House-call for a paediatrician

The appearance of cough, runny nose, or high fever in a child always causes concern for parents. It is especially worrying if the child is still very small and cannot say what is bothering them. In such a situation, calling a pediatrician to the home is the best option.

At the “Oxford Medical” clinic, highly qualified pediatricians with many years of experience work. For the sake of children’s health, they are on duty 7 days a week and respond to calls in all districts of Kyiv and the suburbs.

There can be many reasons for a child’s poor health, ranging from teething, allergies, and colds to serious illnesses. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment, so consultation is recommended in any case.

If the child’s condition is stable, you can go to the clinic, but with high fever, stomach upset, and other pronounced symptoms, this is extremely difficult.

A pediatrician home visit is recommended in cases of:

• high fever;

• cough;

• sore throat;

• runny nose;

• abdominal pain;

• rash;

• vomiting, diarrhea;

• worsening condition after vaccination, etc.

In addition, the rules of a pediatrician home visit provide for the possibility of the doctor coming for a scheduled examination of the child. Until the age of one, it should be carried out at least once a month, and after that — at least 1 or 2 times a year. In the presence of chronic diseases, visits to the pediatrician are required more often.

In some cases, when there is no need for the child to be examined, you can turn to an online pediatric consultation.

Children’s immune systems are weaker than those of adults, so they more often suffer from colds and infectious diseases. In most cases, they respond well to treatment, although accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, which naturally worries parents. However, sometimes the child’s condition deteriorates sharply, and they require urgent medical care.

It is recommended to call an ambulance if the child simultaneously has several of the following symptoms:

• temperature above 38–39.5 °C (in children up to and after 6 years, respectively), which cannot be reduced;

• loss of consciousness;

• difficulty breathing;

• bluish skin (especially above the upper lip);

• convulsions;

• swelling, inflammation of the larynx;

• severe continuous cough;

• acute abdominal pain;

• repeated vomiting;

• diarrhea;

• blood in stool or vomit;

• abdominal bloating, constipation, and absence of gas;

• strong, unnatural crying;

• refusal to feed;

• dehydration;

• lethargy, drowsiness;

• profuse rash.

For emergency care, a paramedic team arrives, whose task is to stabilize the child’s condition and, if necessary, deliver them to a public or private clinic for hospitalization. At the same time, ambulance doctors do not make a diagnosis and do not prescribe treatment. Therefore, if the child’s condition is stable, it is better to call a pediatrician to the home.

A pediatrician consultation at home includes:

• studying the medical history — the doctor finds out what symptoms bother the child, whether they have chronic diseases, what examinations and treatments they underwent earlier;

• examination — the pediatrician measures the child’s temperature and blood pressure, performs auscultation (listening with a stethoscope) of the lungs and heart, palpates the abdomen, examines the skin, as well as the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and nose;

• diagnosis — based on the examination and study of symptoms, the doctor makes a probable diagnosis;

• prescription of therapy — the pediatrician develops an outpatient treatment plan, which may include medication, physiotherapy procedures, diet, etc.;

• conversation with parents — the doctor explains what the child is ill with, what treatment is needed, and answers all additional questions;

• issuing a medical report and, if necessary, opening a sick leave;

• appointment of a follow-up visit to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Most often, during a home visit, the pediatrician examines the child, makes a diagnosis, and prescribes treatment. But in complex cases, blood tests (which can also be taken at home) or other examinations may be required. In such a case, the pediatrician can issue a referral for diagnostics, consultation with a narrow specialist, or hospitalization.

The price of a pediatrician's home visit at the Oxford Medical clinic may vary depending on which district of Kyiv or suburb you live in. You can find out the cost of a pediatrician's home visit here, or by contacting the contact center.