Advanced Pediatric Acute Care in Dubai

Yes, we prioritise same-day sick child appointments and accept walk-in visits when clinic capacity allows. For the fastest service, we recommend calling ahead so we can allocate a slot for your child. Early morning weekday visits tend to have the highest availability. If your child has severe symptoms such as high fever with lethargy, difficulty breathing, or signs of dehydration, please call us immediately so we can triage appropriately and ensure they are seen without delay.

You should go directly to the emergency room if your child has difficulty breathing or laboured breathing with chest retractions, a fever above 38 degrees Celsius in an infant under 3 months, seizures or convulsions, unresponsiveness or extreme lethargy, persistent vomiting preventing any fluid intake for more than 6 to 8 hours, signs of severe dehydration such as no wet nappies for over 8 hours, a rapidly spreading purplish rash, or severe abdominal pain. For all other acute illness symptoms, our paediatric clinic can provide same-day assessment and treatment, potentially avoiding long emergency department waits.

Our paediatricians follow evidence-based guidelines that reserve antibiotic use for confirmed or strongly suspected bacterial infections. Most childhood illnesses including the common cold, bronchiolitis, viral gastroenteritis, and many ear infections are caused by viruses and do not benefit from antibiotics. When bacterial infection is suspected, clinical findings such as the appearance of the eardrum, throat examination, or results from point-of-care tests guide the decision. Unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to antibiotic resistance and can cause side effects, so we only prescribe them when they are genuinely needed.

Yes, you may give age-appropriate paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen before your clinic visit to keep your child comfortable. Fever itself is not dangerous in most cases; it is the body's natural response to infection. Giving an antipyretic before the visit will not interfere with our assessment or mask the underlying cause. Please note the time and dose of any medication given so our paediatrician can factor this into their evaluation. If the fever does not respond to antipyretics, is very high (above 40 degrees Celsius), or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, seek care promptly.

Yes, our clinic is equipped with nebulisation devices and spacer chambers for immediate bronchodilator administration. If your child arrives with acute wheezing, croup, or an asthma exacerbation, our paediatrician will assess severity and administer nebulised salbutamol or other bronchodilators as clinically indicated. Response to treatment is monitored, and if symptoms do not improve adequately, further management or hospital referral will be arranged. For children with known asthma, we also review their maintenance therapy, inhaler technique, and asthma action plan during acute visits.

A typical sick child consultation takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on the complexity of the presentation and whether on-site testing or treatment is needed. If nebulisation therapy is required, additional time for treatment and monitoring response is needed, which may extend the visit to 45 to 60 minutes. If point-of-care tests are performed, results are usually available within minutes. Our goal is to provide thorough assessment and clear treatment plans efficiently so that your child can return home to rest and recover.

Yes, recurrent ear infections are a common concern that our paediatricians address by evaluating for underlying contributing factors. These may include adenoid hypertrophy, eustachian tube dysfunction, allergic rhinitis, passive smoke exposure, or childcare-related exposure. For children meeting criteria for recurrent acute otitis media, typically three or more episodes in six months or four or more in twelve months, we discuss preventive strategies and may refer to a paediatric ENT specialist for consideration of tympanostomy tubes (grommets) or adenoidectomy.

Yes, we manage acute gastroenteritis in children through clinical assessment of dehydration severity, oral rehydration therapy with appropriate solutions, and dietary guidance for recovery. Most children with mild to moderate dehydration can be managed successfully with oral rehydration in the clinic and at home. We assess for signs of severe dehydration, provide detailed instructions on fluid and electrolyte replacement, advise on the BRAT diet and gradual reintroduction of normal foods, and prescribe anti-emetics when appropriate. Children with severe dehydration or inability to tolerate oral fluids are referred for intravenous rehydration.