When your child is feeling under the weather, it can be tough to know whether their symptoms are serious enough to warrant a trip to urgent care. If you’re unsure whether your child’s symptoms are cause for concern, read on for a rundown of some common pediatric urgent care symptoms and how to treat them.
Fever: A fever is usually a sign that your child’s body is fighting off an infection. Most fevers can be treated at home with over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. However, if your child’s fever is above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, lasts longer than three days, or is accompanied by other worrisome symptoms (like vomiting or a rash), it’s time to seek medical attention.
Cough: A cough is another common symptom of illness in children. In most cases, a cough can be treated at home with rest, plenty of fluids, andG honey if your child is over one year old. However, if your child is having difficulty breathing, their cough sounds wet or rattly, or they’re coughing up blood, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. These could all be signs of a more serious infection.
Vomiting: Vomiting is common in children, and usually isn’t cause for alarm as long as your child is able to keep down fluids and doesn’t seem dehydrated. However, if your child vomits more than once and shows signs of dehydration (like dry lips or little to no urine output), please take them to see a doctor right away. Dehydration can be very dangerous—especially for young children—and requires prompt medical treatment.
In some cases, vomiting can be a sign of more serious issues such as an infection or abdominal pain. If your child’s vomiting persists for more than 24 hours, if it’s accompanied by a fever, if they seem bloated and uncomfortable, or if there is blood in the vomit, you should take them to see a doctor right away.
Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also very common in children, and usually isn’t serious as long as your child is able to keep down fluids and doesn’t seem dehydrated. However, if the diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours or your child shows signs of dehydration (like dry lips or little to no urine output), please take them to see a doctor right away. In some cases, diarrhea can be a sign of more serious issues such as an infection or abdominal pain. If your child’s diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, if it’s accompanied by a fever, if they seem bloated and uncomfortable, or if there is blood in the stool
Conclusion:
If your child is experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s important to use your best judgement to decide whether they need urgent care or not. In most cases, you can treat minor illnesses at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medication. However, if you’re ever in doubt about whether your child’s symptoms are cause for concern, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and seek medical attention right away. Better safe than sorry!