Doctor, Doctor Is My Child Sick?
How serious is serious and how do we know that it is high time for us to rush to the nearest Emergency Room? Moms always have a way of knowing and can sense that something is wrong with the little ones. There some signs and symptoms that need to be noted closely as they are indications that your kids needed a doctor.
1. Fever
Fever is the number one indicator that something is wrong with our body and often times it indicates and infection. The accompanying signs and symptoms will tell us the specific illness.
Red Flags:
- High fever ( over 39 degrees Celsius) that does break even with medications.
- A history of seizures high fever.
- Accompanying symptoms that needs immediate medical attention: bleeding, unbearable abdominal pain, loss of consciousness, headache with stiffening neck.
What Moms can do:
- Have a detailed summary of the illness including the date and time when the temperature was taken and the medication and dose given.
- Take note of the fever patterns like if the fever spikes then returns to normal and then spikes again. Some diseases like measles, malaria and tuberculosis have characteristic fever patterns.
- The accompanying symptoms should also be noted like rashes, constipation followed by diarrhea, yellowing eyes and skin, large lymph nodes, vomiting, drowsiness and increased sleeping time.
2. Seizures
A seizure or an epileptic attack is a disturbance of the neurological system caused by the uncontrolled electrical impulses released by the neurons. Siezures have many types but the most common is the convulsive type where the patient goes rigid and then shakes vigorously.
Red Flags:
- Children who suffer prolonged seizures should be bought to the hospital for proper medical assessment and proper medication.
What Moms can do:
- During a seizure, try to remain clearheaded so that you can recount the it to the doctor as accurately as possible.
- Do not restrain the child but make sure that he will not get harmed by bumping on sharp objects.
- Try to remember what brought about the attack.
- Note how and where the convulsion started like with a twitch or started in the extremities before involving the whole body.
3. Bleeding
Nosebleeds, bruises and bleeding gums are normal during your child’s growing up years but there are accompanying circumstances that you should take not as they might mean an underlying illness like leukemia and hemophilia.
Red Flags:
- Bleeding that takes long to stop and frequent bruising.
- Large lymph nodes in a sickly child might mean leukemia.
What Moms can do:
- Comfort your child and reassure him that it is ok when his blood is being drawn.
- Make sure that your child have a complete blood workout test to verify the doctor’s finding.
4. Breathing Difficulties
Breathing difficulties have many causes from the very obvious like pulmonary infection to the overlooked like anemia.
Red Flags:
- A respiration count of more than 40 per minute.
- Bluish lips and fingers are signs of lack of oxygen or cyanosis.
What Moms can do:
- A clogged nose can cause breathing difficulty. Steam inhalation or 1-2 drops of saline solution to the nose will help a lot. Keep asthmatic children away from dust and pollens.
- Take note of the preceding circumstances that resulted in breathing difficulties like doing hard work, stress or while at rest.
- Your keen observation will help a lot like complaining of felling like drowning when lying down or need to sleep in a reclining position.
5. Diarrhea
One of the non specific symptom that points to many illnessis diarrhea. Common cause of diarrhea is food poisoning and viral.
Red Flags:
- Be on the lookout for signs of severe dehydration like sunken eyeballs, dry skin and mouth and crying without tears. Children who cannot drink oral rehydration solution or show signs of severe dehydration should be bought to the hospital at once.
- Fresh blood steaks on the stool or black, tar-like stool.
What Moms can do:
- Take note of the frequency and duration of the diarrhea.
- Keep your child well hydrated by giving him lots of fluids like water and fruit juice. Encourage him to drink oral rehydration solution.