It would be impossible to take your children to the doctor every time they feel the slightest bit under the weather. So, what are the signs that your child’s health is really in jeopardy, and when should you call the doctor?

The Truth About Fevers

A fever is the most common sign of sickness that parents can detect. When children say that they aren’t feeling well, the knee-jerk response is to feel their forehead to see if they feel warm. However, this leads to multiple misconceptions about fevers. First, many parents believe that children are only sick enough to go to a doctor when they have a fever, and this is not necessarily the case. Second, some parents believe that their children should go to a doctor immediately if they have a fever at all.

There are certain scenarios in which a fever does call for an immediate trip to the doctor. Infants under three months of age should go to the doctor if their temperature ever goes past 100 degrees. If the child is under six months, a temperature of 101 degrees would warrant a trip to see the pediatrician. Similarly, a young child who is older than six months and runs a temperature of over 103 should see the doctor right away. If the child is older, then even a temperature of 103 can be waited out, if it is the only symptom. For older children, a fever should result in a doctor’s visit if it persists longer than 24 hours. You can also attempt to get the fever down in an older child by having your child rest and trying some basic home remedies in the initial hours of the fever.

When a Cough or Vomiting is Enough

When your child starts coughing and has a runny nose, or begins vomiting, you will usually want to take care of your child at home. First of all, these are generally signs of a cold or stomach virus, and these cannot be treated with any standard over the counter medicine. A doctor’s visit is in order, however, if the symptoms get worse over the course of three or more days or persist for more than a week.

The Ones You Catch Less Often

Beyond a fever, cough, and vomiting, there are many other signs that indicate risk factors for your child’s health. They include:

• Increased irritability
• High degrees of lethargy
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Irregular pulse
• Severe headaches

If your child is exhibiting several of these symptoms, you will want to consider making a call to your doctor. If the symptoms are less severe, then you will want to allow your child to rest. If the symptoms persist for more than 24 to 48 hours, you will want to move toward visiting a doctor’s office. When you call a doctor, be sure it’s someone you trust. If you don’t have a trusted physician who cares for your child, check out doctor ratings on the web before selecting your primary care pediatrician.

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