Whether you need routine care for your child’s sore throat or your child is due for a routine checkup, call Vizikidz. We offer mobile acute care for common childhood illnesses using Bluetooth technology and virtual examinations.
We understand that your child may be afraid of the instruments, lights, and sounds in a traditional doctor’s office. Being around a high volume of patients puts your child at greater risk of getting sick...and gives you less time to speak with your child's doctor. The solution? Pediatric telehealth services that connect you with your child’s care team from the comfort of your home.
The physical exam is one of the most important measures to ensure your child is growing and developing at a healthy rate. How often they need to see a pediatrician depends on their age and underlying medical conditions.
Your Vizikidz provider will begin your child's physical exam by discussing their health history. The medical technician will then use tools connected to Bluetooth technology to give your Vizikidz provider their height, weight, and blood pressure.
The last three stages of your child’s physical exam include:
We specialize in mobile acute care for eight total upper and lower respiratory infections.
Wheezing and persistent cough are the most common symptoms, making it simple for the medical technician and your Vizikidz provider to make a diagnosis. We also conduct or refer patients for in-home tests such as:
Treatment typically involves bed rest, extra fluids, Acetaminophen (Tylenol®), and a prescription mucus expectorant safe for children, such as Children's Mucinex® Chest Congestion. If your child is suffering from pneumonia, we prescribe antibiotics and conduct bloodwork and chest X-rays to determine the next steps.
If your child has severe nasal congestion and over-the-counter expectorants don't work, your Vizikidz provider can call in a nasal decongestant spray, such as Nasonex.
Stomach ailments
Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu), a highly contagious infection that affects children of all ages, causes most cases of vomiting and diarrhea. We offer mobile acute care to help prevent messy and embarrassing accidents at the doctor’s office.
Common symptoms of the stomach flu include:
To confirm the stomach flu, the medical technician will start by asking questions to determine if your child is actually suffering from food poisoning, GERD, a medication side effect or ingesting an inedible substance.
After conducting a physical exam, the medical technician will confer with your Vizikidz provider. If you have an infant or a young child, they may perform a stool sample to test for rotavirus (RV). Your Vizikidz provider may also direct the medical technician to administer an antiemetic to cease extreme vomiting and diarrhea.
Though less commonly prescribed, an antiemetic helps children suffering from severe vomiting or diarrhea (or both) and dehydration for more than two days. Your Vizikidz provider will look for warning signs of progressed dehydration and determine if hospitalization vs. at-home intravenous (IV) therapy is necessary.
Fevers are a symptom of an underlying illness. If your child has a fever but can’t explain their symptoms, we conduct a thorough physical examination to determine the root cause.
If your child’s fever is from a viral infection, we recommend administering Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) as needed. Cold compresses, bed rest, and extra fluids can ease their discomfort.
If your child’s fever is caused by a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, we prescribe antibiotics and monitor their symptoms.
If your child has severe upper and lower respiratory issues, a persistent fever, a cough, nausea, and a runny nose, it can be difficult to tell the difference between the flu vs. a bad head cold.
The medical technician will use a rapid diagnostic kit, while your Vizikidz provider conducts a visual examination. If the rapid test comes back negative, the visual examination will help determine if flu is probable.
If your child is diagnosed with the flu, your Vizikidz provider will prescribe an antiviral flu treatment safe in children two weeks and older, such as Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®). The sooner you make an appointment, the better: these prescriptions work best if administered within two days after symptoms appear. Oseltamivir also reduces the likelihood of ear infections and other secondary infections.
If your child is severely congested, the medical technician will show you how to use a bulb syringe to clear your child’s sinuses. We also typically recommend giving your child Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and over-the-counter cough medicine as needed.
From stuffy noses to chronic coughs, allergies are common and troublesome in children. We at Vizikidz treat allergies similarly to how we handle nasal and chest congestion due to cold and flu viruses:
If your child has seasonal allergies, we create an anti-allergy action plan by starting Desloratadine (Clarinex) (or similar) one to two weeks before allergy season begins.
Most children get minor wounds from rough play and accidents, but occasionally, your child may need a topical antibiotic or stitches.
Your child’s wound may need additional care if:
Stitching a child’s wound is easier in the comfort of your home, which is why mobile acute care is better for non-life-threatening wounds. The medical technician will collaborate with your Vizikidz provider, who will guide the procedure over video. We use a numbing gel to ease your child’s discomfort before applying a sterile drape and suturing the wound.
High definition images are taken before and after suturing the wound. Your Vizikidz provider will follow up with you within a week to determine if additional care is needed.
Rashes in children can occur due to stress, an allergy, or a viral infection, and Vizikidz can help you quickly determine the cause.
For simple rashes, your Vizikidz provider may prescribe an antihistamine, Hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion. If the rash doesn’t respond or looks complex, the medical technician will conduct a skin culture to rule out a fungal infection.
For example, candida is the most common fungal skin infection in infants and young toddlers. The universal solution is a child-safe gel to kill the fungal overgrowth, such as Miconazole.
Sometimes, what looks like a simple rash may be a chronic skin issue. The medical technician will take additional high-definition images to help your Vizikidz provider rule out Eczema or Psoriasis. If your child needs further care, we can connect you with an expert pediatric dermatologist in Scottsdale or the surrounding areas.
When your child can’t stop going to the bathroom and complains of pain, nausea, and chills, don’t wait to call your Vizikidz provider to test for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Early action prevents worse pain and kidney or bladder infection.
The medical technician will conduct a urine test to look for harmful bacteria. You may need to assist your child to get a "clean-catch" (peeing into a cup or plastic bag). If you have an infant, the medical technician will collect a urine sample using a catheter or a sterile needle.
Treatment consists of UTI-appropriate antibiotics safe for children, such as Bactrim. Your Vizikidz provider will typically prescribe a week-long course in addition to plenty of fluids.
If your child gets frequent or unexplained UTIs, Vizikidz will connect you with an excellent pediatric nephrologist (kidney specialist) in Scottsdale or the surrounding areas.
If your child has a severe headache or migraine that doesn't improve by decreasing light and sound, drinking water, or taking Acetaminophen (Tylenol®), calling Vizikidz is a solid first step.
Your Vizikidz provider may prescribe Ondansetron, an anti-nausea drug that stops vomiting during migraines. Excedrin Migraine may be appropriate if your child is in their teens and not recovering from a viral illness. If your child suffers from chronic migraines, we typically refer you to a pediatric neurologist in Scottsdale or the surrounding areas.
From fatigue to irritability, a nagging cough is hard on your child. To help reach a solution as quickly as possible, we first determine if they have an acute cough (lasting fewer than three weeks) or a chronic cough (lasting longer than around two months).
The medical technician will ask you and your child questions about their health history. Treating their cough in-home also allows them to evaluate how your environment may play a role.
If your child has an acute cough due to an infection, antibiotics are unnecessary. Instead, after listening to your child’s lung capacity, your Vizikidz provider will likely prescribe an quick-action inhaler (like Proventil) to open your child’s airways.
Pneumonia is the sole exception. The antibiotics given depend on your child’s age. Newborns and young infants typically require a combination of ampicillin and gentamicin. In older children, clarithromycin or amoxicillin helps heal the lungs and reduce coughing.
If your child is suffering from a chronic cough, we take the anti-allergy route. This plan includes removing the presence of environmental irritants and trying an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Cetirizine (Zyrtec).
For a cough that persists and interrupts your child’s sleep or play, we try a stronger, prescription-grade anti-histamine, such as Desloratadine (for children ages four and older).
In most cases, a sore throat is a symptom of the common cold or a viral infection. But your Vizikidz provider can ease your child's pain with Benzydamine, a powerful throat-numbing solution in spray or lozenge form.
If your child has a severe sore throat that lasts longer than three days and doesn’t improve with over-the-counter pain relievers, we can help. Sore throats can sometimes point to a more serious underlying viral or bacterial illness, namely:
During your appointment, the medical technician will discuss possible modes of exposure and your child’s additional symptoms. They will evaluate your child’s temperature using a sterilized digital thermometer and note the size of their glands.
After the physical examination, a throat swab will rule out a bacterial infection. If mononucleosis is suspected, the medical technician will consult with your Vizikidz provider about conducting blood work to confirm the presence of antibodies.
If your child is diagnosed with strep throat, penicillin and amoxicillin or allergy-safe antibiotics such as Zithromax (Z-pak) are prescribed. The antibiotic course typically takes seven to 10 days.
There is no treatment for mononucleosis; it typically takes 2-4 weeks to resolve. If your child is diagnosed, your Vizikidz provider will create a rest and recovery action plan that includes bed rest and avoiding rough physical activity.
