Conditions covered
340+
reviewed by board-certified pediatricians
Pediatric Condition Library
Understand what's happening. See what comes next.
Every condition explained the way your pediatrician would — with the treatment options laid side-by-side and the decision tree she actually uses. No jargon. No alarm. Just clarity.
Common searches:
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Conditions explained
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Every condition your child might face.
Organized the way a pediatrician thinks — by where it shows up and what it does. Click any category to see treatment comparisons.
Ear & Throat
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Eczema, Diaper Rash
Fever & Flu
Fever, Influenza
Respiratory
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Ear & Throat — 14 conditions
Most searched this weekTreatment comparison
Three pathways. Side by side. Nothing hidden.
This is the same comparison your pediatrician runs through in her head during your appointment — now you can see it before you walk in.
| Treatment pathway | Watchful Waiting | Antibiotic Course | ENT Referral |
|---|---|---|---|
Typical timeline | 48–72 hours | 5–10 days | 1–4 weeks to appointment |
What you'll notice at home | Child is still pulling at ear, but fever is low-grade (under 38.5°C) and they're drinking fluids. Pain is manageable with ibuprofen. | Improvement within 48–72 hours of starting antibiotics. Ear pain decreases, fever resolves, appetite returns. | Child has had 3+ ear infections in 6 months, hearing seems muffled, or fluid persists for 3+ months. |
Call us back if… | Fever rises above 39°C, child stops eating, or symptoms haven't improved by day 3. | No improvement after 72 hours on antibiotics, rash develops, or symptoms worsen. | Sudden hearing loss, facial weakness, or stiff neck — go to the ER immediately. |
Cost & coverage | No prescription needed. Over-the-counter pain relief only. | Prescription required. Most insurance covers amoxicillin at $4–$12. | Specialist copay applies. Tubes surgery if recommended: typically covered by insurance. |
Typically recommended when | Children over 2 with mild symptoms, no fever, or single-ear involvement. | Children under 2, both ears affected, high fever, or watchful waiting failed. | Recurrent infections (3+ in 6 months), persistent fluid, or hearing concerns. |
Showing: Acute Otitis Media (Ear Infection). Tap any column header to highlight that pathway. Every entry is reviewed against American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical guidelines, last updated February 2026.
Clinical decision tree
The if-then logic your pediatrician uses.
Nothing is hidden behind medical authority. This is the actual decision pathway for Acute Otitis Media — ear infection. Expand each step to see the reasoning.
Action legend
Give age-appropriate ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain. Offer extra fluids. Keep your child home from daycare. You do not need antibiotics yet — most ear infections resolve on their own within 48–72 hours. This is not negligent waiting. This is evidence-based medicine.
At this point, your pediatrician will likely prescribe a 5–10 day course of amoxicillin. If your child is allergic to penicillin, there are alternative antibiotics. You should see improvement within 48–72 hours of starting the prescription. If you don't, call back — don't wait.
Book a visit about thisSome ear infections are caused by bacteria resistant to amoxicillin. Your pediatrician may switch to amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) or a different class of antibiotic. This is not a treatment failure — it's the expected next step in the protocol.
Book a visit about thisThese signs may indicate mastoiditis (infection spreading to the bone behind the ear), meningitis, or facial nerve involvement. These are rare but serious complications. Do not wait for a callback. Drive directly to the nearest pediatric emergency room.
At this point, ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes) may be appropriate. This is a 15-minute outpatient procedure done under light anesthesia. Tubes dramatically reduce infection frequency and can improve hearing. An ENT specialist will assess whether your child is a candidate.
Book a visit about thisWhat parents say
Clarity at the worst possible hour.
48
Board-certified pediatricians
340+
AAP guideline reviews
1,200+
Clinical references cited
Feb 2026
Last content audit
“At 2am my daughter had a fever and a rash I didn't recognize. I found Triage, read the Roseola entry, understood it was viral, and went back to sleep knowing exactly what to watch for. No ER trip. No panic spiral.”
Priya Nair
First-time mom, San Jose CA
“I'm a daycare director. I use the Triage comparison tables to make send-home decisions. Before, I was guessing. Now I have a framework that matches what the pediatricians actually tell parents.”
Denise Okafor
Director, Little Explorers Daycare, Atlanta GA
“My co-parent and I live in different cities. When our son got croup, we both read the same Triage page and had the same conversation with his pediatrician. It eliminated the confusion and the disagreement.”
Marcus Webb
Co-parent, Portland OR
Written and reviewed by board-certified pediatricians
Every condition entry on Triage is authored by a practicing pediatrician and reviewed against current AAP clinical practice guidelines. We update entries when guidelines change. We cite our sources. We tell you when evidence is limited. We don't hide uncertainty behind authority.
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