Telehealth, or virtual visits, uses secure video conferencing to connect children and their caregivers with medical professionals remotely. This allows pediatric care to be delivered conveniently from home, which is helpful for families with busy schedules or those living far from specialized clinics. For parents seeking timely answers about their child’s symptoms, telehealth provides a rapid assessment pathway. While not a replacement for comprehensive in-person examinations, this technology expands access to care.
Acute Minor Illnesses
Telehealth is effective for triaging and managing many common, acute childhood illnesses that do not present with severe symptoms. Clinicians can guide parents through a focused history and observation-based physical examination to assess conditions like mild colds or seasonal allergies. For children experiencing a mild cough, congestion, or a low-grade fever, a virtual visit can help determine if the illness is self-limiting and can be managed with supportive care at home.
Gastrointestinal issues, such as minor episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, can often be addressed virtually, provided there are no signs of significant dehydration or lethargy. A provider can assess the child’s hydration status by observing their activity level and asking about urine output and tear production. For established patients, symptoms suggestive of a urinary tract infection (UTI) can be discussed, though a definitive diagnosis and treatment often require a follow-up urine test at a clinic. Telehealth helps reduce the spread of highly contagious illnesses by keeping potentially sick children out of waiting rooms.
Skin and Eye Conditions Suitable for Visual Diagnosis
Many dermatologic conditions are particularly well-suited for a telehealth assessment because the visual appearance is central to the diagnosis. High-quality video and static images allow providers to evaluate mild rashes, such as eczema flare-ups, diaper rash, or contact dermatitis. Clinicians can accurately diagnose common infections like ringworm or impetigo by visually inspecting the lesions and discussing the symptom progression with the parent.
Mild allergic reactions, including hives or localized swelling, can also be assessed via video, allowing the provider to determine the severity and recommend appropriate medication. For ocular conditions, conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is one of the most frequent diagnoses made through telehealth. The visual symptoms of redness, discharge, and eyelid crusting are often clearly visible on camera, enabling the provider to prescribe treatment or advise on at-home care.
Chronic Condition Management and Follow-Up Care
Telehealth offers a convenient method for the ongoing management of established physical chronic conditions, moving beyond acute illness care. Virtual visits are frequently used for routine check-ins, medication adjustments, and prescription refills for stable conditions like mild asthma or allergies. The provider relies on patient reports of symptoms, home monitoring data such as peak flow readings for asthma, or blood sugar logs for diabetes.
This remote approach helps families maintain consistent care without the disruption of frequent office visits. Telehealth appointments can be used to discuss nutrition and weight management strategies or to review developmental progress for children with long-term conditions.
Behavioral and Mental Health Consultations
The virtual setting has proven highly valuable for delivering pediatric behavioral and mental health services due to the focus on communication and observation. Telehealth appointments are effective for initial screening and follow-up management of conditions like anxiety, mild depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The flexibility of video calls also facilitates parent coaching for common behavioral problems, allowing clinicians to observe family dynamics within the child’s natural environment.
For adolescents, teletherapy and telepsychiatry have shown similar effectiveness to in-person sessions. Providers can conduct medication evaluations and ongoing management for psychiatric medications in short, focused virtual appointments. Telehealth also improves access to mental health specialists, particularly in rural or underserved areas where in-person providers are scarce.
When In-Person Care is Necessary
Despite the broad utility of telehealth, certain symptoms and conditions require an immediate physical examination or specialized equipment that cannot be replicated remotely. Any child presenting with difficulty breathing, regardless of the cause, must be seen in person or taken to an emergency department immediately. High fever in an infant, especially if accompanied by lethargy, is another red flag that necessitates hands-on assessment to rule out serious infections.
Severe pain, significant head trauma, deep lacerations that may require stitches, or signs of severe dehydration, such as sunken eyes or a lack of urination, all indicate the need for in-person care. Conditions that require immediate lab work, such as a throat culture for strep throat or blood draws, cannot be diagnosed solely through a virtual visit.