Little One Not Feeling Well This Weekend? 4 Medical Problems That Can Be Treated at an Urgent Care Center
It's the Friday before a three-day weekend and your child has gotten ill. You know they can't wait until Tuesday, but you're not sure whether their sickness qualifies as an emergency. It can be difficult to choose between an urgent care or an emergency room – especially when it comes to your child. Before you head to the emergency room, take a minute make sure you're heading in the right direction. Here are four medical problems that are better suited for the urgent care center.
Minor Asthma Attacks
Asthma attacks can be frightening, especially when your child's doctor isn't in their office. Luckily, most asthma attacks can be taken care of in your neighborhood urgent care center. If your child is still able to breathe and has not lost consciousness as a result of the attack, take a trip to the urgent care center. Once you're there, the doctors will be able to assess the situation and care for your child. It's important to note that if your child has lost consciousness or is not able to catch their breath at all, you should call 911.
Ear Aches
Ear aches can make your child extremely uncomfortable. However, in most cases, ear aches can be taken care of at an urgent care center. Give your child a dose of children's pain reliever and take them to an urgent care center near you. If your child develops redness or swelling behind the ear, or begins vomiting, you should take them to the emergency room instead of the urgent care.
Fevers
Fevers are the body's way of fighting sickness. If your child develops a fever, give them a dose of over-the-counter fever reducer. If medication doesn't reduce the fever and your child is over 12 weeks of age, you should take them to the urgent care center. If your child is younger than 12 weeks old and they have a fever of 100.4 or higher, take them to the emergency room as soon as possible.
Nausea
If your child has the stomach flu and they've been vomiting, a trip to the urgent care might be necessary. This is particularly true if your child has not been able to hold any fluids down, since vomiting can lead to dehydration.
If your child is sick and you're not sure whether you should take them to the urgent care center or the nearest emergency room, the guide provided here will help you decide. If you do need to visit an urgent care center, learn more about those in your area, like Alaska Urgent Care LLC.
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