FAQ

Yes, we always welcome new patients. Contact our office for additional information or request to schedule an appointment.

No. You must have a scheduled appointment in order to see the doctor.

Yes, we encourage all new parents-to-be to visit with the pediatrician with any and all questions you may have. No question is too small or too big. Please call our office number to make a prenatal consultation.

After hours, 5 PM to 8 AM, there is not a physician available; however, we have an
on-call nurse answering service that can help answer questions and concerns. Simply, call the main office number, (850) 913-1666, at any time with any questions or concerns.

You can schedule an appointment by either calling our office at (850) 913-1666 or visiting our office during regular business hours.

Your child should not only see the pediatrician for an illness. It is also important to schedule well-child-care exams regularly, beginning in infancy. Also called well-care visits or checkups, these routine examinations provide the best opportunity for the doctor to observe the progress of your child’s physical and mental growth and development; to counsel and teach parents; to detect problems through screening test; to provide immunizations, and to get to know one another. Well-care visits are strongly recommended as part of preventive pediatric care, as well as needed to stay in compliance with your child’s insurance.
Well-child visits are also a good time for parents to raise questions and concerns about a child’s development, behavior, nutrition, safety, and overall well-being.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this schedule for routine well-care visits:
• 3 to 5 days
• 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 24 months
• 30 months
• 3 years
• 4 years
• And once a year thereafter for an annual health supervision visit that includes, but not limited to, a physical exam, as well as a developmental, behavioral, and learning assessment.

We’ve put some effort into compiling some helpful care guidelines for parents to follow with their sick child. These guidelines are not intended to replace qualified medical care. However, they are intended to provide a care giver some easy to follow steps to help the child make their way toward feeling better.

A fever is defined as a temperature of 100.4˚ Fahrenheit (38˚ Celsius) or above. Fever is usually a sign that your child has an infection. Infections are most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria. Fever is not an illness by itself; it is a sign or symptom of the illness. Fever caused by infection is usually beneficial in that it is a signal your child’s body is fighting the infection.

The exception to this rule is fever caused by heatstroke. In this case, the fever is harmful. Heatstroke is an illness caused by prolonged sun exposure and dehydration. This is a medical emergency. Any child who has a fever after prolonged time outside or in a hot car must be evaluated and treated immediately.

In infants less than three months of age, rectal temperatures are essential because they provide the most accurate information about core body temperature. In children older than three months, rectal is still more accurate, but many parents prefer to use oral or ear thermometers. Oral is preferred over axillary (under the arm). Ear and temporal thermometers are usually acceptable; however, they may be inaccurate if there is too much wax in the canal. Always use a digital thermometer and avoid mercury thermometers. “Feeling the skin” is not an accurate way of determining if child is with fever.

Try not to panic when your child has a fever. First look for other signs or symptoms that your child may be ill. Signs and symptoms that commonly go with fever are cough, congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Make sure to make a mental note of any symptoms your child may have as this will help us to make a diagnosis. See below for guidelines on when to call us if your child has a fever.

A common myth is that fever is bad and all fevers must be treated. Fever in the case of infection can actually be beneficial. It is your child’s brain signaling their body to fight the infection. Even high temperatures are not in themselves dangerous. Treatment of fever may be helpful if the child is uncomfortable, although it is not necessary. The reason most pediatricians treat fever is because children typically appear a lot more ill when they have a fever and this makes diagnosing difficult.

Medications: The most effective way to treat fever is to use a medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil). These treatments can reduce the child’s discomfort and lower the child’s temperature by 2 to 3˚ Fahrenheit. Both medications should be calculated by the child’s weight, not by age.
• Acetaminophen may be given every 4 to 6 hours as needed, but should not be given more than 5 times in a 24-hour period. Acetaminophen should not be given to children under 3 months of age without consultation with healthcare provider.
• Ibuprofen may be given every 6 hours as needed. Ibuprofen should not be used in children younger than 6 months of age.
Please see below for our dosing tables for acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Increase Fluids: Having fever can increase a child’s risk of becoming dehydrated. To reduce this risk, parents should encourage their child to drink fluids. Children with fever may not feel hungry, and it is not necessary to force them to eat. See below for guidelines on treatment of child’s dehydration.
Rest:  Having a fever causes most children to feel tired and achy. During this time, parents should encourage their child to rest as much as the child wants. It is not necessary to force the child to sleep or rest if he or she begins to feel better. Children may return to school or other activities when the temperature has been normal for 24 hours.
Sponging and baths: Sponge baths can be used, along with medicines, to treat fever. Child can be placed in a bathtub with lukewarm water. Then sponge water over child’s skin. Do not use cold water and do not add alcohol to the water.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you contact your child's doctor during the day for an appointment if:
• Under 3 months: Any fever of 100.4°F or higher, even if child shows no other symptoms of illness. (If the fever develops after office hours or on a weekend, go to the emergency room). Young babies have a limited ability to fight illness because their immune system isn't fully developed. Young babies can’t tell you if they are really sick and there are some serious bacterial infections that they are more prone to, like kidney infections, blood stream, and pneumonia.
• 3 to 6 months: A fever of 101°F or higher
• Over 6 months: A fever 103°F or higher
• A fever in any age child measuring between 104˚F (40.0˚C) and 105˚F (40.6˚C)
• Fever in a child over three months of age without an obvious source (accompanied by common cold symptoms, diarrhea, etc.)
• Fever more than 3 consecutive days with an obvious source of infection or any fever without an obvious source of infection
• Any fever and sore throat that lasts more than 24 to 48 hours
• You see signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth, a sunken soft spot, or fewer wet diapers (less than one every 8 hours)
• Your child has a fever and pain when urinating
• Your child is lethargic, refuses to eat, has a rash, or is having difficulty breathing
• Your child has a fever and has recently returned from a trip abroad
• If you have any other concerns or questions
Call us immediately or take your child to the emergency room if:
• A fever of 100.4˚F and is under 3 months old
• A fever of 105˚F (40.6˚C) or higher
• A fever and obvious breathing difficulties
• A fever and is having trouble swallowing to the point where child is drooling because they unable to swallow their own saliva
• A fever and is still lethargic or listless even after taking fever-reducing medication
• A fever accompanied with a headache, stiff neck, or purplish patches or tiny red spots on the skin
• A fever and severe pain
• A febrile seizure and/or the child is having trouble breathing afterwards
• A fever and has compromised immunity (i.e. if the child is on chemotherapy for cancer)
• A fever after prolonged exposure to the sun

When children are losing fluids through fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, and particularly if they are not drinking well to keep up, they can become dehydrated much more quickly than an adult. Most often this is caused by a virus and can be safely cared for at home.

Dehydration in children can be treated at home by replacing fluids with drinks (fluid replacements) such as Pedialyte, Pedialyte freezer pops, or any product similar that is designed to replace sugar and electrolytes. Children should take small sips every few moments. A BRAT (Bananas Rice Applesauce Toast) diet may be started if vomiting has subsided for four hours.
The way to help a dehydrated child is to give plenty of fluids while the child is ill. This is called fluid replacement.
• For bottle-fed infants, offer fluid replacement if the child has vomited two or more times. Offer fluid replacement for 8 hours using half-strength formula for two feedings, and then regular formula.
• For breast-fed infants, reduce the amount per feeding. If the child vomits twice, nurse one side every one to two hours. If the child vomits more than two times, nurse four to five minutes every 30 to 60 minutes. If the child continues to vomit, switch to fluid replacement for 4 hours. Spoon- or syringe-feed small amounts of fluid replacement: one to two teaspoons (5 to 10 ml) every five minutes.
• Children older than one year may be given small amounts of clear fluids for eight hours. Flat soda (soft drinks that are opened then shaken to lose their fizz), Gatorade, water-based soups, popsicles and fluid replacements may be given for vomiting with diarrhea. Water or ice chips may be used with vomiting alone. Give small amounts (1 tbsp. / 5 ml) ever five minutes. After four hours without vomiting, double the amount. After eight hours without vomiting, add solids.
• Although it may seem that your child is vomiting all that is given, usually an adequate amount of fluid is kept down.
• Limit solids to bland foods (any complex carbohydrates) or BRAT diet for 24 hours.
• Start with saltine crackers, white bread, rice, dried cereals, etc.
• The child may resume normal diet in 24 to 48 hours.
• Discontinue all non-essential medications for eight hours.

Infants and small children can become dehydrated quickly.
Contact your doctor if your child has any of the following:
• Dry mouth
• Crying without tears
• No urine output for over a period of four to six hours
• Sunken eyes
• Blood in the stool
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting for more than 24 hours, or vomiting that is consistently green in color
• Fever higher than 103 F (39.4 C)
• Less activity than usual
Call us immediately or take your child to the emergency room if:
• If your child is lethargic (difficult to awaken)
• If you cannot reach your doctor
• If your child is complaining of severe abdominal pain
• If your child's mouth looks dry