Pediatric emergency care

If your child has a compromised immune system, or has recently experienced an abdominal injury or surgery, emergency care may be needed for newfound abdominal pain. There may be additional concern if there's a presence of other symptoms at the same time, including:

• Distended (bulging outward) abdomen
• Fainting
• High fever
• No interest in eating or drinking
• Pain that radiates into the back
• Seizures
• Trouble getting energized

When your child's skin is impacted by an animal, human or insect, there can be an immediate risk of rabies, tetanus or viral transmission. As a result, emergency intervention may be needed to treat symptoms, including:

• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Drainage from the bite
• Fainting
• Hives or swelling on the face or all over the body
• Nausea or vomiting
• Redness and warmth surrounding the bite
• Severe cramping
• Severe pain at the bite location or anywhere else in the body
• Tightness in the throat
• Wounds on the hands, face or joints

Call 911 if your child has a history of life-threatening allergies, or shows any extreme reactions afterwards, including:

• Breathing problems
• Confusion
• Cough
• Difficulty waking up
• Drooling
• Hoarse voice
• Slurred speech
• Tightness in the chest or throat
• Trouble swallowing

Changes in breathing can potentially signal the presence of a greater issue. Seek emergency care if your child's breathing suddenly becomes faster, slower or harder than usual, or if you notice other issues, such as:

• Chest and abdomen are moving in a "see-saw" motion
• Flaring of the nostrils when breathing
• High-pitched, squeaky or wheezing sound when breathing
• Persistent barking cough
• Retractions in the neck or below or between the ribs

Additionally, call 911 if your child develops a bluish hue to the lips or skin, or if they have asthma and are experiencing breathing difficulties.

Head trauma can be a serious issue, especially when supplemented by further symptoms, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing
• High fever
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory loss or changes in level of consciousness
• Neck pain
• Repeated vomiting

Emergency care might be required if your child has a cough or sore throat to go along with additional symptoms, including:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• High fever
• Inability to open the mouth all the way
• Muffled voice
• Significant swelling on one side of the throat
• Unable to swallow

If your child injures themselves and bleeding doesn't stop after 10 to 15 minutes of applied pressure, emergency medical attention may be required.

Your child may need intravenous (IV) fluids administered by our medical professionals if they show signs of severe dehydration, such as:

• Drastic weight loss
• Dry mouth
• Lethargy
• No tears when crying
• Pale skin
• Rapid heartbeat
• Reduction in urine
• Sunken eyes

In addition to a fever, go the ER if your child isn't up to date on their immunizations, or shows potentially concerning symptoms, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Burning during urination
• Difficulty breathing
• Inability to keep fluids down
• Issues waking up
• Neck stiffness
• Rash
• Trouble swallowing
• Unable to urinate
• Vomiting

The temperature that's considered a "high fever" is dependent on your child's age range, including:

• Under 3 months old — 100.4+ °F
• 3 months to 3 years old — 102.2+ °F
• 3 years old or older — 102+ °F (for two or more days)

If your child consumes something they shouldn't and experiences a loss of consciousness, seizures or convulsions as a result, seek medical attention immediately.

Trying to make them vomit may cause more damage. If your child shows minimal symptoms, call the poison control center at (800) 222-1222.

A rash requires emergency care if it's accompanied by a range of other symptoms, such as:

• Abnormal bleeding
• Areas of tenderness
• Bruises under the rash
• Head or joint pain
• High fever
• Shortness of breath
• Skin peeling away or blistering (especially in the mouth)
• Streaks of red on the skin
• Swelling or tightness in the throat

We advise you to go to the ER if your child has a sports injury and they're four years old or younger. This is also the case if they can't use their injured limb, it's deformed or the bone is protruding from the skin.

If your child is younger than 3 months old and has a fever, accompanied by repetitive vomiting or diarrhea, this may qualify as an emergency situation. The presence of additional symptoms can also be an immediate cause for concern, including:

• Dry mouth
• Infrequent urination
• Lethargy
• Sunken eyes