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20 Questions

What to Ask Your Pediatrician

By Dr. Vincent Iannelli

For many childhood conditions, the big "alternative" is going to be simply watching and waiting to see if your child gets better on her own. So if your child has a green runny nose for two weeks and is prescribed an antibiotic for a sinus infection, one alternative would be to wait a few more days to see if she starts getting better on her own. Of course if your child has a more serious illness or more severe symptoms, your pediatrician may say that waiting isn't a good idea and that you should start the prescribed treatments right away.

Asking about alternative treatments can also be helpful if you aren't happy or comfortable with what your pediatrician has prescribed for your child. There is almost always more than one way to treat a child, so don't feel bad asking about alternatives.

This is probably the most important question to ask, both so that you don't miss signs that your child is getting worse and so that you don't rush back to the pediatrician too soon.

For example, if your child is diagnosed with a cold or the flu, you shouldn't be surprised that she isn't getting better or is getting worse during the next few days. On the other hand, after getting diagnosed with an ear infection or strep throat, you should expect quick improvement during the next few days and may need to call your pediatrician if she isn't.

As important parts of this question, you should also ask about what you should do if she isn't getting better at the expected time and what signs to look for that may mean that she is really getting worse.

Want to see more?

• Taking the Fear Out of Hospitals: The Role of the Child Life Specialist
• What to Expect at the Doctor's Office
• Picking Your Pediatrician: Finding the Doctor That's Right for Your Baby
• Talk about it!

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