o you know when to treat your ailing child yourself, when to see a doctor — and when to head for the emergency room?
“The trick is learning to spot the difference between a minor problem and a major crisis,” says Dr. Casey Drake, interim chief of the clinical service of general pediatrics at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. “Not every tummy ache needs a doctor’s care, and not every cut needs stitches. But if you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution.”
These guidelines can help you decide.
See your doctor if a child’s condition worsens despite your home treatment. For example: If your child started with a cold but now is lethargic, has a fever and is coughing up thick phlegm, the condition may have turned into bronchitis, which requires prescription antibiotics. Take your child to the doctor if the child:
- Is younger than 6 weeks old and appears to be sick.
- Has a temperature higher than 101 degrees.
- Has heavy congestion, a sore throat, swollen tonsils or other symptoms that indicate an infection that requires antibiotics.
- Has a rash.
- Is dehydrated (such as from vomiting).
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if the child:
- Has difficulty breathing.
- Is seriously scalded or burned.
- Has a head injury.
- Has an injury to the eyes or ears.
- Is short of breath.
- Has a broken bone.
- Has a cut that won’t stop bleeding.
If the child has been poisoned, call a poison control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.
