Online Pediatrician / Child Doctor

When your child isn't feeling well, even a small change can leave you wondering whether you should wait, call your GP, or take them to a clinic. Sometimes you simply need a doctor to listen, ask the right questions and help you understand what to do next.

With DoctorCareOnline, parents and guardians can speak with a doctor online about common, non-urgent childhood concerns. The consultation takes place by video, with the parent or guardian present throughout the appointment.

You can discuss symptoms such as a mild fever, cough, cold symptoms, minor rashes, stomach complaints or other concerns that may be suitable for remote assessment. The doctor will ask about your child's symptoms, medical history, medicines and any relevant allergies before deciding whether online care is appropriate.

If your child needs a physical examination, testing or urgent medical attention, the doctor will explain that clearly rather than trying to manage something that is not suitable for a video consultation.

This service is for non-urgent care.

When your child is unwell, you want a clear answer — not more guessing

A child who suddenly develops a fever, a persistent cough or an unusual rash can make any parent worry.

You may be asking yourself:

• “Does my child need to see a doctor?”
• “Can I wait and see if it gets better?”
• “Is this rash something I should be concerned about?”
• “What can I safely do at home?”
• “Do we really need to travel to a clinic?”

An online pediatric consultation can be a useful first step for non-urgent concerns. You can explain what you've noticed, show the doctor what is happening where appropriate, and get practical guidance about what to do next.

A parent or legal guardian must be present during the consultation.

What can you discuss with an online child doctor?

An online consultation may be suitable for common childhood concerns such as:

• Mild fever or temperature concerns
• Coughs, colds and mild respiratory symptoms
• Sore throat or general cold symptoms
• Minor rashes or skin changes
• Mild stomach or digestive complaints
• Vomiting or diarrhoea when there are no emergency warning signs
• Feeding or general wellbeing concerns
• Questions about a child's symptoms after a previous medical assessment
• Medication questions or follow-up concerns
• Other non-urgent symptoms that you are unsure about

The doctor will decide whether your child's symptoms can reasonably be assessed through an online consultation.

If you're unsure whether this service is appropriate, you can start with an online GP consultation and explain your concern.

What happens during an online pediatric consultation?

You don't need to prepare a complicated list of information.

Before the appointment, it helps to have your child's:

• Current symptoms and when they started
• Temperature, if you've measured it
• Current medicines or supplements
• Known allergies
• Relevant medical history
• Any recent changes that may be important

During the video consultation, the doctor will ask questions about your child's symptoms and general condition. Depending on the concern, they may also ask you to show something on camera, such as a visible rash.

The doctor will then explain what they think may be happening, what you can do next and whether your child needs further assessment.

If an in-person examination, testing or another type of care is needed, they will tell you rather than trying to manage the problem remotely.

Can a pediatrician prescribe medication online?

Sometimes, but only when the doctor considers it clinically appropriate after assessing your child.

A prescription is never guaranteed simply because you book an appointment. The doctor needs to consider your child's symptoms, age, medical history, allergies and other relevant factors before deciding whether medication is appropriate.

For ongoing medicines, you can also explore our prescription renewal service.

Why parents choose an online child doctor

No unnecessary journey when home is enough

If your child has a mild, non-urgent problem, travelling to a clinic can be difficult — particularly when they're tired, uncomfortable or contagious.

A video appointment lets you speak with a doctor from somewhere your child already feels comfortable.

You can explain what you've noticed

Parents often notice small changes before anyone else does. During the consultation, you can explain exactly what you've seen, when it started and whether anything has changed.

That context can be helpful to the doctor when deciding what should happen next.

Clear advice about when to seek further care

One of the most useful parts of a consultation can be knowing what to watch for after the appointment.

If the doctor believes your child needs an in-person assessment, they'll explain why and what type of care may be appropriate.

Is online pediatric care right for every child?

No — and that's important.

Online consultations work best when the child's condition can be assessed safely without a physical examination or immediate testing.

A video consultation may not be appropriate when your child needs:

• A physical examination
• Blood tests or other diagnostic testing
• Immediate treatment
• Emergency assessment
• Hospital care
• Monitoring that cannot be safely provided remotely

The doctor may recommend in-person care if they cannot safely assess the situation online.

When should you seek urgent medical help?

Do not wait for an online appointment if your child appears seriously unwell.

Seek urgent medical attention if your child has severe difficulty breathing, becomes unusually difficult to wake, has a seizure, has signs of severe dehydration, develops a serious allergic reaction, or you are seriously concerned about their immediate safety.

Infants under 3 months with a fever need urgent in-person medical assessment.

If you believe your child is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your local emergency service or go to the nearest emergency department. In Spain and across much of Europe, the emergency number is 112.

What if I need another type of doctor?

You don't always know which service you need before speaking with someone.

For a general health concern, you can explore our online doctor consultation or online GP consultation.

For a skin concern, our online dermatologist service may be more suitable.

For concerns affecting your child's emotional wellbeing or mental health, you can also explore our mental health online doctor service.

You can also browse our doctors to see available clinicians before booking.

Care for families across Europe

DoctorCareOnline provides online healthcare for residents, travellers and expats across European countries.

You can explore healthcare options for Spain, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

If you're travelling with children and your child becomes unwell abroad, online care can provide a convenient way to discuss a non-urgent concern without first trying to navigate an unfamiliar healthcare system.

Your child's safety comes first

Convenience should never come before safety.

If a doctor believes your child's symptoms need an examination, testing or urgent treatment, online care is not the right endpoint. You will be advised to seek the appropriate in-person care.

That's why this service is designed for non-urgent childhood concerns, not emergencies.

For more information about how online consultations work, visit our FAQs or read our online pediatrician guide.

Ready to speak with a doctor about your child?

If something about your child's health is worrying you and the situation is not an emergency, you can book an online pediatrician appointment.

Have your child nearby during the consultation and keep any relevant medication or medical information available.

If you're still unsure whether online care is appropriate, you can contact our team before booking.