Signs It's Time to Call a Pediatrician Immediately

For parents, it's easy to think that they know what's best for their child. Especially if they have had multiple children, many people assume that there are easy ways to identify illnesses and that certain symptoms indicate the same problem every time.

In fact, there can be a great deal of nuance among the reasons for certain symptoms, which is why if a son or daughter has any of these signs of illness or injury, it's better to err on the side of caution and take them to a pediatrician.

A Fever That Doesn't Break

Especially at a young age, children get fevers relatively often. This can just be a simple sign of fighting off minor sicknesses. The truth is, if a parent took their kid to a pediatrician every time they had a fever, those doctors' offices would constantly be full. The mark of when a fever is more serious, however, comes when the fever won't break from taking a pain reliever, or if it persists for more than one day. In this case, it's better to seek medical attention.

Abdominal Pain

It can be very tricky to identify the reasons for some symptoms, especially when a young one isn't old enough to articulate what's going on. Some abdominal pains can be easily explained by non-harmful causes such as gas or growing pains, but a long-lasting or intense abdominal pain could be the result of an inflamed appendix. If this pain seems to be more intense or more persistent than normal, it's best to have a doctor confirm whether or not it's harmless.

Difficulty Swallowing

Again, it can be hard to know that children of a young age are having difficulty swallowing, especially if it is not accompanied by a sore throat. If a child looks uncomfortable or distressed when swallowing, it can indicate a number of causes that require fairly immediate attention. They could have something lodged in their throat, or even be having an intense allergic reaction to something they have eaten.

Strange Rashes

New parents tend to learn that rashes come with the territory. A young person's skin is more susceptible to irritation, and playing outdoors may result in some harmless redness or irritation. The time to have a pediatrician look at a rash is when the rash is strange or unidentifiable. This could include when it is oddly colored, affects the texture of the skin, or causes a great deal of pain to the child.

When Something Just Isn't Right

Finally, there is some value to a parent trusting their gut. If a child demonstrates strange behavior, shows an intense discomfort of any kind, or reacts oddly to any routine illness, it's better to be safe than sorry and bring the child to a pediatrician. Even if they aren't exhibiting one of these conditions, it's best to simply let the experts be the one to confirm or deny a child's safety and health.

To learn more about their options for a pediatrician, readers should visit http://www.windrosehealth.net/pediatrics-providers/.

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