Asthma & Wheezing
The staff at After Hour Pediatrics is very experienced treating asthma, conditions that cause wheezing such as bronchitis and bronchiolitis, and croup. We can give nebulizer or aerochamber treatments if your child has trouble breathing, and injections for severe breathing problems.
Common Questions
A: It can be hard to tell. If your child has trouble breathing, noisy breathing, or difficulty speaking, we recommend a visit. The experts at After Hour Pediatrics can make the diagnosis and treat your child.
A: At After Hour Pediatrics, a good physical exam and measurement of oxygen saturation is the first step to making a treatment plan. Usually, we treat with an inhaled asthma medication given via a nebulizer or aerochamber. Sometimes we need to give oral steroids or an epinephrine injection if the wheezing is severe or caused by an allergic trigger (anaphylaxis).
Croup
Croup is caused by a respiratory virus in the same way one catches the cold or a flu.
Common Questions
A: Croup causes a barky cough and a characteristic noise called stridor which is caused by the narrowing of the airway.
A: Croup is treated with moist air from a humidifier and comfort care. Sometimes children need a steroid medication or an inhalation treatment if their croup is severe. After Hour Pediatrics can provide those treatments.
A: If your child has persistent barky cough that doesn’t improve with home care, or has stridor and trouble breathing, he should be seen.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a viral infection that causes the airways (bronchioles) in the lungs to become narrow, which makes breathing difficult. It occurs most often in children under age 2 during winter and early spring. Very rarely, adults can get bronchiolitis.
Common Questions
A: After Hour Pediatric doctors can make the diagnosis based upon your child’s symptoms and physical exam and can perform a rapid test for Respiratory Syncytial Virus or “RSV”, the most common virus that causes bronchiolitis.
A: Most of the time, children improve on their own and suffer symptoms similar to a cold. Very rarely, they need hospitalization to improve their ability to breathe.
A: You should come in right away if your child has trouble breathing or severe wheezing and hasn’t responded to treatment at home.
We are a family-friendly children’s urgent care and minor emergency center in downtown San Mateo
For over 20 years, we have provided pediatric urgent medical care to babies, children and young adults from San Mateo, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, San Carlos, Belmont, Redwood City, and Foster City. The clinic is staffed by Board Certified pediatricians, is easy to find, and has parking right outside the door.
Our clinic is open for Urgent Care after hours when your child’s doctor is unavailable. We recommend you make an appointment so we can prepare for your arrival, please fill out all the forms and upload your insurance information. We have a limited number of walk-in spots each night.
Questions & Answers
A: We treat Urgent Care patients from birth to age 26. If we are very busy, we give younger children priority and may ask the young adult to be seen in Adult Urgent Care.
A: You should come to After Hour Pediatrics if your child requires urgent care when your pediatrician or primary care physician’s office is closed. We are a convenient and affordable alternative to the Emergency Room. If the injury or illness is life-threatening, you should go to the nearest hospital.
We are open 365 days a year, Monday-Friday 5pm -10pm and Weekends/Holidays 10am-10pm.
If you are in doubt about whether to come and visit us please call us at 650-579-6581
A: The typical visit requires 30 -60 minutes depending on the services you need. If you need lab tests, breathing treatments or a procedure performed, you may be in the office for longer. During surge of illnesses or patients with emergencies, wait times can be longer.
For Urgent Care, you can “Save a Spot” or drop in. We see walk in patients in the order that they arrive with exceptions for critically ill children or those at high-risk. We do our best to see “Saved Spots” on time, and always leave openings for walk in patients.
- We believe sick or injured children should be seen by a pediatrician. Other urgent care facilities may have pediatric rooms or areas designated for children, but they are not staffed with clinicians who have specialized training in pediatrics.
- We are ideally located in downtown San Mateo, 10 minutes from San Francisco airport.
- We offer free parking right outside our front door.
- We are child friendly, caring, compassionate and gentle.
- We will work with your child’s primary physician, informing them about your visit and ensuring they are fully briefed about your child’s medical situation as soon as possible.
- We are independently run so you can talk to us about financial pressures. We might be able to help.