Thousands of families bring their children to our emergency room every year. Dr. Patrick McLaughlin, emergency medicine specialist, talks about what he treats most and the benefits of a pediatric emergency department.
A health scare can mean immediate worry for a parent and the only way to alleviate those concerns is to get answers. Many parents rely on our emergency department for a variety of reasons, the most common are:
- Fever
- Respiratory issues
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Rashes
- Sore throat
- Sprains
So how do you know if a trip to the ER is warranted?
Fever
If a fever is persistent, and your child’s their rectal temperature is higher than 102.2F in infants over the age of 3 months or higher than 100.4F in infants younger than 3 months for more than three days, a medical evaluation is needed. You’ll also want to seek medical care if the fever is accompanied by severe headache, neck pain, abdominal pain, or if they’re lethargic an unable to keep fluids down.
Respiratory issues
If your child is having trouble breathing to the point you can see their ribs, they’re breathing more rapidly than normal or their lips or other parts of their face is turning blue, go to the ER. Wheezing, gasping and flaring nostrils are also indications that a child is struggling to get enough oxygen so you should go to the emergency room right away.
Vomiting/Diarrhea
Dehydration is the biggest concern and babies and children are much more likely to become dehydrated than adults. If your child is dealing with vomiting and diarrhea, keep an eye out for signs of dehydration like urinating less or having fewer wet diapers than normal, few or no tears when crying, sunken eyes, dry mouth, drowsiness or crankiness. Seek medical attention if they can’t seem to keep anything down or their symptoms aren’t getting better.
Rashes
If your child has a rash you should take them to the emergency room if they are having trouble breathing, have a high fever, are lethargic or confused, are in severe pain or have facial or throat swelling. They could be having an allergic reaction and need immediate medical attention.
Sore throats
A sore throat warrants a trip to the ER if your child has difficulty swallowing or breathing, their voice is muffled or they have significant swelling on one side of the throat. These symptoms indicate a serious infection or swelling that could be blocking an airway and needs immediate attention.
Sprains
A sprain becomes an emergency when your child is experiencing severe pain, a visible deformity, they can’t bear weight on that limb, or they experience numbness or tingling.
Why should parents bring their children to our pediatric ER?
We can make many common diagnoses through a physical exam and listening closely to what you and your child have to say about symptoms. While kids sometimes need stitches, casts or medicine, we’ll always spare them unnecessary blood work, testing and treatment, and the side effects that come with them. Because not all sore throats are strep and not every injury requires an x-ray, we make sure to give your child the care they need while avoiding the things that are not needed, which could make the visit even scarier.
Not only that, but our child life specialists are also on hand to ease the stress of an ER visit, to talk to your child about what’s happening and explain it in a way that’s appropriate for their age and condition.
Whether it’s a sports injury, late night health concern or significant injury we can stabilize them immediately and take care of associated medical concerns because we also have a team of pediatric specialists on standby who are experts in everything from neurosciences to orthopaedics.
What about emergency care for more serious health issues?
As the region’s only Level 1 pediatric trauma center and a regional referral source for other hospitals, our team is prepared to take care of kids with the most serious illnesses and injuries, day or night, 365 days a year.
When should parents rely on their pediatrician instead of the ER?
Sometimes it can be tough to tell what warrants emergency care and what can be handled in the doctor’s office or even at home. If the symptoms aren’t urgent, you can call your pediatrician for guidance. But if you want immediate care or your pediatrician isn’t available, we are here for you and your child 24/7.