As a parent, you will encounter countless scrapes, sicknesses, and assorted boo-boo’s, especially if you have multiple children. It may seem like not a day goes by without some incident. Jack just swallowed a spoonful of his bath soap, Cadence just tripped down the last couple of stairs and hit her head on the banister – that one’s going to be a shiner.
Each day is filled with minor catastrophes, and if no one has bumped or scraped anything, then you feel like you are Super Mom or Super Dad. But with all those incidences, it can be tough to determine which ones warrant a trip to the doctor. But no worries, we’ll share with you some of the most common symptoms that mean it’s time to head to your pediatrician for a sick-child check.
Fever That Doesn’t Lower With Acetaminophen
Every child runs a low-grade fever, especially if they’re in the age group that is cutting teeth. When you should start becoming concerned is when you’ve administered the appropriate dosage of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and the fever doesn’t start to lower or even still, continues to rise. If their fever remains over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then it’s time to head to the pediatrician.
Projectile Vomiting Multiple Times Each Hour
Those infamous stomach viruses are inevitable, but when you should have cause for concern is if the vomiting continues, even after it seems that your child could have nothing left on their stomach, and they don’t start to feel better within a couple of hours of throwing up. This means that something is wrong, such as moderate food poisoning, and it’s best to call your pediatrician.
Bleeding After a Bandage Is Applied
Cuts and scrapes are also inevitable, but when a cut seems to be deeper than the typical scrape, or if bleeding continues to be steady or increases over a period of time, or if the cut is deep and is relatively close to a major artery, then you need to bring your child in. This is so that the wound can be closed with stitches or dermabond. Wounds that aren’t closing properly are prime candidates for infection, and it’s far better to prevent infection now than treat it later.
So there you have it! Here are some of the most common symptoms that can be difficult to distinguish between everyday problems and truly urgent illnesses. Set up an appointment today, to get your child back to feeling better!