Healthy Living: When to call a pediatrician
If you are a parent, determining when to call the pediatrician is sometimes a judgment call. Marcie Fraser has some helpful information.
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The joys of parenting! But with the most joyous moments comes some of the, well, scary moments, especially when your infant gets sick. Fevers can be troublesome.
"As a parent you are thinking, 'am I missing something? Is there something I should be worried about?’” said Dr. Kristina Lahtinen-Aley, pediatrician.
One of the biggest concerns are fevers; the younger the child, the more serious it can be.
"With any newborn, any fever low grade we worry about and you want you to call the pediatrician immediately," said Dr. Lahtinen-Aley.
Fevers can be alarming.
"There is that old wives’ tale, you don't want to let the fever go too high, or your child’s brain will, you know, melt or something. People worry about it but the best bet is to call the pediatrician," said Dr. Lahtinen-Aley.
Older school age kids can tolerate higher fevers.
“Fevers that are up to 103 or higher, may still be within the normal range and may still be the child’s normal immune response to a normal viral infection but if they are not acting well, always call you pediatrician," said Dr. Lahtinen-Aley.
Some fevers can be managed with at home fever reducers, plus…
"Lots of cool tubs lightly dressed and make sure they are drinking. Most kids with fevers really stop drinking and that is the bigger concern because they are more likely to become dehydrated," said Dr. Lahtinen-Aley.
The doctor advises if your older child’s fever does not resolve within two days, call your pediatrician. And if your child suffers any difficulty breathing, that's an emergency.
"Any shortness of breath or difficulty breathing or wheezing, those are definite reasons to call the doctor right away,” said Dr. Lahtinen-Aley.
If you are not sure to call the pediatrician, especially if you are a new parent, always err on the side of caution.
And be careful in the summer. Look for ticks bites, bugs bites, and skin rashes.
"If there are any other symptoms, shortness of breath, hives, call 911 for those severe symptoms," said. Dr. Lahtinen-Aley.