How To Pick Pediatrician

By Parents
August 27, 2009

Please speak for all doctors.

What is the most annoying thing we parents do?

Overreact to the little ills of childhood. American kids are the healthiest humans who have ever lived. But their parents often fear they’re one sniffle away from certain doom. So, please, have confidence that you can handle most of the little throat itches, earaches, goopy eyes, and low fevers your child has. You don’t need me; you just need a little chicken soup and love.

As much as you want a prescription to fix everything, your kid probably doesn’t need antibiotics. For example, 80 percent of ear infections go away without them. It’s a dirty little secret of pediatrics that ear infections pay our bills. Doctors are nice, and sometimes we write prescriptions because we want to feel like we’re doing something to help, even though you’ll be fine without it.

But what about medicine?

What’s another secret?

There’s a syndrome called “Sick enough to see the doctor, but well enough for baseball.” The kid absolutely must see me on Sunday, but just not until after his game. If your child is well enough for school or practice, he’s really not sick enough to see me. On the other hand, if your kid is sick enough to see me, he’s probably sick enough to have an adult stay home with him. I can’t magically make him well enough to get back to school or daycare.

P.S. The people pictured here are all models — we had to swear to protect our sources.

Source: Parents

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com