Anytime a child gets injured or sick, it adds a huge amount of stress on a parent and if the injury or illness is very severe, it can also be a pretty scary situation. Getting your child the medical care they need as soon as possible is always the goal. When seeking urgent pediatric care at My InstaDoc Monroe, our qualified staff understand the need for urgency to give both the patient and the parent much-needed relief. Of course, we always hope you never find yourself in need of emergency medical treatment, but we realize it is a likely possibility at least once in a child’s life.
3 Common Reasons Pediatric Patients Need Treatment
1. Infections: An infection can be viral, like the common cold, or they can be bacterial, like strep throat. An infection is an invasion of the body’s tissues by a microorganism. Viral infections generally present with systemic symptoms like all over achiness, a cough or a runny nose. Bacterial infections tend to be localized with redness, swelling, or pus in the specific area that is infected. Depending on the type of infection, your provider may prescribe antibiotics to combat the infection and kill the microorganisms. Not all infections require treatment, and your pediatric urgent care provider may suggest letting it “run its course.”
2. Minor Lacerations: A laceration is simply a cut or tear in the skin. Note: if a cut is very deep or bleeding profusely, 911 should be called. As a general rule, a moderate cut that requires stitches should be repaired within six hours of the injury occurrence. The health care provider will clean the laceration and the area surrounding the cut. If stitches are necessary, the area can be numbed before proceeding. However, in some cases, medical glue can be used. An antibiotic ointment may be prescribed.
3. Fractures: A fracture can be a complete or a partial break of the bone. They can be caused by many things, but in the pediatric urgent care setting, they are generally due to trauma like a fall or sports injury. The symptoms include severe pain and sometimes loss of function. Care includes a resetting of the bone and casting or splinting to immobilize the bone. In very severe cases, the patient may require surgery or even the implanting of metal rods and pins.
If you find your child has a medical emergency, please seek treatment right away. My InstaDoc of Monroe is open seven days per week.
