Your time is valuable, but your child’s health is equally important. Make the most of your time with your pediatrician by knowing the following information, or having it close at hand, before your next visit. You’ll not only save time but also help your pediatrician provide better care for your child.
Medical History
Naturally, your child’s complete medical history is crucial information for your pediatrician. You should know and share your child’s history of any hospitalizations, surgeries, outpatient procedures, and other pertinent medical events.
Additionally, you should have a record of your child’s immunization history. This will allow your Westminster pediatrician to keep your child on a proper immunization schedule, ensuring that they are vaccinated against many serious illnesses.
Family History
Your child’s family medical history is a very important piece of information to share with your pediatrician. This includes any major diseases or chronic conditions suffered by blood relatives on both the mother’s and father’s sides. Examples would be heart disease, cancer, diabetes, developmental delays, seizures or other neurological disorders, and mental health issues.
Of course, if your child is adopted, this information may be absent or incomplete. Your pediatrician will work with you to appropriately monitor your child in such a case.
A complete family medical history lets your pediatrician know what to watch out for to better maintain your child’s health.
Medications and Allergies
You should make your pediatrician aware of any medications your child takes. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Even if the drug is only taken occasionally, like acetaminophen, it’s still important that you tell your pediatrician.
Don’t forget to include any vitamins or supplements, even children’s multivitamins. It is crucial that your pediatrician knows each and every medication your child takes.
Of course, you need to tell your pediatrician in Westminster about any allergic reactions your child has had to any medications. In addition to drug allergies, don’t forget to include insect, food, and environmental allergies such as bee stings, peanuts, or pollen.
Behavior
Don’t limit the information you share with your pediatrician about your child to the physical. Your child’s behavior is also an important indicator of their health. If your child has begun to show signs of anxiety, depression, inattentiveness, aggression, or hyperactivity, it is crucial to tell your pediatrician.
Pediatricians are trained in the behavioral health of children. Furthermore, if they believe your child needs to see a behavioral specialist, they won’t hesitate to make a referral.
Realistic Expectations
In addition to providing your pediatrician with all of the information above, it is equally important that you come to your pediatrician’s office with realistic expectations. For example, you should realize that antibiotics are not appropriate for all illnesses. In fact, antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections and will do nothing to treat viral illnesses.
Therefore, don’t be upset if your pediatrician doesn’t prescribe antibiotics for a tummy ache or the flu. Taking antibiotics for these diseases is not only useless but can contribute to the development of drug-resistant bacterial strains.
