Pediatrics After Hours

Is Your Child Exhibiting Symptoms of Strep Throat?

Your young child’s immune system is still developing, which is why he or she is more likely to contract illnesses. Although strep throat is particularly common among children who are attending school, infants can also become infected. This infection is highly contagious; if you suspect your child might have strep throat, keep him away from school and take him to an urgent care clinic. Strep throat typically requires medical treatment by a pediatrician. Here’s a quick overview of the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for strep throat:

Causes

Strep throat is caused by the A streptococcus bacteria. Your child may have acquired the infection by touching someone else’s hands or by exposure to another person’s sneezes and coughs.

Symptoms

If your child is too young to communicate his or her discomfort and symptoms, keep an eye out for sleep disturbances and irritability. Babies may refuse to drink or nurse, have a high temperature, and develop a red rash. Toddlers may also develop a fever, sleep disturbances, and irritability in addition to symptoms such as nausea, tummy aches, malaise, and a thick nasal discharge. If your child can communicate symptoms effectively, he or she might complain of throat pain, headache, fatigue, and problems swallowing. At the urgent care clinic, the pediatrician will examine your child for swollen lymph glands and small red marks in the throat.

Treatment

If the tests are positive for strep throat, the pediatrician will likely prescribe antibiotics, such as penicillin or amoxicillin. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help alleviate symptoms; however, never give pain relievers to a child without the approval of the pediatrician.

At-Home Care

Encourage your child to get lots of rest and drink water throughout the day. Older children may gargle with warm salt water. Children should eat soft foods, including applesauce and cooked cereals, and avoid consuming acidic and spicy foods.

The pediatricians at Pediatrics After Hours can help your child feel well again. We invite you to contact us to learn more about our pediatric urgent care center or visit us on the Web. You can reach our Dallas, Plano, or Garland offices by calling (214) 613-1365, (214) 919-0525, or (214) 919-0563.

Watch: Recognizing When Your Child Has Strep Throat

Strep throat, or pharyngitis, is caused by a bacterial infection of the tonsils. If your child appears to have strep throat, bring him or her to a pediatric urgent care clinic for testing and treatment. The symptoms of strep throat can vary, and may include flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, throat pain, and nausea. Children might also have nasal congestion and headaches.

Learn more about strep throat by watching this video. This doctor explains the medications that treat strep throat and which surgical treatment can help children who experience recurrent infections.

At Pediatrics After Hours, our pediatricians can help your child feel at ease with medical treatments. Learn more about our pediatric urgent care clinic by calling our Dallas office at (214) 613-1365, our Plano office at (214) 919-0525, or our Garland office at (214) 919-0563.

Why Allergic Reactions Require Immediate Care

Children can have allergic reactions when exposed to substances ranging from certain types of food to airborne particles like pollen and dust. While these substances are generally harmless, they can cause a number of serious symptoms when a child has a specific allergy.

Allergic reactions may be recognized through symptoms such as sneezing, itching, wheezing, abdominal pain, and vomiting. It is important to seek care for these sudden symptoms right away, as they could get worse and lead to a severe reaction called anaphylaxis, in which respiration is limited and consciousness may be lost. 

If you need rapid care to address your child’s allergic reaction during evening or weekend hours, you can rush to Pediatrics After Hours in Dallas, Plano, or Garland. You can reach us by visiting our website or by calling (214) 613-1365, (214) 919-0525, or (214) 919-0563. Our team of pediatricians is dedicated to providing urgent care for your child when he or she needs it the most. 

Keeping Your Child Safe from Sports Injuries

It is important for children to stay active, and team sports are an excellent means of getting your child up and moving. However, sports can increase your child’s risk of moderate to serious injury when proper safety precautions are not observed. Here are a few steps you might take to keep your child on the field and out of the doctor’s office. 

Invest in proper safety gear

The right clothing, footwear, and head protection are key to injury prevention—particularly when it comes to hockey, football and other contact sports. When you are purchasing safety equipment for your child, be sure that everything fits correctly, as ill-fitting helmets and padding are less effective at preventing injuries like concussions and broken bones.

Encourage regular hydration

Dehydration can cause severe problems rather quickly, which is why drinking water should be a part of every game and practice. Provide your child with a water bottle or hydration pack that will make it easy to drink water while staying active. You might also check in with your child’s coach to ensure that he or she is providing enough water breaks during practices.

Help your child warm up and stretch

Jumping right into any physical activity can lead to injury if the muscles have not been adequately warmed up and stretched. For this reason, you might perform stretches and warm up activities with your child, and help him or her recognize the importance of properly preparing for physical activity.

If your child suffers an illness or injury during an afternoon practice or weekend game, you can rely on the pediatricians at Pediatrics After Hours for care. We are available weeknights and weekends to offer urgent care services when your child’s primary physician is not available. You can reach us by calling our Dallas office at (214) 613-1365, our Plano office at (214) 919-0525, or our Garland office at (214) 919-0563. 

Mobile App Spotlight: Know When Your Child Is in Need of Urgent Care

When your child is sick, it may be difficult to determine if it is best to stay home and provide care or head to an urgent care center for professional medical attention. With the KidsDoc App for your Android phone, you can recognize when symptoms call for the attention of a pediatrician. This app, developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, can help you match  your child’s symptoms to a specific condition so that you know if you should contact your child’s primary physician, call 9-1-1, or head to Pediatrics After Hours for urgent care.

To learn more about how Pediatrics After Hours can provide your child with medical care when your primary pediatrician is not available, visit us online and review our services. You can also contact us by calling our Dallas office at (214) 613-1365, our Plano office at (214) 919-0525, or our Garland office at (214) 919-0563.