10 Tips: When to Go to the Emergency Room for Toddlers

10 Tips: When to Go to the Emergency Room for Toddlers

The word “toddler”, used to describe babies who “toddle”, is usually a term that is used to refer to children who are learning to walk. Though there is no exact science to it, or any accurate definition, toddlers are usually those children between the ages of one year to four years old, and although there are no exact upper and lower age limits, it is usually considered that a child stops being a toddler once they are ready to go into preschool. Given they are in the age where they are starting to move about and are looking to walk, toddlers are prone to suffer from a number of health related problems and one should always keep an eye out for them. It is also important to know what constitutes a medical emergency as far as they are concerned so that you can be able to react in timely manner and get them the help they need. This article should therefore come in handy as it will look to highlight 10 tips that will allow you to know when to take a toddler to the emergency room.

If the toddler is about 36 months old or below, and they spike a fever of more than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit, then they should be taken to an emergency room as soon as possible to be evaluated. For toddlers older than 36 months old, then if they had a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit and above for more than 2 days, one which is not responding to treatment, then they should also be taken to an emergency room as soon as possible.

Another instance when you should take a toddler to the emergency room is if they not only have high fever, but they are also suffering from a headache. Headaches in toddlers are usually not that common and hence should always be taken seriously. As per the subject matter experts over at FrontlineER.com, the toddler may indicate a headache through words or through holding their head repeatedly.

If you have a toddler who is coughing or vomiting blood, then they should be taken to the emergency room as soon as possible to be evaluated. Since they may be moving around, this could be as a result of a myriad of reasons, some of them quite serious, and therefore, such symptoms should always be taken seriously.

If your toddler develops an unexplained rash, then you should also take them to the emergency room to be evaluated. If the rash is also widespread, that is, it is covering a significant part of the body, or even the whole body, then you should also take them to the emergency room as per the folks over at FrontlineER.com. The same applies for cases of hives and welts on the face and in the mouth as well as rashes that look infected.

If you find that your toddler may have gotten into some of the medications in the house, which is possible as they move around a lot, and they are unconscious, are having trouble breathing, are suffering from convulsions or are extremely sleepy, then you should also ensure that you take them to the emergency room as soon as possible to be attended to. If the symptoms aren’t as severe, you should call poison control first.

As mentioned above, and as discussed in detail over at FrontlineER.com, toddlers get into trouble from the fact they move around a lot and due to the fact they put practically anything in the mouth. Therefore, if your toddler is choking, they should be taken to the emergency room as soon as possible. They may have ingested something that is causing the choking and as such this should be taken very seriously.

Another tip we have for you as far as going to the emergency room for toddlers go is that you should ensure that you take them there if they have stopped breathing or are turning blue. This is a serious situation that requires urgent action and should therefore be treated as such.

Yet another tip to keep in mind here, one which the gurus over at FrontlineER.com agree with completely, is that you should also ensure that the toddler is taken to the emergency room pronto if they suffer from a seizure that lasts for more than 3 to 5 minutes. This should be taken seriously for obvious reasons.

If the toddler is showing signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the mouth or lips, severe and persistent vomiting, difficulties breathing and shortness of breath as well as an inability to swallow among others, then they too should be taken to the emergency room to be evaluated immediately.

If your toddler also appears to be inconsolable and you can’t stop them from crying, then you should also take them to the emergency room, especially if you can’t reach your pediatrician. If they toddler is inconsolable, it may indicate a situation that requires immediate medical attention and as such should be taken seriously.

The above are 10 tips that should allow you to know when you need to take your toddler to the emergency room, with there being more on this and other related topics over at FrontlineER.com.

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