Today began at 8:30. I waited for Dr. Willey to arrive. We immediately began seeing the sick patients. There were still a lot of kids coming in with illnesses from traveling over the long weekend. At around 10 we began seeing scheduled patients for check ups and long term fevers. I’ve learned it can be very sad to see sick kids who only want to sleep and cry. However, Dr. Willey does an amazing job of working with the patient to help them feel better. She continues to use her magic to cure patients and lift their spirits, drawing a smile from stubborn toddlers and 6 month old patients.
Thus far, we have seen a few ear infections, swimmer’s ear, coughs, and persistent fevers. I learned that swimmer’s ear differs from a regular ear infection because with a swimmer’s ear, the ear canal will appear inflamed with a white/yellow coating. On the other hand, a typical ear infection features fluid behind the eardrums. Regardless of the ear illness, you sometimes have to flush the ear of earwax when the child cannot hear. Loosening up the earwax after it piles up can relieve clogged hearing.
Apart from ear aches, I learned about fevers, coughs, and pink eye. Specifically, mild pink eye can be treated with antibiotic eye drops. To put the eyedrops in a child, or even yourself, Dr. Willey recommends laying down with your eyes closed, placing the eye drop on the inside corner of the eye. Then, you open your eyes and let the medicinal fluid run into the eye.
Apart from eyes and ears, a lot of kids also come in with sore throats and coughs. The picture I’ve attached to today’s post depicts the pamphlet source in each exam room. From puberty to colds, parents love to take a look at the information on the pamphlets. The area also includes a book with basic images of child anatomy. Dr. Willey will use those pictures to help explain colds and fevers to parents. Overall, those resources prove informational and useful!
Today was an amazing day at the office. From newborns to younger kids, i’ve learned so much about kids. A typical pattern in the office is to see younger kids in the morning and teenagers in the afternoon. I think that is because teenagers are usually free after school while babies have more free time! I have seen many dads come with their kids. Today, a dad phoned in the mom at work so they could both participate in the child’s visit. I think this is a great way to stay informed while dividing up responsibilities! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings in.
Fun Facts:
– Pale/white lines on the palm side of your fingers (where the fingers bend) can indicate anemia.
– Fever reducers can bring a fever down by 2 degrees.
– If not caught early, lazy eyes can result in a loss of vision in that eye.
– Some kids cough to get attention!
– Vaseline can help remove a bandaid without pain.
– Your body begins to respond to strep throat when you’re three years old.
– Scoliosis is most easily recognized between 9 and 10 years of age.