To make the most of your child’s physical exam, please bring the necessary forms provided by the school, sports team, or camp. In Illinois and Indiana, the Departments of Health mandate medical documentation of a physical exam from the previous year for students enrolling in kindergarten through senior year of high school (K-12).

For children aged 6 or younger, coming in for a school physical, bring their vaccination records and any other relevant blood test results (e.g., lead and hemoglobin). This helps ensure efficient and high-quality care for your child.

We prioritize your child’s health and well-being. During a physical exam, our primary goals are to assess their overall health and detect any early signs of illness or disease. We also offer additional screenings for lead, anemia, and tuberculosis (may incur extra costs). Our medical staff will tailor the examination based on your child’s age, gender, and the purpose of the physical. While specific requirements may vary, a typical physical exam includes the following:

• Gathering family and personal medical history.
• Measurements of height and weight.
• Evaluation of flexibility, pulse, posture, joints, and more.
• Vital sign measurements, such as blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate.
• Assessment of body systems, including the lungs, heart, eyes, nose, and ears.

Our medical provider may also ask about alcohol and tobacco consumption, dietary supplement usage, recent immunizations, and sleep habits. For children under 18, parents or legal guardians must be present in the examination room.

If you have any health-related questions or concerns before your child’s physical exam, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly or access the FAQ section right below. You can reach out by phone or connect with us through our online contact form, selecting your nearest Midwest Express Clinic location. A member of our staff will respond within 24 hours to assist you further.

• Hormonal Changes: Nausea can be triggered by hormonal fluctuations, such as those occurring during pregnancy or menopause. Increased estrogen levels during ovulation can also lead to nausea.
• Stomach Flu: Also known as viral gastroenteritis, this intestinal infection can cause symptoms like diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
• Medication: Changes in medication, including starting a new prescription, can sometimes induce nausea. If this side effect becomes unmanageable, consult your prescribing provider, especially if vomiting occurs.
• Alcohol Consumption: Overindulging in alcohol can result in a hangover, often characterized by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Anesthesia: After undergoing surgery involving anesthesia, nausea and vomiting are common side effects.
• Food Poisoning: Consuming contaminated food can lead to food poisoning, with symptoms like nausea and vomiting occurring shortly after ingestion. Allergic reactions to specific foods can also cause nausea.
• Pregnancy: Nausea, commonly referred to as morning sickness, is a prevalent symptom during pregnancy. It can lead to vomiting and may occur at any time of the day. If you suspect you might be pregnant, contact us for a pregnancy test.
• Migraines: Intense migraine headaches can increase intracranial pressure, resulting in nausea and vomiting. This symptom is often associated with throbbing head pain and inflammation.

Our medical providers are ready to assist you. They may ask questions about your symptoms and lifestyle to help identify the underlying cause. In some cases, additional testing may be necessary to reach a diagnosis.
If at-home remedies or over-the-counter medications are not providing relief for your nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, don’t hesitate to visit us. Your well-being is our priority, and we’re here to provide professional care and support during your visit.

• In Adults: Foreign bodies are often found in adults’ ears. Frequently, these objects are insects like cockroaches, ants, moths, and flies. Adults and older children usually notice the object in their ear but may not know how it entered.
• In Young Children: Small objects such as beads, pebbles, food items, buttons, or plastic toys are commonly inserted into young children’s ears voluntarily.

If you suspect an object is stuck in your nose, you might experience discomfort, pain in the affected area, nasal discharge, or bleeding.

Due to the ear canal’s sensitivity, pain in the ear is often the first sign of a foreign object. Other indications may include decreased hearing, bleeding, drainage from the ear, and even nausea or the urge to vomit due to inner ear irritation.

The technique used for foreign body removal depends on the object’s location and type. Common methods include:

• Gentle Suction or Tweezers: Used to grasp the object.
• Magnetized Instruments: Effective for metallic objects in the ear.
• Irrigation: Involves washing the object out of the ear with warm water.
• Soft Rubber Catheter: Utilized for objects lodged in the nose.

Accidents happen, and when you find yourself saying, “I have something stuck in my ear,” or “I have something stuck in my nose,” our medical providers are ready to help. Delaying removal can lead to severe pain or hearing loss. At Midwest Express Clinic, we often perform foreign body removal in our offices, but its success depends on factors like location and object type. For airway blockages or choking, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Don’t hesitate to visit one of our Midwest Express Clinic locations if you have a foreign object stuck in your ear or nose. Your comfort and safety are our top priorities.

Identifying the symptoms of an ear infection is crucial for prompt treatment. Common indicators include:

• Fever
• Ear pain or throbbing
• Feeling of ear congestion or pressure
• Mild hearing difficulties
• Drainage from the ear, which can be clear or thick and yellow
• Dizziness
• Nausea and/or vomiting

When you visit Midwest Express Clinic, our skilled medical providers will conduct a thorough examination of both ears. This examination helps in detecting:

• Redness, air bubbles, or leaking fluid in the middle ear
• Possible perforations in the eardrum
• A collapsed eardrum

In cases where the infection is severe or advanced, we may recommend a head scan to assess its extent beyond the middle ear. Additionally, a hearing test may be suggested to gauge any potential hearing loss.

Our medical providers will tailor a treatment plan to address your specific infection. Treatment options may include:

• Warm compresses
• Ear drops
• Antibiotics
• Ibuprofen

It’s important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

Bleeding from the ear
Severe hearing loss
Suspected eardrum perforation

For individuals experiencing recurrent ear infections, there is the possibility of eardrum scarring over time, potentially leading to hearing and speech difficulties. In such cases, tympanostomy tubes may be recommended. These tiny tubes are inserted into the eardrum to facilitate proper ventilation and drainage of ear fluid, preventing buildup. While they typically fall out naturally, they can also be removed by a healthcare provider when necessary.