Urine may be obtained for a urinalysis and urine culture.You will be notified if the blood culture test is abnormal. Blood culture results may take 24 hours and usually are complete in 72 hours. Samples of blood can assess if bacteria are present in the bloodstream.For example, a high blood sugar may suggest treatment with insulin. Electrolytes levels in the blood are useful for evaluating dehydration and whether certain electrolytes need replacement or other therapies.The CBC may suggest whether an infection is bacterial or viral and can be useful in determining whether the child's immune system is working properly. A complete blood count ( CBC) is useful for diagnosing bacterial blood infections in very young children.

It may take more than one attempt to draw a child's blood.

It is much more difficult to find and enter the small veins in children.

A complete blood count, electrolytes, and cultures are taken from a blood sample.

The doctor may request this test if a child displays cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath.

The doctor usually will order two views to be taken, one sideways and one from front to back. A chest radiograph (X-ray) can be useful for diagnosing some conditions in the chest, lungs, or heart (including some, but not all, pneumonias).The doctor will then perform a physical examination and may order tests. The doctor will evaluate a child by obtaining a history from you and, if possible, the child. Otherwise, the nurse will place the child in line to be seen ahead of people less ill but after those people appearing most ill. The nurse is usually very experienced and will bring the child immediately into the emergency room if a life-threatening condition appears to be present. The child has complex medical problems or takes prescription medications on a chronic basis (for example, medications prescribed for more than two weeks' duration).Īfter arriving in the clinic or emergency department, a nurse will determine how quickly the child needs to be seen by a doctor.The child has a headache that will not go away.The child is younger than 2 months of age.The child's breathing is shallow, rapid, or difficult.One has serious concerns and is unable to contact the child's doctor.Take a child to an emergency clinic when any of the following happen: The child's doctor may meet you there, or the child may be evaluated and treated by the emergency doctor. The child has been to a doctor but is now getting worse or new symptoms or signs have developed.Īlthough you may have done your best to care for your child, sometimes it is smart to take your child to the emergency department.One suspects a child may become dehydrated from vomiting, diarrhea, or not drinking (for example, the child has sunken eyes, dry diapers, tented skin, cannot be roused, etc.).The child is younger than 6 months of age (regardless of prematurity).However, many conditions other than infections may cause a fever.Ĭall a child's doctor if any of the following are present with fever.

The hypothalamus increases the body's temperature as a way to fight the infection. The part of the brain called the hypothalamus controls body temperature. Fever may indicate the presence of a serious illness, but usually, a fever is caused by a common infection, most of which are not serious. Risk factors for worrisome fevers include age under 2 years (infants and toddlers) or recurrent fevers lasting more than one week. When Should You Be Worry About a Fever?įever itself is not life-threatening unless it is extremely and persistently high, such as greater than 107 F (41.6 C) when measured rectally. Low-grade fevers are usually considered less than 102.2 F (39 C). The threshold for defining a fever does vary significantly among different individuals since body temperatures can vary by as much as 1 F. Temperatures measured at other body sites are usually lower. Fever has traditionally been defined as a rectal temperature over 100.4 F or 38 C. Picture of a child with fever and high temperatureįever remains the most common concern prompting parents to present their child to the emergency department.

Home remedies for fever