Pediatric Care

 

Any time your child becomes sick or injured, it can be scary. You may not know what to do. Should you take him or her to the doctor? Do they need to go to an urgent care, ER, or their pediatrician? If you have any question about your child’s health, you should call his or her doctor or call us to ask a question.

Remember to call 911 for any life threatening conditions.

Here are a few common pediatric conditions to be aware of:

 

Fever

 

Children 4 weeks of age or younger who have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, parents should immediately take the child to an emergency center.

Infants between 4 and 8 weeks of age with fever of 100.4 degrees or higher should be taken to an emergency center if the infant is acting sick, otherwise contact your pediatrician’s office for instructions.

Children older than 8 weeks with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, parents should contact their pediatrician or come to the urgent care.  If your child is vaccinated there is less of a chance of a serious illness, if unvaccinated there is a much higher chance your child has a serious illness.

Children older than 6 months of age with a fever of 100.4 or higher can often be treated during the first 24 to 48 hours with medicine to reduce fever for comfort (Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen) and fluids to maintain hydration.

You should always contact your physician or consider visit an urgent care if the fever persists for more than 48 hours, or if your child looks sick despite attempting fever reduction and fluids.

 

Respiratory Distress

 

Children having difficulty breathing often show signs of labored breathing or respiratory distress. This is a list of some of the signs that may indicate that your child is not getting enough oxygen. It is important to learn the signs of respiratory distress to know how to respond appropriately:

• Breathing rate. An increase in the number of breaths per minute may indicate that a person is having trouble breathing or not getting enough oxygen.
• Increased heart rate. Low oxygen levels may cause an increase in heart rate.
• Color changes. A bluish color seen around the mouth, on the inside of the lips, or on the fingernails may occur when a person is not getting as much oxygen as needed. The color of the skin may also appear pale or gray.
• Grunting. A grunting sound can be heard each time the child exhales. This grunting is the body’s way of trying to keep air in the lungs so they will stay open.
• Nose flaring. The openings of the nose spreading open while breathing may indicate that a child is having to work harder to breathe.
• Retractions. The chest appears to sink just below the neck and/or under the breastbone with each breath — one way of trying to bring more air into the lungs.
• Sweating. There may be increased sweat on the head, but the skin does not feel warm to the touch. More often, the skin may feel cool or clammy. This may happen when the breathing rate is very fast.
• Wheezing. A tight, whistling or musical sound heard with each breath may indicate that the air passages may be smaller, making it more difficult to breathe.
• Stridor. A sound heard in the upper airway when the child breathes in.
• Changes in alertness. Low oxygen levels may cause your child to act more tired and may indicate respiratory fatigue.

With mild signs of respiratory distress, come to an urgent care.  If your child has moderate or severe respiratory distress then go directly to the emergency room.

Dehydration

Infants and small children can become dehydrated quickly.

Contact your doctor or come to the urgent care if your child has any of the following:

• Dry mouth
• 1-2 episodes of vomiting

An emergency room visit is warranted for:

• No urine output for over a period of four to six hours
• Sunken eyes
• Blood in the stool
• Vomiting for more than 24 hours, or vomiting that is consistently green in color
• Fever higher than 103 F (39.4 C)
• Less activity than usual
• Urination much less than usual
• If your child is lethargic (difficult to awaken)
• If your child is complaining of severe abdominal pain

A variety of other conditions may warrant an urgent care or emergency center visit including:

• Big cuts or lacerations
• Head injuries
• Broken bones or fractures
• Serious burns
• Allergic reactions

If the condition doesn’t appear life threatening and you have any questions, feel free to call us at 512-252-9094 so we can provide some guidance.