When Is a Fever an Emergency?

While for the majority of children fever is not an emergency- there are a certain group of children that fever is considered dangerous. Think of the Three I’s

Think of the Three I’s

  • Immune compromised– children that do not have a well working immune system cannot fight off infection and therefore when they have fever they need to see their healthcare professional immediately
  • Immunization– babies less than two months of age are at higher risk for bacterial infection and if your child has not had his 2-month vaccines and has a temperature over 100 degrees rectally you should consider this a medical emergency and go directly to the emergency department
  • Intake– having a fever WILL make your child uncomfortable- especially if it is over 102.  Often this leads to poor drinking and if your child cannot drink enough they may become dehydrated. If you think your child might be dehydrated due to fever then bring them to see the doctor immediately.

Fever is Good – Most of the Time

For parents, doctors and pharmacy companies, fever has been thought to be “the enemy”. We should be scared of fever and make it go away as fast as possible. This may be a very dangerous idea for the following reasons.

Fever Facts

  • All animals, even single cell organisms, have fever. Therefore it is felt to be important in protecting us in some way.
  • Studies show that increasing the body temperature decreases the ability of bacteria to multiply and spread. That gives antibiotics a chance to work faster.
  • Newer studies also show that the increase in body temperature activates a special kind of white blood cells- aptly named “killer T cells”. The activation of these killers means that your body can fight virus infections better and may be the only “treatment” needed for getting rid of the most common form of infection.

Therefore- not letting your body have a fever when you have an infection may actually make the virus last longer and take the antibiotics longer to work for bacteria infections.

Fever Phobia

In 1980, Pediatrician  Dr. Barton Schmitt created the term “Fever Phobia” to describe the misconceptions that many parents and physicians have regarding fever. Since that initial study, many other researchers have looked at how parents react to a child with fever. Most all studies show that the majority of parents do not understand key concepts related to fever, such as what defines a fever, how dangerous is a fever and how should fever be treated.

Throughout the month of September, The Children’s Clinic will be providing daily information for parents about what defines a fever and how to treat fever in children. It is hoped that this factual information will help alleviate the myths and fears that are associated with fever and guide parents on when to call for an appointment and when to be concerned if their child develops fever.

Ticks & Lyme Disease in Children

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Although anyone can get Lyme disease, children spend a lot of time outdoors and are at particular risk.

  • Reasons to suspect that your child may have Lyme disease include:
  • Your family lives in or has visited a region where Lyme disease is commonly found
  • You know or suspect that your child has been exposed to ticks
  • Your child is experiencing symptoms such as rash, fever, chills, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, or facial paralysis

Children sometimes experience joint pain as their first, and possibly only, symptom of Lyme disease. If you suspect that your child may have Lyme disease, call us promptly.

Protect your family from Lyme disease

  • Use insect repellent that contains 20 – 30% DEET. Follow the instructions on the packaging.
  • Make children bathe or shower as soon as possible after they come indoors.
  • Look for ticks on their bodies. Ticks can hide under the armpits, behind the knees, in the hair, and in the groin.
  • Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 60 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.

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For more information, download this brochure from the CDC.
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Summer Saturday Hours

We will start our summer hours for our Walk-in Clinic this Saturday, May 13. Saturday hours will be from 9am to 12pm. Weekday hours will remain 8am to 6pm.

Shyness

Childhood shyness is common and it causes concern for some parents.  A child may be shy because of many reasons, such as, harsh living situations, neglected or rejected.  In some cases, shyness can be disabling.  Extremely shy children can find it hard to socialize at school and the longer this goes on the more reclusive they can become.  Some children just need time to adjust to a new setting and they will do well in relationships and social settings.  Parents can guide their children into social situations and they can learn how to interact in a successful way.  Children want to be liked but sometimes are rejected by their peers.  When a child is rejected it could be because of their impulsive and disruptive behavior.  This can lead to a child being neglected.  Which often means they are ignored, forgotten, not invited to parties, or picked last for teams.  Successful socializing interactions require skills and special ways of interacting.  Parents should look for these skills in their children and help develop them.

  • Forgiving
  • Apologizing
  • Expressing  affection
  • Sharing
  • Asking for help
  • Helping others
  • Comforting someone
  • Doing favors
  • Keeping secrets
  • Sticking up for a friend

Hungry or Bored?

Children sometimes use food for reasons other than hunger to satisfy themselves.  These reasons may be in response to their emotions or feelings.  Many things can trigger hunger such as:

  • boredom
  • depression
  • stress
  • frustration
  • insecurity
  • loneliness
  • fatigue

One way to keep your child from eating out of boredom is to steer them towards activities that keep them busy.  Also make sure your child eats three well-balanced meals and one snack each day.

A few things to do instead of eating would be:

  • walk the dog
  • walk around the neighborhood
  • kicking a ball around
  • painting a picture
  • running through sprinklers

Showing your child love on Valentine’s Day!

Here are ways to show your child how much you love them on Valentine’s Day or every day.  

  1. Use plenty of positive and encouraging words with your child.
  2. Make an extra effort to set a good example about how to connect and talk with other people at home and in public.
  3. Respond promptly and lovingly to your child’s physical and emotional needs
  4. When your child is angry, grouchy, or in a bad mood, give him a quick hug, cuddle, pat, secret nod or other sign of affection he responds to and then consider talking with him about it when he’s feeling better.
  5. Use non-violent forms of discipline.
  6. Make plans to spend time alone with your young child or teen doing something she enjoys on a regular basis.
  7. Mark family game nights on your calendar so the entire family can look forward to having ways to enjoy spending time together.
  8. Consider owning a pet, if possible. Having a pet can help make some children, especially those with chronic illnesses and disabilities, feel better by increasing their physical activity, enhancing their overall feelings, and offering another way to connect with someone they care about.
  9. One of the best ways to have your child learn more about good food choices is to encourage him to cook with you.
  10. As your child grows up, she’ll spend most of her time improving upon a variety of skills and abilities that she gains in all areas of her life.
  11. Your child’s health depends a lot on the care and support you offer during his early years.
  12. Help your child foster positive relationships with friends, siblings and members of the community.
  13. One of your most important gifts as a parent is to help your child develop self-esteem.
  14. Don’t forget to say, “I love you” to children of all ages!

Safe Sleeping

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Parents of newborn babies are presented with so much information during their brief hospital stay, it may be hard to absorb and remember it all. One of the topics usually discussed is safe sleeping for babies. We thought it would be a good idea to review that subject briefly since it is so important to your infant’s well being.

Though rare, “crib death”, or Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) as it is now called, continues to occur, causing unspeakable tragedy for the families involved. This terrible occurrence is not completely preventable, but the risk can be significantly reduced with the tips presented below.

The list of suggestions was developed by the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Center and reflects the latest scientific research on what works to reduce a baby’s risk of dying in his/her sleep. If you have questions on this subject, feel free to bring them up during your next wellness appointment.
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  • The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a room with you, but in his own safety-approved crib or bassinet.
  • Do not allow adults or other children to share a bed with a baby.

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  • Cribs should be approved by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.
  • The space between bars should be less than 2 3/4 inches(about the width of a soda can).
  • A crib should have a firm mattress and a snug-fitting bottom sheet.
  • Do not place stuffed animals, soft bedding, pillows, bumper pads, or wedges in the crib.
  • Place the crib in an area that is always smoke-free.
  • Be sure any secondhand crib has not been recalled. Visit www.recalls.gov. Make sure any crib has all its parts.
  • Do not allow your baby to sleep in a car seat if it’s not in a vehicle.
  • Do not use bouncy seats, sofas/chairs as a sleeping arrangement for your baby.

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  • Side sleeping is not safe and is not advised.
  • Babies sleep comfortably on their backs.
  • Babies are less likely to choke when they sleep on their backs.
  • Babies need adult-supervised “tummy time” when they are awake. This helps them develop normally and helps prevent flat spots on their heads.

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  • Overheating is a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
  • Dress the baby in the type of clothes you would be comfortable wearing.
  • Blankets can become loses and end up on the infants face. Instead of using blankets, dress your baby in a wearable “sleep sack”.

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  • Breast-feed.
  • Get all recommended immunizations.
  • Keep the baby away from cigarette and other smoke.

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Walk-In Clinic – Coming Soon

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Effective NOW, the Children’s Clinic will offer Walk-in clinic hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM and Saturday, 9:00 AM-2:00PM.

We are proud to offer a Walk-in clinic as an extra level of service and convenience because we know it is especially helpful for families with busy schedules.  For common straightforward health issues, just bring your child to our walk-in clinic and you won’t have to worry about making and keeping an appointment later in the day or the following day.

The Children’s Clinic’s vaccine policy remains unchanged.  As pediatricians, we strive to maximize health and minimize illness.  We do take advantage of opportunities both big and small, as they present themselves and educate families about the importance of vaccines.  Immunizing is vital to protecting us all, but especially the most vulnerable among us.

Our clinic doors will be locked at 6:00pm on Monday – Friday and 2:00pm on Saturday.

FAQs

How does the Walk-in clinic work?
No appointment is necessary.  If you choose to walk-in, you will NOT be able to select the provider you want to see.  You will be placed in the first available exam room. If you have a concern and would like to see your primary provider, please call our office to schedule that appointment.

When you arrive and decide you do not want to see the provider who is working the walk-in clinic that day, one of two things may happen:

1.  If there is an available appointment with a different provider, we will let you know and you can make the decision on whether to see them or not.
2.  Or, you can make an appointment for a different date with the provider of your choice.

What types of issues can be seen in the walk-in clinic?
Walk-in visits are for ACUTE issues such as: ear infections, rashes, sore throats, eye problems, bug bites, bumps and scrapes, urinary tract issues, upper respiratory issues, cough, fever and minor trauma.

However, the walk-in clinic is NOT for chronic or wellness issues such as medication refills, well visits, sports physicals, immunizations, ADD/ADHD, Asthma, headaches, back pain, etc.

Does the walk-in clinic have a long wait?
Our walk-in clinic wait time does vary throughout the day, week, and season.  It is one of our top priorities to not leave patients waiting any longer than necessary.

Based on experience, we know there will be “rushes” throughout the day.  Those are typically, 8:00 AM– 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM-6:00 PM.

Do I sign in at a different place for walk-in clinic?
No, you will sign in at our receptionist desk on the 4th floor.

Address:    800 South Church, Suite 400, Jonesboro, AR
(corner of Church Street and Matthews)

What makes our walk-in clinic different than others?
We have 7 Board Certified Pediatricians and 3 Advanced Practice Nurses who will rotate through our walk-in clinic.

Our walk-in clinic is a great service we are providing for our established patients.  If you have previously been dismissed from our practice, you will not be able to utilize our walk-in clinic.

If your child does not have a pediatrician, please call our office at 870-935-6012 to inquire about establishing with our practice. 
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Bring your health insurance card to every visit at our walk-in clinic. And, be prepared with your current address, email address, phone number, emergency contact number and child’s Social Security Number.
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