Why pediatric over-the-counter medicine needs extra caution Over-the-counter, or OTC, medicines are available without a prescription, but “nonprescription” does not mean risk-free. In children, the therapeutic window can be narrower because dosing is usually tied to body weight, organ maturity,…

Start with the five rights: child, medicine, dose, route, and time Medication safety begins before the bottle is opened. For every dose, confirm the right child, right medicine, right dose, right route, and right time. This sounds simple, but errors…

What telemedicine can and cannot do for children Telemedicine is health care delivered at a distance using communication technology. In pediatrics, it may include a scheduled video visit with your child’s clinician, a same-day virtual urgent care visit, a mental…

What each clinician is trained to do A pediatrician is a physician whose primary care practice is devoted to children, typically from birth through adolescence and sometimes young adulthood. After medical school, pediatricians complete a pediatric residency focused on growth,…

Start with age, appearance, and your level of concern When deciding whether to call a doctor for a child, begin with three questions: How old is the child? How sick do they look? Is the pattern worsening, persistent, or unusual…

Why screening matters in childhood Vision and hearing are closely tied to a child’s language acquisition, reading readiness, classroom participation, balance, safety, and social interaction. A child who cannot see the board clearly may appear inattentive, avoid reading, or complain…

Start with severity, not convenience For parents and caregivers, the urgent care versus ER decision is rarely simple. Urgent care may be closer, faster, and less costly, but the emergency department has immediate access to advanced airway support, trauma teams,…

Start with the level of threat The first question is not, “What diagnosis does my child have?” It is, “Could this become dangerous in minutes?” Emergency decision-making is about risk and time. A child with severe breathing difficulty in children,…

What pediatric telehealth is Pediatric telehealth is healthcare delivered at a distance using secure video, phone, messaging, remote monitoring, or digital sharing of clinical information. In everyday practice, the most familiar format is a live video visit between a family…

What developmental screening means Developmental screening is a brief, structured assessment used to identify children who may have delays or differences in expected developmental progress. It usually involves validated questionnaires or checklists completed by parents, caregivers, teachers, or clinicians. These…