Children’s Health Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
As parents, your children’s well-being is one of your top priorities. Because children’s bodies are still building a strong immune system, they may be ill often and visits to the doctor become a regular part of your routine.
If your child is suffering from a severe or serious illness, your concern may be coupled with a feeling of helplessness that cannot be described in words.
Minor health problems, such as a skinned knee, sneezing and coughing, or a mild fever are not cause for concern and you may not need to bring your child to the doctor. But sometimes it’s difficult to judge which signs and symptoms warrant a call to the doctor.
This is why it is important for you to learn about health symptoms that need to be evaluated by a doctor before it escalates into something more serious.
1. High Fever
Children often run a fever due to illnesses like stomach viruses and minor infections. But a high fever can indicate a more serious illness or one that requires treatment.
For a baby between 3 and 6 months old, a high fever is considered to be anything above 101 degrees Fahrenheit. For children older than 6 months, a high fever is usually considered to be about 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
If your child’s fever persists for a couple of days or more, you should consult a doctor. If the fever is due to a bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment will likely be needed.
If your child is running a high fever accompanied by a headache so severe that he or she has a hard time keeping their eyes open, it is not a good sign. It can be a sign of meningitis, a serious illness that requires medical care.
Other illnesses, such as the flu and ear infections, can also cause a fever. Timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and even death in children due to a high fever.
2. Extreme Thirst
If your child is suddenly asking for more water to drink, especially at night, you should immediately take your child to a doctor for evaluation.
Type 1 diabetes can occur in children under 20 years of age, and excessive thirst is one of the key signs of it
.The most common symptoms in children who have diabetes are polydipsia (excessive thirst), followed by polyuria (excessive urinating), tiredness, nocturia (urination at night) and weight loss, according to a 2014 study published in BMJ Open.
3. Breathing Difficulty
Babies grunt and groan from time to time, and rapid breathing is common in children when they have a fever. But if rapid breathing has become a part of your child’s daily life, it’s time to see a doctor.
Breathing difficulty, especially while playing or exercising, is cause for concern. If there is a distinct whistling sound during exhalation, it can be a clear sign of asthma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6.2 million children had asthma in 2015.
If breathing problems are accompanied by blue-tinged lips, it can be sign of bronchitis.
Even a minor breathing problem can take a toll on your child’s energy level and make him or her really sick. So, if you notice your child is having breathing difficulty, talk to your pediatrician right away.
Prolonged Abdominal Pain
Children often complain of stomach pain. Sometimes it’s real and sometimes it’s an excuse to get out of a day at school or avoid eating something they don’t like!
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