Pediatric Health & Child Health
Ask Asha about your child's health. Built by Paridhi Anand, MD, a double board-certified pediatrician with over 15 years of clinical experience. Age-appropriate, evidence-based guidance.
Questions Parents Ask Asha
Children's health questions can't always wait until your next pediatrician visit. Asha provides evidence-based information to help parents make informed decisions:
Fever & Illness
“My 18-month-old has a 102°F fever. When should I be worried?” Asha provides age-appropriate fever guidance from AAP and pediatric guidelines.
Vaccines
“What vaccines does my child need at 12 months?” Asha references current CDC/AAP immunization schedules with evidence for each recommendation.
Development Milestones
“My 2-year-old isn't talking yet. Should I be concerned?” Asha provides developmental milestone information from pediatric literature.
Nutrition
“When can I introduce peanuts to my baby?” Asha cites current allergy introduction guidelines, including the LEAP trial evidence.
Common Conditions
“My child keeps getting ear infections. What does the evidence say about treatment vs. watchful waiting?”
Behavioral Health
“How do I know if my child's anxiety is normal or needs professional help?” Asha provides screening-level information from child psychiatry guidelines.
Why Trust Asha for Pediatric Questions
Asha was co-created by Paridhi Anand, MD, a double board-certified pediatrician with extensive experience in behavioral health, collaborative care, and preventive medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals. Pediatric safety is built into the architecture:
- Age-appropriate context: Asha adjusts its responses based on the age of the child. A fever in a 2-month-old is treated very differently from a fever in a 5-year-old.
- Pediatric emergency detection: Asha's emergency detection includes pediatric-specific red flags (high fever in neonates, signs of dehydration, respiratory distress in infants).
- Current guidelines: Asha references the latest AAP, CDC, and WHO pediatric guidelines, not outdated advice.
- No prescribing: Asha will never recommend specific medication doses for children, which is especially critical in pediatrics where dosing is weight-dependent.
When to Call the Pediatrician
Asha can help you understand symptoms and guidelines, but some situations always warrant a call or visit to your pediatrician:
- Fever in a baby under 3 months old (any temperature above 100.4°F / 38°C)
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- Refusal to eat or drink, especially in infants
- Signs of dehydration (no wet diapers for 6+ hours, no tears when crying)
- Rash with fever
- Lethargy or difficulty waking
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Any concern that makes you feel your child needs medical attention
Helpful Resources for Parents
- AAP HealthyChildren.org: healthychildren.org, the American Academy of Pediatrics resource for families
- CDC Milestones: Act Early milestones, a developmental milestone tracker
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222, available 24/7 for poisoning emergencies