Skin Infection, Impetigo, Abscess
It can be hard for a parent to know what is causing a child’s skin problem. We see patients with all types of skin troubles at After Hour Pediatrics. Whether it’s a small splinter, a serious burn, or a severe skin infection, we do our best to make your child comfortable as we provide care for them.
It can be very hard to tell by looking. Most skin infections are warm, red and very painful. If in doubt, come in for a visit. Some skin infections can get worse very quickly.
Impetigo is an infection of the skin caused by Strep or Staph bacteria. It can look like small scabs or red, crusty scratches and needs to be treated with prescription antibiotic ointment or oral medication. It usually forms around the lips, nose or eyes.
An abscess is a collection of pus that usually needs to be drained. It is usually red, filled with yellow fluid and very painful. We can drain small abscesses at our clinic.
Burns
Ouch! Burns hurt a lot! All burns can be treated with cool water and wet towels until your child is seen for care.
At After Hour Pediatrics, our staff can evaluate and treat First and Second Degree burns. We recommend that severe burns that include the face and genitalia be treated at a hospital.
A: First Degree burns involve the outer layer of skin. Sunburns are in this category. The skin is red and painful to the touch.
A: Second Degree burns involve the first and second layers of skin. The skin is bright red, very painful and will blister. Immediately cover the burn with a cool, moist cloth and come to the clinic for assessment.
A: Third degree burns cause the skin to look black or appear dry and white. All Third Degree burns should be treated in the Emergency Room. Cover the burn with a cool moist cloth until you obtain treatment.
A: Burns are hard to evaluate. If the burn has blistering, is larger than 2 inches, or involves the hands, feet or face, we recommend a visit. If the burn is severe and may need hospital treatment, you can drop by for a quick assessment by our doctor or nurse, who can then refer you to further care if we cannot assist you.
A: Put the burned part under cold water for 10 minutes. This will help to relieve the pain and decrease the burn depth. Cover it loosely with a soft, moist cloth. Do not apply ointments or creams prior to the visit.
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.