Fever starts at 100 F. A fever is not a “disease”. It is a body’s reaction to infection.

If child of any age has a fever and is acting very ”sick” (lethargic, irritable, inconsolable), if fever is accompanied by any problem breathing, persistent vomiting, decrease of urine output, severe headache or fever doesn’t respond to anti-fever medication – you need to go take your child to doctor’s office or emergency room for evaluation as soon as possible.

Learn more on JJ Pediatrics’ fever page.

JJ Pediatrics offers after hour calls for patients. Please call our main line, (480) 677-4545, and it will give you current “after hours” information. For a true medical emergency go to the nearest Emergency Room. For a suggested pediatric emergency room, please visit our Emergencies page.