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.
Funny when I wait one more than two days of fever without taking my kid to the pedi he gets pissed off and always ask why didnt I took him sooner.
Quoting Anonymous: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.
Yes, I realize that these illness are harder on children and if the vomiting is frequent you should (and I have) taken my child to the ER; however, for sporadic vomiting, no I wouldn't and perhaps that's why they're asking. To get guidance from more experienced mothers.
I just don't think they should be tarred and feathered for asking questions.
Quoting Anonymous:
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.
vomitinif 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
Quoting Anonymous: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.
That's been the policy with both pediatricians we have seen as well.
I agree. The same goes for adult illnesses. It's fine to share experiences, but anyone who thinks they might need a doctor, probably does. Sharing tips for childhood fevers is one thing, but remember that a fever is often only a symptom. Unless you are 100% sure what is causing that fever, or have already consulted your pediatrician, then you have no business, IMO taking any internet advice to treat it. With adult illnesses, the same symptom could be caused by a cold, or mild infection in one person, but could be a sign of a debilitating disease in another.
We don't trust each other enough to agree on a brand of disposable diapers, or what the kid shoud have for a snack without it turning into a knock down drag out fight; why on earth would anyone trust us with their child's health?
asking questions is fine. I do it all the time, but if you feel the need to ask " Do I need to take kid to the pedi" go with your instincts. The answer is probably yes!!
Quoting lwalker270:Yes, I realize that these illness are harder on children and if the vomiting is frequent you should (and I have) taken my child to the ER; however, for sporadic vomiting, no I wouldn't and perhaps that's why they're asking. To get guidance from more experienced mothers.
I just don't think they should be tarred and feathered for asking questions.
Quoting Anonymous:
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.
vomitinif 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
Your pediatrician gets pissed off at you?
Quoting Anonymous:Funny when I wait one more than two days of fever without taking my kid to the pedi he gets pissed off and always ask why didnt I took him sooner.
Quoting Anonymous: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.
maybe they are waiting for the dr to call back, not every parent feels the need to run to the dr for every little thing.
Exactly!
Quoting Anonymous:I agree. The same goes for adult illnesses. It's fine to share experiences, but anyone who thinks they might need a doctor, probably does. Sharing tips for childhood fevers is one thing, but remember that a fever is often only a symptom. Unless you are 100% sure what is causing that fever, or have already consulted your pediatrician, then you have no business, IMO taking any internet advice to treat it. With adult illnesses, the same symptom could be caused by a cold, or mild infection in one person, but could be a sign of a debilitating disease in another.
We don't trust each other enough to agree on a brand of disposable diapers, or what the kid shoud have for a snack without it turning into a knock down drag out fight; why on earth would anyone trust us with their child's health?
I think my husband's a sociopath
Why inflict this silly cosmetic pain on a baby!?!