As your child grows, they can catch many common illnesses while their immune system develops. Whether it’s a runny nose, sore throat, or a cough that won’t go away, there’s a good chance your child will occasionally get sick.
When your child is ill but doesn’t need emergency treatment, you can bring them in for a pediatric care sick visit at Valencia Pediatrics in Victorville, California, or to an urgent care center.
Board-certified pediatricians Rainilda Valencia, MD, and Depeeka Saini, MD, FAAP, share how to know which is your best option.
Urgent care clinics are available for the treatment of illnesses that need quick attention but aren’t immediately life-threatening. Doctors at urgent care centers are trained to treat a wide variety of common illnesses and can prescribe antibiotics and refer your child for further treatment.
Often, urgent care centers are open evenings and weekends when Valencia Pediatrics might not be open. After treatment, your urgent care doctor liaises with your Valencia Pediatrics clinician to coordinate follow-up treatment.
Your child might benefit from urgent care services in the following situations:
Urgent care centers specialize in treating non-serious illnesses that nonetheless need time-sensitive medical attention. Urgent care can help if your child has symptoms such as:
If your child has serious symptoms like an extremely high fever, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, broken bones, deep cuts, or confusion, they should go to the emergency room instead of urgent care.
Children don’t always get sick during business hours, and urgent care is more likely to be open late in the evening or on weekends. If our Valencia Pediatrics office is closed and there’s no out-of-hours consultation available, you can get your child prompt treatment for an acute illness at an urgent care center.
If you’re on vacation or otherwise too far away to easily get to Valencia Pediatrics, an urgent care team can help your child feel better. This minimizes disruption when you’re away from home.
On the other hand, our team at Valencia Pediatrics is often equipped to see your sick child. Bring your child in for a sick pediatric visit if:
If our team is available to see your sick child at Valencia Pediatrics, a pediatric sick visit is usually the best choice. Our team is already familiar with your child, helps prescribe them the best care, and makes your child feel more comfortable.
Pediatric care also specializes in children’s needs, while urgent care centers see patients of all ages. Seeing our team ensures your child gets help that’s oriented to their age group.
Our team works with you to make a same-day appointment, including telehealth appointments when appropriate, for your sick child whenever possible. We also let you know if urgent care or the emergency room would be a better option and refer your child to the best care option.
Unless your child is having an emergency that warrants an emergency room visit, flare-ups of chronic conditions like allergies or asthma are best treated with the next available appointment at Valencia Pediatrics. This is because our team is already well-versed in your child’s chronic condition and can provide the best continuity of care.
If your child’s illness isn’t getting better but isn’t displaying symptoms of a medical emergency, a pediatric sick visit is usually your best option. We can evaluate your child to see if there are any further underlying conditions and prescribe the best treatment available.
If your child isn’t feeling well, we’re here to help. Contact us for a pediatric sick visit or a referral to the best urgent care facility.
