See a paediatrician online: a guide for parents

Warning signs first

Call 998 if your child has a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, is bothered by light, has a first seizure, has unusually cold hands and feet, has blue, grey, paler than usual or blotchy skin, is drowsy and hard to wake, or is extremely agitated or confused.

You should get urgent medical advice the same day, not a routine appointment, if a baby under 3 months has a temperature of 38C or higher, a baby aged 3 to 6 months has 39C or higher, a fever has lasted 5 days or more, or your child looks dehydrated, with nappies that are not very wet, sunken eyes or no tears when crying.

What a paediatrician helps with

Children are not small adults. Their illnesses, their normal ranges and the way they show they are unwell are different, and paediatricians train specifically in this. Parents commonly ask about:

• Fevers, coughs, colds and tummy bugs.
• Ear pain. Ear infections are very common in children and often get better on their own within 3 days.
• Rashes and skin problems.
• Feeding, growth, sleep or behaviour worries.
• Long-term conditions such as asthma.

What video can tell a doctor about a child

A paediatrician can learn a lot by watching how your child looks, breathes and responds to you. Most high temperatures in children can be looked after at home and settle within 1 to 4 days, and much of the value of a call is knowing what to watch for.

What they cannot do on screen is look inside an ear, listen to the chest or feel the tummy. If your baby is very young or the doctor cannot be sure, expect to be told to go somewhere your child can be examined.

Setting up the call

1. Take your child’s temperature with a digital thermometer and note the time.
2. Note how much they have been drinking, and how many wet nappies or trips to the toilet they have had.
3. Have your child’s age, approximate weight, medicines, allergies and vaccination record to hand.
4. Take a clear photo of any rash in good light, and test it with a glass if you can.
5. If you can, keep your child awake and undressed enough for the doctor to see them breathing.

Under the DHA telehealth standard, consent for an underage patient comes from a legal guardian, and the DoH standard also says children access tele-prescribing through their legal guardian, so stay with your child for the whole call.

Booking through medicAI

Paediatrics is one of the specialties you can browse in the doctor list, and dependents on your plan can be booked from your account. Paediatricians work at independent facilities licensed by DHA or DoH, which are responsible for the care they give. Many partner doctors also consult in Arabic, Hindi and other languages.