the internet is NOT a pediatrician!!!
- 179 Replies
I see it all the time, here and on my breastfeeding support page:
"My son has been vomiting for two days straight . What should I do??"
"My 3 months old has a 103 fever, you think is teething so early?"
" my one year old had fever for the last 2 days and keep coming back. You think I should take her to the dr?
FOR GODS SAKES! IF YOU FEEL YOU SHOULD ASK IF YOU NEED TO TAKE THE KID TO THE DR THEN THE ANSER IS YES!!!!!!!
internet is NOT a diagnose device. We mommies can share our experiences But we cant tell what your kid has ( although there are many who swear they can " My kid had the same exact symptoms and it cleared after a week " - and im reading here thinking how come this IRRESPONSIBLE person let his kid with fever for a week without checking with a damn doctor). WEB MD? not a diagnose device either! It cant take blood tests, it cant check the ears or the chest....... If your kid is sick and you are worried take him to the doctor!!!!
I prefer wasting the time and money on a drs trip, than keeping him at home and then cry over the consequences!!!! Sometimes even taking them to the DR and the kid gets misdiagnosed, just inmagine how dangerous can be keeping them at home and listening to internet advice.
Edited to add I am not talking about an ocassional stomach bug or fever or even a cold. im talking when kids stay 2-3 days with symptoms and nothing gets done.
What is a doctor going to do for a fever? Tell you to alternate motrin and ibuprofen. Some parents are too frickin paranoid. OMG my kid has a fever of 100...better take them to the dr. There are a lot of nurses on here that can offer advice...did it ever occur to you that maybe they are posting to try and see if one of the many nurses on here will see it? Not everything requires a trip to the doctor.
I agree, but I think it's important to remember that a lot of people don't have insurance and so they are hesitant to go to the doctor since they have to pay out of pocket.
Other than the three month old having a fever of 103, the above things are conditions I would treat at home before going to the doctor. Vomiting for two days is not unusual for a stomach bug and two days of fever is not necessarily doctor-worthy either.
A fever can imply an infection. A fever for over 24 hours should be taken to the dr. Infections are dangerous and requires antibiotics. An untreated infection can cause septis and result in death.
Can a nurse over the internet check the ears or throath to see if theres infection or swelling? Can it check urine for bacteria???
I had a fight once with the husband cause the kid had a dry cough at night. It was uncommonly cold ( we live in the tropic) and husband said it was just the weather. First day I waited, second day I took him to the pedi with an angry husband because I ruined his plans. We arrived there and pedi said it was nothing but since I seemed concerned ordered some chest xrays.......he had asthma and almost got hospitalized.
Quoting Salsacookies:What is a doctor going to do for a fever? Tell you to alternate motrin and ibuprofen. Some parents are too frickin paranoid. OMG my kid has a fever of 100...better take them to the dr. There are a lot of nurses on here that can offer advice...did it ever occur to you that maybe they are posting to try and see if one of the many nurses on here will see it? Not everything requires a trip to the doctor.
I beg to differ I am saving thousands in doctor bills... *Eye Roll* Seriously though I find that it's a lot of first time mommies that ask a lot of what every one sees as really stupid questions. They just want reassurance that they aren't going to end up looking like that crazy parent for taking their kid into to the dr for a stubbed toe. I am totally in agreeance with you though.
Just FYI I used to work for a pediatrician....they didn't want to see a kid with just a fever unless it had been more than 3 days and was accopanied by other symptoms. Most of the time a fever alone is just part of a viral illness that antibiotics won't take care of. On a side note most of the time asthma doesn't need to be hospitalized. I have had it for 31 years and I am one of the worst cases my specialist has ever seen and I have NEVER been hospitalized. We have always treated it at home. You are over paranoid with your kid.
LOL! Love this!
Quoting fraujones:I often have to remind myself of this:
Quoting lwalker270:I agree, but I think it's important to remember that a lot of people don't have insurance and so they are hesitant to go to the doctor since they have to pay out of pocket.
Other than the three month old having a fever of 103, the above things are conditions I would treat at home before going to the doctor. Vomiting for two days is not unusual for a stomach bug and two days of fever is not necessarily doctor-worthy either.
if the vomiting is frequent can cause dehydration. If kids cant keep anything in their stomach ( like I see many moms saying when they ask these questions) In that case you need to go to an er to get rehydrated. All these "common " things that we adults and big kids go trough without an ER visit can be really dangerous for smaller children
At what age should I tell my son dh is not his bio dad?