When your child is sick, it’s comforting to know that help and advice from your pediatrician are just a phone call away. A sick child visit can help your child feel better and recover more quickly.

You need to schedule a sick child visit if your child has a fever lasting longer than 2 days, higher than 100.4 degrees for children under 2 months, or at least 104 degrees in older children, or has an ear infection, a bacterial or viral infection, difficulty swallowing, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, headaches, allergies or asthma, abdominal pain, rashes, or fractured bones.

When you bring your child in, your pediatrician will record symptoms and health history, perform a complete physical examination, and measure vital signs, possibly ordering lab testing and x-rays, and prescribing antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatory medication, or pain medication as needed.