No one wants their child to be in pain or have to deal with an illness, short or long-term. There are however some things that you should keep in mind before you head to the doctor only to find out that it was a trip you really didn’t need to make because you could have treated the problem at home. But there is also signs to recognize that it is indeed time to seek a doctor’s help.
To begin with getting sick is not only part of life but part of childhood and every time your child has a cold is not cause for alarm. Coughing, sneezing, even vomiting can be part of normal childhood and are not a reason to panic. Fevers sometimes accompany childhood illnesses and as a result it is a good idea to have a way to monitor your child’s temperature a way that does not require significant cooperation on their part especially since children in general tend to not be very cooperative and a sick child is even less so.
The modern technological breakthroughs of today have devices that are very useful and accurate in taking a child’s temperature and a sure way of keeping an eye on the temperature, making sure that it does not exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature that reach this level are very dangerous and is cause for alarm and the child should be taken to the nearest emergency room for treatment as soon as possible. Usually pain relief medication, rubbing alcohol or ice baths will bring the body’s temperature down, but if it doesn’t, seek professional help ASAP.
If you understand that if the body temperature exceeds 140 degrees, you are now into a very dangerous zone for the body. This is the point at which strokes, heart attacks and numerous seizures happen very quickly. Any of these conditions could cause long-term brain damage and in the more severe cases cause death.
If there is just a couple of vomiting episodes, there probably isn’t cause to panic. However if the vomiting happens continually and is accompanied by diarrhea, this could easily cause dehydration, which in turn could cause other serious medical complication and side effects. After you have administered fluids and the vomiting happens only occasionally everything should be fine. Confusion and/or extreme weakness are dehydration signs and should be your clue to seek medical help usually in the form of doctor examination and possible IV fluids that will help rehydrate until the vomiting stops.
Kids will be kids and getting sick is just a natural and normal part of childhood. Parents especially those who are new parents tend to overreact yet there is nothing as keen as a parent’s intuition so if you feel that you need to get your child to a doctor or hospital right away then do so. An error on the side of caution is always the better way to go.