Symptoms you shouldn’t ignore in children

These are some typical ailments that occur in children everywhere; issues like runny nose, stomach aches or an itchy rash but when issues are more serious like a fever above 103 degrees, a stiff neck or a child looks very weak, it is not an issue to handle with levity.

These are some common childhood symptoms that may warrant an immediate visit to the doctor’s office or emergency room, especially for toddlers:

High fever: The thermometer may not be the adequate measure of this all the time; symptoms and what they look like are also important because a fever is part of the body’s way of defending itself against infection.  If your child looks well, is eating and drinking, skip the trip to the ER; a high fever by itself doesn’t always need immediate medical attention except the fever is 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, they look unwell or if they have had a persistent fever for four or more days in a row.

Bad headache: Minor headaches go away with over-the-counter pain relievers and/or rest but major headaches do not. So if a child’s headache endures for several hours or the pain is so intense that they can’t eat, play or even enjoy their favorite TV show, then, it’s time to call the pediatrician.

Headaches can be commonly caused by tight muscles in the scalp, rather than a problem related to the brain, but a headache with neurological symptoms (such as confusion, blurred vision or trouble walking) should be evaluated by an emergency room doctor.

Headaches combined with fever, vomiting, confusion, rash, or stiff neck should also be evaluated quickly as the child could have a serious infection or illness, such as meningitis, which is a medical emergency.

Widespread rash: Don’t be too concerned about a rash on your child’s arm or feet; they are generally harmless. If the rash covers their entire body though, it can indicate a medical emergency such as meningitis or sepsis, particularly when accompanied by a fever.  Another widespread rash which can be a medical emergency is hives which appear with lip swelling, it should be immediately treated.

Severe stomach bug: When a child has food poisoning or stomach flu and has symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea which can lead to dehydration and it seems to be getting worse even after oral electrolyte solutions at home, there is need for medical attention.

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