When can I schedule a sick child visit?

If you’re ever in doubt about whether your child needs a sick visit, call our office. The friendly nurse asks a few questions to determine the severity of your child’s symptoms, then helps you decide if you need to come into the office. You can schedule same-day sick visits any time the office is open. See our Hours and Locations. We offer online scheduling through our portal for your convenience for routine sick and standard well visits. Please do not use these spots for mental health concerns, as those visits typically are much longer than standard sick visits. Call the office so we can find the best fit for anticipated long visits.

What happens during a sick child visit?

The goal of a sick child visit is to quickly diagnose the problem and start treatment that will help your child feel more comfortable. In addition to reviewing your child’s symptoms and medical history, a physical exam to assess the symptoms will be done. Sick visit may require laboratory tests or imaging for identification of the source of symptoms. We can do rapid tests for Strep, flu A & B, urinalysis and COVID19 in our office. We can collect samples for Strep throat cultures, some PCR tests, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and urine cultures to send to laboratories. We can order further tests from local labs and radiology facilities as needed .

What children’s conditions can a sick visit treat?

Sick visits treat many types of injuries and illnesses that need same-day or next-day medical care. Children’s symptoms can change quickly, so don’t hesitate to call if your child’s symptoms get worse. The following are some of the most common conditions treated during sick visits: Flu Upper respiratory infections Earaches Headaches Sore throat or strep throat Congestion Coughs Abdominal pain Asthma Rashes or hives Allergic reactions Eye discharge or infection Vomiting and/or diarrhea We also treats minor injuries like concussions without persistent vomiting or altered level of consciousness, cuts and sprains.

When does my child need immediate medical care?

Your child should be evaluated by a medical professional for the following symptoms: Fever of 100.4ºF or higher in children younger than 2 months of age - this is an emergency: do not wait until office hours Daily fever of 100.4ºF or higher that persists for 3-5 days (the younger the child or the more concerning the symptoms, sooner; older children who are overall well appearing can wait 5 days) Unusual symptoms or any symptoms that concern caregivers Difficulty breathing should be seen immediately unless home treatment improves sufficiently to wait until business hours Signs of dehydration (no tears, dry in mouth, decreased urine output or too much urine with other signs of dehydration) should be seen immediately Persistent pain may require emergent treatment, depending on severity and other symptoms Rash that you can't identify or know how to treat may require emergent treatment, depending on severity and other symptoms Fever with a rash, stiff neck, vomiting, and headache is an emergency and should be seen immediately Suspected bacterial infection, such as Strep throat (fever, sore throat, headache, nausea, vomiting , sandpaper rash in a child over 3 years - not all symptoms must be present) or urinary tract infection (painful urination, foul smelling urine, fever, vomiting - not all symptoms must be present): most of these can wait until business hours unless there are significant symptoms that are concerning When your child is sick, call the office as early in the day as possible so they can schedule a same-day visit if necessary or come to our Urgent Care/Walk In hours. If you have questions about your child’s symptoms or you need to schedule a sick visit, call our office or book an appointment online.

What is appropriate for walk in visits (urgent care)?

We have a full page about our Urgent Care (walk in) availabilities. Learn more here. Walk in visits work well for acute injuries and illnesses . They are not appropriate for mental health concerns, routine well visits or chronic disease management. Schedule an appointment with the provider your child most often sees for ongoing conditions such as chronic pain, asthma, and constipation. Your usual provider who knows the story should see chronic concerns. Of course, if there is an exacerbation or sudden worsening of symptoms, acute management can be done at our urgent care with follow up by appointment and ongoing management with your primary care provider.

Children's Mercy Pediatric Partners Inc

When can I schedule a sick child visit?
If you’re ever in doubt about whether your child needs a sick visit, call our office. The friendly nurse asks a few questions to determine the severity of your child’s symptoms, then helps you decide if you need to come into the office.

You can schedule same-day sick visits any time the office is open. See our Hours and Locations.

We offer online scheduling through our portal for your convenience for routine sick and standard well visits. Please do not use these spots for mental health concerns, as those visits typically are much longer than standard sick visits. Call the office so we can find the best fit for anticipated long visits.
What happens during a sick child visit?
The goal of a sick child visit is to quickly diagnose the problem and start treatment that will help your child feel more comfortable.

In addition to reviewing your child’s symptoms and medical history, a physical exam to assess the symptoms will be done.

Sick visit may require laboratory tests or imaging for identification of the source of symptoms. We can do rapid tests for Strep, flu A & B, urinalysis and COVID19 in our office.

We can collect samples for Strep throat cultures, some PCR tests, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and urine cultures to send to laboratories. We can order further tests from local labs and radiology facilities as needed.
What children’s conditions can a sick visit treat?
Sick visits treat many types of injuries and illnesses that need same-day or next-day medical care. Children’s symptoms can change quickly, so don’t hesitate to call if your child’s symptoms get worse.

The following are some of the most common conditions treated during sick visits:

Flu Upper respiratory infections
Earaches Headaches
Sore throat or strep throat
Congestion
Coughs
Abdominal pain
Asthma
Rashes or hives
Allergic reactions
Eye discharge or infection
Vomiting and/or diarrhea

We also treats minor injuries like concussions without persistent vomiting or altered level of consciousness, cuts and sprains.
When does my child need immediate medical care?
Your child should be evaluated by a medical professional for the following symptoms:

Fever of 100.4ºF or higher in children younger than 2 months of age - this is an emergency: do not wait until office hours
Daily fever of 100.4ºF or higher that persists for 3-5 days (the younger the child or the more concerning the symptoms, sooner; older children who are overall well appearing can wait 5 days)
Unusual symptoms or any symptoms that concern caregivers
Difficulty breathing should be seen immediately unless home treatment improves sufficiently to wait until business hours
Signs of dehydration (no tears, dry in mouth, decreased urine output or too much urine with other signs of dehydration) should be seen immediately
Persistent pain may require emergent treatment, depending on severity and other symptoms
Rash that you can't identify or know how to treat may require emergent treatment, depending on severity and other symptoms
Fever with a rash, stiff neck, vomiting, and headache is an emergency and should be seen immediately
Suspected bacterial infection, such as Strep throat (fever, sore throat, headache, nausea, vomiting , sandpaper rash in a child over 3 years - not all symptoms must be present) or urinary tract infection (painful urination, foul smelling urine, fever, vomiting - not all symptoms must be present): most of these can wait until business hours unless there are significant symptoms that are concerning

When your child is sick, call the office as early in the day as possible so they can schedule a same-day visit if necessary or come to our Urgent Care/Walk In hours.

If you have questions about your child’s symptoms or you need to schedule a sick visit, call our office or book an appointment online.
What is appropriate for walk in visits (urgent care)?
We have a full page about our Urgent Care (walk in) availabilities. Learn more here.

Walk in visits work well for acute injuries and illnesses. They are not appropriate for mental health concerns, routine well visits or chronic disease management.

Schedule an appointment with the provider your child most often sees for ongoing conditions such as chronic pain, asthma, and constipation. Your usual provider who knows the story should see chronic concerns. Of course, if there is an exacerbation or sudden worsening of symptoms, acute management can be done at our urgent care with follow up by appointment and ongoing management with your primary care provider.

Strep Throat

We are currently seeing some strep throat. If your child has a fever, sore throat, headache, or stomachache without any other viral symptoms like congestion or cough, it may be strep throat.

Bacteria called Group A strep cause this type of sore throat. To diagnose strep throat, a throat swab can be done to help differentiate between a virus as the cause or this bacteria. Antibiotics are not helpful if it is a virus, but very beneficial if it is bacterial. If the rapid strep test in our office is negative, we can send a second swab (done at the same time as the first, no worries about going back for another swab!) for culture.

Croup

We are currently seeing cases of croup, a viral respiratory illness that most often is caused by the parainfluenza virus. The cough and breathing that are associated with croup make it distinctly different from other viral colds or respiratory illnesses. This is because the parainfluenza virus infects and irritates the voice box, the vocal cords, and the windpipe. The cough is worse at night, and it has a distinct bark that sounds much like a seal's bark. Associated with the barky cough, your child may have difficulty when inhaling air, making a labored and whistling sound when breathing in -- called stridor. Humidified air and fluids often are the most helpful treatments.Please call the office to have your child evaluated by the doctor if he/she has symptoms of croup.

For more information: See also Cough , It doesn't sound like croup, see Cough , See also Croup , Tight purring sound when breathing out, see Wheezing (Other Than Asthma)

Colds and Upper Respiratory Infections

Colds, upper respiratory infections, and URIs are common terms we use to describe viral illnesses that cause nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, and cough. The fever usually lasts for 2-3 days, and the congestion and runny nose may last for 5-10 days. The cough may last 3 weeks.

The typical young child may experience 6-10 colds per year.

Treatments can usually be done with saline and pain relievers as needed. Children over a year can use honey for cough. See our cough and colds page for more tips on home management.

Most colds resolve on their own with rest and fluids, but some may lead to ear infection, sinus infection, asthma attack, or other complications, such as long covid.If you are concerned about the possibility of one of these complications, please have your child seen in our office for an evaluation.

Cough

We are currently seeing children and adolescents with cough, typically one of the most prominent and bothersome symptoms of viral respiratory infections at this time of year. Coughing is an important and beneficial reflex that our bodies need to clear secretions and to keep open our major airways during the course of a viral cold or upper respiratory infection. However, severe or persistent cough can be associated with asthma, pneumonia, sinus infections, and bronchiolitis, and should be evaluated by your health care provider.

For more information: Previous diagnosis of asthma, see Asthma Attack , If you are coughing because of an Asthma Attack, see Asthma Attack , Any Chest Pain , If you have a Common Cold, see Colds , See also Colds , See also Cough , Barky cough and hoarseness, see Croup , If Earache is your main concern, see Earache , Wheezing but no previous diagnosis of asthma, see Wheezing (Other Than Asthma)

Vomiting and Diarrhea

We are currently seeing viral illnesses that cause vomiting and diarrhea. Usually called viral gastroenteritis, the virus causes inflammation and irritation of the stomach and the intestines, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. This illness, often called the "stomach flu" typically lasts 1-2 days, with diarrhea lasting a few days longer.

It is important to make sure that your child does not get dehydrated with this condition. Offer Gatorade, Pedialyte, or warm soda pop in small amounts every 20 minutes until your child can keep liquids down. If they are unable to keep liquids down, back off for 2 hours, then try the small amounts again. If your child has few wet diapers and does not make tears, or appears limp or lethargic, they may be dehydrated and we will need to see them in our office.

Wash hands with soap and water rather than using sanitizer when vomiting or diarrhea is in your home. Many of the viruses that cause this are not killed by sanitizer but soap and water work!

COVID-19

We are currently seeing COVID19 in the community. Johnson County, Kansas, now reports all ER visits for respiratory tract infecionshere. This includes COVID-19, flu, and RSV.

Up to date information can be found at

CDC Main COVID19 page
CDC What to do if you are sick?

To help decrease the spread of COVID19 we recommend:

Wear masks when you must be around anyone with a virus that spreads through the air, such ascold and coughs. Infected people over 2 years should attempt to mask as much as possible.Use qualitymasks (well fitted N95, KN95 or KF94) tohelp protect the wearer from infection.
Wash hands frequently. Hand sanitizers can also be used for most respiratory infections but are not effective against all infections, especially viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Wipe down countertops, handles, and other surfaces with a disinfectant frequently.Some germs, such as norovirus (which commonly causes vomiting and diarrhea) are not inactivated by commercial disinfectants. When vomiting or diarrhea is a concern, a bleach solution (1/2 cup chlorine bleach and one gallon of water) is recommended for disinfecting contaminated surfaces and items.
Clean toys: Plush toys can be washed in the washer machine. Solid plastic toys, like rubber rings, animal figures and building blocks and bricks can easily becleaned in yourdishwasher'stop rack or cleaning products (Clorox or Lysol wipes, a cloth wet with a a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and one gallon of water.) If a cleaning solution is used, follow the package directions. If bleach water is used, allow it to stay wet for 5 minutes before air drying. After fully cleaning, you can rinse with water to remove products.
Turn your home heating/cooling system's fan to "on" rather than "auto" to circulate air better.
If weather is appropriate, open windows. Just a crack helps!
Consider aHEPA filter box fan DIY air filter.If you need information about various filters, Clean Air Stars has a helpful spreadsheet.

Bronchiolitis (and RSV)

We are currently seeing cases of bronchiolitis, a viral illness (sometimes caused by RSV, which stands for respiratory syncytial virus) that occurs most often in children under age 2. This virus typically occurs in epidemics during the winter and the early spring. When older children and adults get the viruses that cause bronchiolitis, it is often a mild cold. Keep in mind that your mild cold can make infants (and elderly) very sick.

"Bronchioles" are the smallest airways in our lungs, and "itis" means these airways are inflamed, or irritated, by the virus. When these airways get inflamed in young children, they often will start to "wheeze," meaning air and the oxygen in it have difficulty getting through these narrowed, swollen airways.

With a case of bronchiolitis, your infant's symptoms may begin with a runny nose, a fever, and a harsh, tight cough. If it progresses to wheezing, your child may start to breathe rapidly and "pull" with his/her abdomen and rib muscles with each breath. Home treatment involves putting saline in the nose and suctioning with a nasal aspirator (not a bulb syringe). If your baby is struggling to feed, is breathing more than 60 times in a minute routinely, or is sucking in ribs, they may be showing symptoms of bronchiolitis.

Please call us for an appointment or come to our walk in if your child's breathing becomes labored or difficult during office hours or go to a pediatric ER or Urgent Care after hours.

Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) is a monoclonal antibody with activity against RSV. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses. One dose of Beyfortus, administered as a single intramuscular injection prior to or during RSV season, may provide protection during the RSV season. Learn more about Beyfortus.

Influenza

Influenza (commonly called "flu") usually causes a sudden onset of fever and chills, body aches, cough, sore throat, weakness and fatigue.

Symptomatic treatment can be used at home like other respiratory tract infections.

Influenza usually is more mild if one has been vaccinated. Flu vaccines are recommended each Fall.

Antiviral medications can be used if started early. Tamiflu and Xofluza are antivirals that can be started within 24-72 hours of symptoms. Schedule a visit or come to our walk in to see if one of these is appropriate.

Immediately seek medical attention in an emergency room if there is difficulty breathing or signs of dehydration.

For more:

Influenza

Influenza exposure

Medication dosages