As a parent, you always want what’s best for your child. You try to keep them safe, healthy, and happy. However, accidents and illnesses are unpredictable, and they can happen to anyone, especially to kids. It’s important to know when it’s time to take your little one to a medical center, and in some cases, you might need to go to an urgent care center. But how do you know if it is an emergency or not? What are the signs that your child needs to go to urgent care? This blog post is here to help you identify these signs and provide you with a guide on what to expect.
1. Difficulty Breathing
If your child is having trouble breathing, it is important to identify and understand the underlying cause. Possible reasons for this include asthma, pneumonia, croup, bronchiolitis, and other respiratory infections. If the breathing problem is severe, seek medical help right away. If it's not severe but still irregular or concerning, take your little one to an urgent care center to get evaluated.
2. High Fever
A fever is typically a sign of an infection. If that infection is serious or left untreated, it could lead to complications. If your child has a fever above 100.4°F that persists for more than a day or two and is not responding to over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, it's best to take them to the urgent care center.
3. Allergic Reaction
Allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, and some can be serious. If your child experiences hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, or difficulty breathing, it could be a serious allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. In such cases, it's essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Urgent care centers can provide necessary treatment, such as oxygen, fluids, IV medications, and epinephrine, and manage the airway to stabilize the patient while looking for the underlying cause.
4. Head Injury
Accidents are a part of life. Children, especially when they are little or playing sports, are more prone to accidents and injuries than adults. Any head injury, however minor it might seem, should not be taken lightly. If your child bumps their head, and you notice signs of a concussion, like dizziness, confusion, visible lacerations, or loss of consciousness, then it's time to take your child to an urgent care center to get checked out.
5. Abdominal Pain
It's abnormal for children to feel severe abdominal pain, and it can indicate a more serious condition. If your child complains of severe abdominal pain, it could be an indicator of an underlying condition such as appendicitis, constipation, gastroenteritis, or any other acute abdomen conditions that can quickly worsen without treatment. It's better to be safe than sorry, so take your child to an urgent care center to get checked out.
Houston Pediatric Urgent Care
Knowing the signs that your child needs to go to a pediatric urgent care center is important in ensuring they get the timely and necessary care they need. As parents, you are responsible for prioritizing your child's health and well-being. It's essential to be prepared and know what to do in case of an emergency or unexpected illness or injury. Make sure to keep the location and contact number of your local urgent care center at hand, and always trust your instincts. Remember, it's always better to err on the side of caution than to risk ignoring a potentially urgent medical situation.
At Brazos Urgent Care, we welcome patients from all walks of life. We are open 7 days a week, and no appointment is necessary. Call (832) 430-7796 or contact us online if you have questions.