Disclaimer: I am neither a doctor nor did not take any Medicine-related course. For further questions, you can consult and confirm with your child’s pediatrician.
Admit it. One of the parents’ worst nightmares is bringing a child in the Emergency Room or ER. Unless you are a doctor or someone knowledgeable in the medical field, differentiating ER-worthy cases from not can be difficult for parents. This could get worse when panic gets in the way because we can’t think clearly and rationally.
I had my fair share of ER trips, especially with my eldest. I’m not really a panicky-kind of mother, but when temperature hits 40, coupled with vomiting, cough, and colds, I had the tendency to bring her to the ER. I don’t know what’s happening, I am no expert in the medical field, and I don’t trust Google that much especially when it comes to medical conditions, so my first choice would be ER. Thankfully, none of those ER trips resulted to confinement and we were discharged the same day.
Then, I have classmates and schoolmates who are now doctors. I saw their posts about parents bringing their kids to ER for the simplest reasons and then get mad if they are not attended to immediately. While the doctors would want to check on your child, there are certain situations that don’t require immediate response like sore eyes, simple wound care, fever of less than one day, and rashes.
So, with the help of doctor friends, I decided to come up with this post about signs and symptoms that warrant a child’s trip to the Emergency Room.
- Persistent fever for THREE DAYS.
- Fever of above 38 degrees for a child LESS THAN three months old.
- Episodes of seizure.
- Persistent vomiting and diarrhea.
- No urine output for eight hours or more.
- No oral intake (since this could result to dehydration).
- A temperature of 40 degrees AND with family history of seizure. Generally, a 40-degree temperature are managed as outpatient since high fever is normally expected when the child is ill.
- Any alteration of consciousness.
- Difficulty in breathing.
- Chest pains.
- Profuse bleeding.
- Any form of trauma or accident that led to blackout or the child becomes unresponsive / unconscious.
- Any other situations that could compromise the child’s airway, breathing, and circulation.
- Life and limb threatening trauma.
Oh, and in case a child vomits, DO NOT give fluids after. Allow the child’s tummy to rest for two hours then try giving oral solution or small snacks like soup or crackers again to prevent dehydration.
Surely, the medical professionals in-charged would want to check up on our kids as soon as we enter the door. Nonetheless, there are certain situations wherein the need is not immediate. Don’t feel bad if you weren’t attended to immediately (and eventually rant in social media for “inefficiency”), especially when the symptoms you described are not included in the list. Stay calm, take a deep breath, and assess whether a trip to the ER is really necessary.
Ayi is a stay-at-home mom of two. When her kids are in their best state, she keeps up with chores, work, and ensuring that her sanity is intact. Join her as she navigates through this rollercoaster ride called motherhood.
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