Caring for a Sick Child

Stay Home

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can treat your child at home if:

• The child’s symptoms are common, mild, and familiar.

• The child is active and alert even though he or she has a fever, headache, or another symptom.

  
  

If your child has a fever, the thing to remember is that it’s not how high the temperature is, but how your child is feeling and acting that determines if he or she needs to see a doctor.

Call the Doctor

If your child has any of these symptoms or conditions, call your health care provider's office:

• Cold, flu, or a stomachache that’s getting worse after several days of home care

• Sore throat that’s severe or lasts longer than two days, or a sore throat associated with stomach pain

• Stomach pain that’s chronic

• Vomiting or diarrhea along with a fever or signs of dehydration, such as not urinating three times in 24 hours

• Pain when urinating

• An injury you can’t treat yourself but that is not an emergency--a small, blistered burn, for example

  
  

  If you need to see a doctor and don't have one, call
  1-800-STMARYS.

Emergency

Call 911 or take your child to the emergency room at St. Mary's of Michigan Towne Centre or the main medical campus immediately if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Abnormal or difficult breathing

• Decreasing alertness

• Skin or lips that look blue or purple

• Unconsciousness

• Uncontrolled bleeding

• Severe burn or poisoning

• Seizure