When to Take Your Child to the Doctor
Dealing with Sick Kids
By Dr. Mike Pappas

When you as a parent are dealing with a sick child, one of the most important questions you will be confronted with is when to take your sick child to see the doctor. I have approached the topic by different age groups, because different signs and symptoms vary with age.

The most fragile age group, which is the newborn to 1 month of age baby, can get sick hard and fast. Within minutes to hours, these little ones can become overwhelmed and die. If you see any of the following, it’s a sure sign to see your doctor:

Fever of more than 100.4 degrees F. (taken rectally)
Your baby stops eating normally
Uncontrollable crying, and you cannot console your baby
Vomiting that continues for more than 8-12 hours
Bowel movements than happen more than 8 times a day
The belly button is red
Pink eye
White patches on the tongue and inside the mouth

Now, let’s move on to the older baby, age 1 month to 1 year. Watch out for the following warning signs, and if present, take in your little one:

Fever greater than 100.4 degrees F (rectally) in babies less than 3 months of age
Fever greater than 101 degrees F (rectally) in babies aged 3 – 6 months
Fever greater than 104 degrees F (rectally) in babies older than 6 months
Refusal to eat at multiple feedings
Extreme irritability
Extreme drowsiness

For the child who is from 1 year of age to 18 years, there are a lot, but I’ve included the most important. If you see any one of these, take your treasure in to see your doctor.

Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Earache
Terrible headache
Any discharge from the ear or eye
Extreme sleepiness
A loss of control of the arm, leg, or other part of the body
Stiff neck
Yellow hue to skin or eyes
Any trouble breathing
Throwing up for more than 12 hours
Blurred vision
Throwing up blood
Severe stomach pain
Blood or mucous in the stool
Painful urination
Pus from a cut or scrape
Fast and developing rash over most of the body

Great! Now I’ve scared you to death. That’s really not what I’m trying to do. It’s just that by recognizing some of these signs early, and acting on them, you can prevent something more serious from happening.

As for the “common” sicknesses that happen at home, most can be treated with the “common sense” approach:

Minor rashes, scrapes, and cuts can be treated with an over-the-counter antiseptic and a band-aidIf your child has the cold or flu, keep him/her hydratedIf your child has a low-grade temperature (outside of the parameters I set above) administer some children’s Tylenol or MotrinIf your child acts tired, let him rest

Despite this laundry list that I have provided for you, I strongly believe that most of the time, you will have to go with your gut feeling. If you are just not feeling right about your child, get on the phone and call your doc. As a pediatrician and intensive care doctor, I know that I would rather see your sick child early, instead of late.

About the Author:

Dr. Mike has worked in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Medical College of Ohio, from 1994 to 1997, and is the former director of the PICU at Mercy Children's Hospital, in Toledo, Ohio, from 1997 to 2000. He is the co-author (with Dr. Hasan) of  the book Intensive Thinking: Pediatric Critical Care, which helps pediatricians take care of critically ill children, and helps them pass the Board Exam. The book has been distributed throughout the world.