When to Take a Child to the Doctor
Circumstances in which Parents should Get Medical Help for Kids
May 11, 2009
Many childhood illnesses can be treated with home rest and don’t really require medication, eliminating the need to take the child to the doctor. However, there are times when symptoms can get serious and worrisome. This is a big concern for many parents, particularly new parents.
Not sure what warrants medical attention for a child? Here are some circumstances in which parents should promptly get medical help for their kids.
Extreme Body Temperature
A raised body temperature over 39°C (102.2°F) must always be taken seriously. It’s an indication that something is wrong or there may be an infection in the body. If the high body temperature is accompanied by drowsiness, rashes, a stiff neck and headache, waste no time in taking the child to the doctor. These are symptoms of meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and can be deadly if left untreated.
Other temperature-related conditions that require prompt treatment include:
- Body temperature below 35°C (95°F) with cold skin, drowsiness, quietness and listlessness
- Temperature that fluctuates rapidly
- Temperature over 38°C (100.4°F) for more than 24 hours
Diarrhea
When a child passes watery stool continuously for more than six hours and the diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, acute pain in the abdomen and a raised body temperature, a trip to the doctor’s office is crucial.
Nausea and Vomiting
Extreme nausea and violent vomiting are distressing for both parents and child. Take the child to see the doctor if the vomiting lasts more than six hours and/or if it comes with dizziness, headaches and pain in the right side of the abdomen.
Loss of Appetite
If a healthy child with a big appetite suddenly loses interest in food and seems listless, watch out for other symptoms that may indicate a medical problem. These include:
- Loss of appetite with pain and discomfort
- Headaches, nausea and dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Acute pain at regular intervals
- Pain in the right side of the abdomen
- General feeling of unwell
Breathing Difficulty
A child is having breathing difficulty if the breathing is labored and his ribs draw in sharply with every breath that he takes. If there are wheezing sounds and the sensation of suffocation when he breathes, he may be asthmatic.
Sometimes a child may have accidentally swallowed something, choking his airway and causing breathing difficulty. Check his mouth and remove any obvious obstruction. Take the child to the doctor if breathing difficulty persists.
Although kids usually recover from childhood illnesses in due time, there are situations in which prompt medical help is necessary for kids. When a child has an extreme body temperature, prolonged diarrhea, nausea and violent vomiting, loss of appetite and breathing difficulty, parents should take the child to the doctor without further delay.
Found this article useful? Read also Getting Children to See the Doctor, How to Give Children Medicines and Choosing a Family Doctor.
References:
Dr. Stoppard, Miriam. Family Health Guide. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2005
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The Complete Parenting Guide. New South Wales: Focus Publishing, 2005
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