Welcome to Parenthood: Navigating Fever and Other Symptoms in Your Child
Introduction
Being a new parent is a rollercoaster of emotions. From the joy of holding your little one for the first time to the anxiety of hearing their cries in the middle of the night, the journey is full of uncertainties. One common concern that new parents often face is when to call the pediatrician when their child is unwell. In this article, we will explore the key symptoms to watch out for and when to seek medical advice.
Understanding Fever in Children
Fever is a common symptom in children and can be a cause for concern for many parents. Dr. Katie Lockwood, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, advises parents to trust their instincts when it comes to their child’s health. If something feels off or if you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s healthcare provider.
In infants younger than 2 months, a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher is considered an emergency, and immediate medical attention is required. For older children, the duration and accompanying symptoms of the fever are more telling than the actual temperature. If your child is irritable, not eating, or behaving unusually, it’s a sign that something may be wrong.
Recognizing Dehydration
Dehydration is a serious concern, especially in young children. Dr. Amy Guiot, from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, highlights the importance of monitoring your child’s hydration status. Signs of dehydration include reduced urine output, dark urine, dry lips and mouth, irritability, and sunken soft spots in infants.
Stomach viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea are common in children and usually resolve within 24 hours. However, if these symptoms persist or are accompanied by a fever, it could indicate a bacterial infection that requires medical attention.
Deeper Dive: Understanding Common Childhood Illnesses
Upper respiratory infections, such as colds, are a recurring phenomenon in children. These viral infections typically last around 10 days and may present with fever in the initial days. Dr. Guiot explains that as the infection progresses, the nasal discharge may change color, which is a sign of the body fighting off the infection.
When it comes to rashes, they can have various causes and presentations. While most rashes are harmless and resolve on their own, persistent rashes accompanied by fever should prompt a call to the pediatrician. Rashes with blisters, swelling, or unusual patterns may also warrant medical attention.
When to Consult Your Pediatrician
In situations where your child’s symptoms can wait until morning, keeping a journal of their condition can help guide the conversation with the doctor. Essential information to include when contacting the healthcare provider are your child’s medical history, medication details, and current symptoms.
Summary
Parenthood is a journey filled with uncertainties, especially when it comes to managing your child’s health. Knowing when to seek medical advice can be challenging, but by paying attention to key symptoms like fever, dehydration, and unusual rashes, you can navigate these situations more confidently. Trust your instincts, monitor your child’s symptoms closely, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician for guidance.
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It’s 2 in the morning. Your baby is crying and you can’t calm him down. They have fever and nasal congestion. Do you call the pediatrician or wait until tomorrow?
New parenthood is full of uncertainty. When you’re a new parent, it’s easy to second-guess every decision you make.
“Sometimes it can be difficult to know when or not to call,” says Dr. Katie Lockwood, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “I assure parents to follow their instincts. If something doesn’t seem right or if they’re not sure if something is normal or not, pediatricians’ offices would prefer that they call us.”
A few key symptoms can be your guide when deciding whether to pick up your phone and call your pediatrician.
How to handle a fever depends on your child’s age. In a baby younger than 2 months, a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher is an emergency.
“Go straight to the emergency room,” Lockwood advises. “Sometimes babies can have a serious infection and the only sign is a fever.” The hospital will perform a complete examination that includes blood and urine tests and sometimes a lumbar puncture.
In older children, the number on the thermometer is less revealing than other clues. “The most important thing is how the child behaves with the fever and how long he has had it,” says Lockwood. “If a child has a 101 [degree] fever but they are very irritable, they don’t eat, they don’t behave like themselves or they don’t stop crying, that worries me.” This rule applies to vaccinated children; in unvaccinated babies, most fevers should be seen by a doctor immediately.
Three days is usually the magic number for viral fevers to last, he says. Any fever that lasts longer deserves a call to your doctor. It may have turned into a bacterial infection such as pneumonia.
These symptoms usually indicate a viral infection. On their own, they are nothing to worry about. But when they are too intense, they can be a problem.
“The biggest thing I worry about is dehydration,” says Amy Guiot, MD, associate professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “If the child cries, I want to see tears. If you don’t see tears, he is headed toward dehydration.”
Other signs of dehydration include:
- Less urine than usual: less than 6 wet diapers per day in babies
- dark urine
- Dry, chapped lips and mouth.
- Hollow eyes
- irritability
- Sunken soft spot on top of head (in babies under 18 months)
Many stomach viruses that cause vomiting or diarrhea last 24 hours or less, Lockwood says. Call your pediatrician if these symptoms last longer or if your child also has a fever. These are most likely signs of a bacterial infection that needs treatment.
Another big warning sign is a red or black color to the poop or vomit, or specks that look like coffee grounds. It could be blood. That’s a medical emergency.
Upper respiratory infections, such as colds, are common among children, who get up to eight a year. They are normally viral and last about 10 days, says Guiot.
Children may have a fever during the first 3 days. “Then the fever starts to go away and the clear nasal discharge turns thick, green and yellow. That just means that those infection-fighting cells are called in to fight. It doesn’t mean it’s a bacterial infection,” she says. .
A fever that lasts more than 3 days or worsening symptoms needs to be reviewed by your pediatrician. Your child may have had an ear infection or another bacterial illness.
If at any time your child has to work harder to breathe, call the doctor right away. You will notice your child’s nostrils flare or his ribs contract with each breath. They may make a strange noise or gasp when they try to breathe.
A bluish color around the lips or nails means your child is not getting enough oxygen. Call 911 immediately.
This is one of the most difficult symptoms to discover. Rashes come in many forms and have many possible causes.
A rash that doesn’t bother your child is usually not a cause for concern. But if it doesn’t go away within a few days, call your doctor, Lockwood recommends. Rashes with fever are a bigger concern because they could indicate an infection.
Other possible symptoms to report to your doctor include:
- A weeping or weeping rash
- A rash with blisters or bubbles.
- A rash that looks like a bullseye or target.
- Swollen lumps on the skin, along with difficulty breathing or swelling of the face.
- A rash in a child who looks sick or doesn’t act like himself
These symptoms also require a call to your pediatrician immediately:
- Trouble waking up your child
- Acute or constant belly pain.
- Burning when your child urinates or blood in the urine
- A constant need to urinate
- Seizures
If your child’s illness is mild enough to wait until morning, keep a journal. Write a list of symptoms and questions for the pediatrician, suggests Lockwood. This will help guide her conversation with the doctor the next morning.
When you call, have notes handy so you can tell your child’s nurse or doctor:
- Medical conditions
- Shooting history
- Types and dosages of medications, both prescription and over-the-counter
- Temperature
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