Cold Vs. Flu

Is it a cold or the flu? When it comes to your child's health, your pediatrician provides great information and guidance on the most common illnesses plaguing families. If you are wondering about the exact nature of your child's illness and how to treat it, learn the differences between a cold and the flu and how to treat and prevent them.

What is a cold?

A cold is an upper respiratory viral infection lasting 5 to 7 days in both adults and children alike. Generally milder in intensity and shorter in duration than influenza, a cold causes:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• A runny nose
• Tiredness
• Low-grade fever

Even though you try as hard as possible to keep your child safe while they are playing sports, accidents still happen. At these moments, it’s important that you know whether these are injuries that can easily be treated from the comfort of your own home or whether you need to turn to a pediatrician for proper medical attention.

Pediatricians have seen a lot of sports-related injuries over the years and while we also focus as much of our attention on prevention, we know the importance of being able to get immediate and comprehensive care when your child does sustain an injury.

Common sports-related injuries include:

• Dislocations (particularly in the shoulder)
• Traumatic injuries (this includes cuts, sprains and strains, and broken bones)
• Stress fractures
• Tendinitis (often in the hand or wrist)
• Concussion

When a dislocation happens many times it is accompanied by an audible popping sound at the moment that the injury occurred. This unnerving sound is often followed by sudden and intense pain. It’s important that you turn to a pediatrician who can put the shoulder or any other area of the body back in place. The joints of a child’s body are looser than adults, so it makes shoulders and other areas more prone to dislocations.

Minor cuts, sprains, and strains can often be handled with at-home care. In most cases, the RICE method is a great way to ensure that your child gets the rest they need to heal properly and to stay off of the injury until it fully heals. Icing and elevating the injured area can also reduce pain and swelling. Of course, if you suspect that your child has a broken bone, this will need to be evaluated by a medical professional right away.

Children who are serious or long-term athletes are more likely to experience overuse injuries. These injuries occur over time rather than suddenly and they are often the result of performing repetitive movements. Overuse injuries include stress fractures and tendinitis. If your child feels pain whenever they move a certain area of the body or if they notice pain or swelling in a certain area it’s important that they get checked out.

Wearing a helmet is crucial for protecting your child’s head while playing sports. Of course, if your child has received a blow to the head and is experiencing dizziness, fatigue, frequent or severe headaches or just seems out of sorts it’s crucial that you bring them in right away to see if they’ve incurred a concussion.

When in doubt, pick up the phone and talk to a pediatrician about your child’s injuries and symptoms. They will be able to determine whether or not they should come in for proper care.

What are pediatric wellness checkups and why are they necessary for your child?

All parents want the same thing for their children: to see that they are healthy and leading a happy life. We know how important that is, which is why our West Jordan, UT, pediatricians are dedicated to providing preventive medical care, as well as comprehensive treatments and procedures when necessary. From the moment your baby is born you will need to bring them in for wellness checkups.

The number one goal of wellness checkups is to make sure that your child is healthy and that they receive the proper care they need to remain healthy. Sure, we know that everyone gets sick at some point but the purpose of having our West Jordan children’s doctor by your side is to make sure your child gets the preventive care they need to prevent medical problems.

First and foremost, a wellness checkup allows our pediatricians to be able to continuously monitor your little one to guarantee that they are reaching all developmental milestones, from saying their first words to being able to walk. If there are any delays in these developmental milestones our doctors will be able to pinpoint the problem right away.

These visits are also important for parents, as well. First-time parents, in particular, will have a lot of questions or concerns about everything from breastfeeding to healthy eating habits to exercise. We are here to answer these questions and more. While we may focus on the physical development of your child, this doesn’t mean that we don’t also take time to check the mental and behavioral developments of your child, as well.

From birth until 18 years old, your child will also need to get a variety of vaccinations to prevent them from life-threatening illnesses and long-term health complications. These vaccinations also keep other children and family members safe from infection. Make sure to follow this vaccination schedule to guarantee that your child is protected from many preventable childhood illnesses.

Do you need to schedule your child’s next routine checkup? Do you have questions about the services we offer here in West Jordan, UT? If so, don’t hesitate to turn to Southwest Children’s Clinic. We are here to meet all of your little one’s health needs.

Now's the time to fulfill an important requirement for your child. It's the sports physical, and the staff at Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT, is happy to provide it. The five pediatricians and their team encourage your children in healthy, active lifestyles, and school sports play a significant role in keeping children and teens active. Here are the details on the PPE or pre-participation physical your child needs.

Why a physical?

A PPE, or pre-participation examination ensures your child is ready and able to engage in physical activity with his or her peers. It answers vital questions such as:

• Is the child healthy enough for sports?
• Does he or she have any limitations the school or organization should be aware of?
• What's the child's overall level of conditioning?
• Is weight within normal limits?
• What's his or her maturity level, especially as compared to children in the same age group?
• What is his or her risk of injury?
• How is his or her vision and hearing?

As your pediatrician goes through a routine physical examination, those questions will be answered. Also, the doctor will complete the paperwork the school or organization requires, including those important immunization records.

What does the pediatrician look at?

All pediatric health assessments check a child's height, weight, vital signs and current health conditions such as asthma, allergies, diabetes, and more. The doctor pays particular attention to heart sounds, pulse and blood pressure, but he or she also checks the child's gait, balance, flexibility and other indicators of muscular-skeletal health. A vision and hearing check are part of a PPE as well.

Physicians at the Cleveland Clinic say that PPEs are critically helpful to a young athlete's overall health because these assessments often catch problems early on before they develop serious complications. Also, they alert the school to a medical history of concussion, fainting or any serious illnesses which seem to run in the child's family.

All in all, a PPE affords parents, children, pediatricians and schools/clubs the opportunity to ensure optimal physical function and a good team experience for all participants.

Book it soon

Most schools and club activities (such as the Scouts) need health forms completed several weeks in advance of season start-up. So, now's the time to call Southwest Children's Clinic for your appointment. And, be sure to bring required paperwork with you. Call (801) 563-1975 for an appointment.

Your child is eager to start the school year so they can participate in sports. That’s great news! Keeping your child active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and sports can be a great experience for many children; however, it’s also important that your child’s pediatrician performs a yearly sports physical to make sure that they are ready for physical activity.

A sports physical is necessary for every child regardless of their current health. In fact, some schools make it mandatory for children to get an annual sports physical before they participate in any school sports. Regardless of whether this physical is mandatory or not, it’s highly advised that all children get a sports physical once a year.

Your child’s sports physical will involve going through their medical history and conducting a physical examination. The physical examination is pretty self-explanatory. We will check their vitals, as well as their height and weight. We will perform a vision test and evaluate everything from their heart and respiratory system to their musculoskeletal system. The goal of a physical exam is to make sure that your child hasn’t incurred any past injuries or developed any health problems that could be exacerbated by physical activity.

A pediatrician can also answer questions and provide counseling on nutrition, healthy weight loss or gain, and habits that could help your child’s physical health. Remember to bring any questions along with you.

Besides the physical examination, we will also sit down with you and your child and ask questions about their medical history. It’s important to be as detailed as possible. If it’s the first time they are having a sports physical it’s important to bring in a list of any supplements or medications (both over-the-counter or prescription) that they are currently taking.

We will ask a series of questions to find out if there are any serious or chronic health problems that run in the family, if your child has experienced any past injuries, if they’ve ever undergone surgery or been hospitalized, if they have any allergies or if they have any current disorders or illnesses. It’s important to provide as much detailed history as possible so that our pediatric team can perform a thorough and comprehensive physical.

Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your child’s sports physical. It’s important to get your child on the books before the summer is gone and the doctor’s schedule fills up. You don’t want your child being benched during the season because they didn’t get a sports physical. Call your pediatrician today.