As a parent, you want the best for your child. You’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that they are safe, healthy, and well-protected. No matter how diligent your efforts may be, however, there’s one issue that every parent will need to contend with at one point or another: a sick child. Getting sick is a natural part of life, and in most cases, supporting your child by ensuring that they are properly hydrated and get plenty of rest, in time, the illness will resolve on its own. There are times, however, when the symptoms that occur when the body is purging the toxins it has been exposed to can become severe and might warrant a call to the doctor. How should you know when to take your sick child to the doctor, though?
When Should I Take My Sick Child to the Doctor?
A lot of parents – first-time parents, in particular – worry about their children at the first sign of an ailment. A sniffle, a cough, a sore throat, or an upset tummy can send them into a tizzy. Rest assured that, as mentioned above, in most cases, childhood ailments do resolve on their own.
However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pay attention to your child and seek medical help when needed. But how do you know when to call the pediatrician? If your sick child is experiencing the following symptoms, it may be necessary to take them to the doctor – even if it’s just to put your mind at ease.
Additional Information: Fevers and When to See a Doctor
A High Fever
A fever is the body’s natural reaction to warding off an illness. Remember that sickness occurs when the body is exposed to a toxin via ingestion, injection, inhalation, and even through skin absorption. The core body temperature will increase as it tries to ward off the toxin.
Generally speaking, low fevers aren’t a cause for concern and a child should be able to handle it without any intervention; in these cases, administering an over-the-counter fever reducer can actually do more harm than good. With that said, if the child’s temperature is high or if the fever lasts longer than three days, take your sick child to the doctor/pediatrician.
For newborns (less than two months old), a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees F should be assessed by a pediatrician. For children aged three months to one year, a temperature of 102 degrees F or higher should be evaluated. No matter the age, if a child’s fever lasts for more than three days, seeking medical care is recommended.
Trouble Breathing
If your little one is having difficulty breathing, contact your pediatrician. If the pediatrician isn’t available, depending on the severity of the breathing issue, a trip to an urgent care clinic or emergency room may be necessary.
Fast, labored, shallow, or noisy breathing are all causes for concern. If you’ve noticed a change in your child’s breathing and that change is associated with other symptoms, such as lethargy, listlessness, irritability, or changes in skin color (paleness or even turning reddish or bluish), seek immediate emergency medical care.
Severe Vomiting and/or Diarrhea
Vomiting and diarrhea are kind of like rites of passage in childhood. Often, these common ailments aren’t a cause for concern; so long as you ensure your child is well-hydrated and comfortable, the bug that’s causing the expulsion of fluids through these mechanisms should eradicate your child on its own.
That said, if the vomiting and/or diarrhea becomes severe – it’s constant, it doesn’t seem to subside or it intensifies, and/or it lasts for 24 hours or longer, consult a medical professional. Severe vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms/signs of dehydration or can lead to dehydration, which can cause additional health complications.
Infrequent Urination
If your child isn’t urinating as often as they usually do, pay attention. Increase your child’s fluid intake. If that doesn’t seem to resolve the issue or if they refuse to accept fluids, that’s a warning sign.
Infrequent urination can occur for a number of reasons; most commonly, it’s a sign of dehydration. However, there are other factors that can contribute to this problem, such as urinary tract infections. If your baby has several dry diapers or if your toddler isn’t urinating or complains of pain while urinating, visit the doctor.
Caring for a Sick Child
Children are very resilient and often, illnesses resolve on their own; however, if your little one is experiencing any of the above-mentioned issues – or any other symptom that you find concerning – it’s best to err on the side of caution and take your child to an urgent care clinic or visit the doctor.
Additional Information: Feeding Children When They Are Sick
Urgent Care Omaha Walk-In Clinics and in Bellevue, NE
Our staff works to provide prompt, personal, and professional care for all of our patients. We strive to provide the attention patients need in as quick a time as possible. Urgent Care Clinics in Omaha & Bellevue, Nebraska has three locations in the Omaha metropolitan area. Our three walk-in clinics are:
Disclaimer
The information contained on this webpage is for educational purposes as well as to provide general information and general understanding of the pertinent medical issue only, not to provide a specific diagnosis. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. By using this blog/web site you understand there is no doctor patient relationship between you and the blog/web site publisher. The information included on this site should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a licensed medical professional in your state. Neither Urgent Care Network, its subsidiaries, affiliates, assignees or successors in interest, nor any other party assume liability for loss or damage due to reliance on content of this blog/web site. If you are experiencing a severe medical issue, you should seek emergency assistance immediately.
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