Communication With Your Provider: 5 Tips to Make It Easier

Communication is tough. Likely many people would agree that nonverbal communication accounts for more than verbal communication in many situations. That assumes you have the right vocabulary to convey what you’re thinking. Throw in a sick child and parental exhaustion, and things get even hairier.

We have a few pointers for patient-provider communication to help:

Say “Listless” Instead of “Lethargic”

Lethargic is a medical term used to describe a state of consciousness in which a patient requires moderate stimulation to arouse them and then quickly goes back to sleep. It happens close to the point of reaching unarousable or comatose.

If your child doesn’t interact with anyone, won’t move at all, lies limp and almost lifeless on the couch, and is too sick even to fuss, then your child is lethargic; this is a medical emergency, and you should call 911.

If your child is “out of it,” is more tired or naps more than normal, wants to be held a lot and is fussy, then they are sick. An alternate word to use to describe this behavior is listless or fatigued.

Yes, Google says listless and lethargic mean the same thing. However, Dr. Google did not go to a reputable med school.

Say “Cranky” Instead of “Irritable”

Irritable is a medical term used to describe an inconsolable infant and is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. It doesn’t mean fussy or cranky. It doesn’t apply to an infant who is difficult to console.

Irritable babies may have a neurological or brain problem, a serious infection, or even a heart problem. Cranky or fussy infants may have gas, be overstimulated, or have a routine illness.

Irritable babies may cry more when they’re held and cry less when left alone: obviously a red flag.

Cranky babies may cry more when you hold them, but they will also cry more when you lay them down, sing them a song, rub their back, give them a snack, you get the point.

Cranky babies are frustrating. Irritable babies are scary.

Say “Hot” Instead of “Had a Fever”

Fever is when the body heats up to burn off illness and occurs at a body temperature of 100.4 or higher. The general consensus is that the normal body temperature is 98.6. Fun fact: this number is based off of research done in the 19^th century. More recent research shows that 98.9 in the morning and 99.9 overall are more accurate.

With that being said, everyone has a different “normal.” You may normally run around 97 degrees, BUT a fever is ALWAYS 100.4 or higher. Not 99.9. Not 100.3.

That also means, no matter how skilled you are as a parent, touching your kid’s head, chin, belly, or whatever will not tell you an actual number. It may clue you in that your child has a fever, but it will not tell you a number.

If you want to report a “tactile fever” or describe your child as “burning up,” we will believe you and trust that your child is sick. However, we’ll also rely on a valid temperature reading to help us decide what kind of help your child needs. An antibiotic is not always the answer.

Say “Noisy Breathing” Instead of “Wheezing”

Wheezing is a musical breath sound, typically heard with a stethoscope. It’s a sign of airway swelling. It’s not the same thing as snotty breathing or rattling in the chest. Your best bet here is to describe the sound you hear literally. If you can hear rattling in your child’s chest, call it rattling. If you hear squeaking, say squeaking. That way, there’s no confusion about what you heard versus what we hear.

Say “Doesn’t Tolerate” Instead of “Allergic”

This one can be tricky. We see a lot of kids diagnosed with an allergy to antibiotics because they cause vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash. Diarrhea is an unfortunate SIDE EFFECT of many antibiotics. It’s because antibiotics do not target just the bad bacteria causing your child’s illness but also the good bacteria in your gut. Hence, diarrhea.

Vomiting can go either way. That’s why it’s important to be clear about the vomit. Does it happen because your child coughs, coughs, coughs, and throws up? The throw-up is from coughing, not the antibiotic.

Does your child swallow the medicine, gag, and then throw up? That’s probably because antibiotics taste yucky.

If your child takes the antibiotic like a champ, then begins to complain of nausea and has unprovoked vomiting, you MAY be dealing with an allergy. It’s worth asking your provider to investigate.

It seems harmless to say your child is “allergic” to an antibiotic. However, completely eliminating an entire category of antibiotics because your child doesn’t like the taste is not a good idea. Instead, advocate for your child, and work with your provider to find a solution. There are compounding pharmacies that can make antibiotic gummies and lollipops and have a much wider variety of flavorings to choose from.

Having clear communication will help both you and our team. KidMed’s pediatric-trained providers have the time and knowledge to work with you and will find the best plan of care for your child.