As a parent, you’re faced with more than your share of experiences with a sick child. It can be difficult to determine whether their ailment requires a visit to a healthcare provider or if your best bet is to tough it out at home. If your child is sick during your pediatrician’s business hours, it’s generally a good idea to call the office and speak with a nurse regarding your child’s symptoms. The nurse can evaluate the ailment and recommend anything from cough medicine for kids or suggest coming into the office.
But what do you do when it’s outside business hours, and your child is sick? To determine the best step to take to treat your sick kid, read on for some recommendations.
Fever
Fevers are prevalent among children and are the primary ailment parents call their pediatricians about. Fevers are an indicator of another ailment and are the body’s way of attempting to fight off an illness. But not all fevers require a trip to a healthcare provider and typically depend on the temperature your child is showing.
For newborn to 3-month-old babies, a temperature above 100.4 degrees will require a trip to the pediatrician or other healthcare provider. A fever over 102 degrees would require a doctor’s visit for children older than three months old. If your child has a fever for more than three days, even if it is under 100.4 degrees in children under three months or 102 degrees in children older than three months, you should have them see a doctor.
Cold Symptoms
The cold is also a common illness for children and is an airborne virus that spreads from person to person. Some symptoms you will notice in a child with the common cold are cough, chest congestion, or scratchy throat. Cough medicine for kids can help relieve these symptoms and typically doesn’t require a trip to the pediatrician. However, if your child develops an earache, has a fever of 102 degrees, or experiences labored breathing, discontinue the use of cough medicine for kids who begin exhibiting these symptoms and contact your child’s doctor. Additionally, if you provide cough medicine for kids for a period longer than ten days without your child showing signs of getting better, you’ll want to schedule a doctor’s appointment.
Respiratory Issues
For children who are experience challenges with breathing, such as labored or difficulty breathing, it’s best to visit a doctor. When your child has a cold, they may exhibit some breathing difficulties, but that will be in conjunction with other common cold symptoms. If your child has a cold, be on the lookout for changes to their breathing, such as wheezing, fast breathing, or noisy breathing. The cold can quickly turn into pneumonia or bronchitis, requiring a trip to the doctor, so stay alert for any breathing changes in your child.
Dehydration, Diarrhea, and Vomiting
Diarrhea and vomiting are not uncommon in children when it happens infrequently. However, suppose your child continues to experience diarrhea and vomiting over 24 hours. In that case, it could signify that they are dehydrated, so you want to provide them with plenty of fluids. If that doesn’t work, it’s a good idea to talk with your child’s doctor. Another sign that it’s time for a pediatrician appointment is if your child begins showcasing other signs of dehydration, including dry mouth, discolored urine, fever, and infrequent urination, especially if these signs show at the same time.
Skin Rashes
Another common occurrence with children is skin rashes, but not all of them are cause for concern. Eczema is the most common rash in children and can be treated at home. For other rashes, you can begin treating them at home but keep an eye on any changes or lack thereof. If the rash gets worse, if the child starts to feel pain at the rash site, or if you aren’t sure what the rash is, it’s a good idea to talk with your child’s pediatrician.
Conclusion
Seeing your child suffer from any type of illness can be difficult for parents. You don’t want to see your child in pain, and you want to do whatever you can to help them. Practice your best judgment and seek out treatments where you can stay at home, but if you are at all nervous about your child’s condition, speak with their doctor.
