Baby Care

As a rule, say doctors, if you are seriously concerned about your child and feel you should call the doctor, then do it. Nevertheless, even experienced mothers find it reassuring to have some indication of the kind of symptoms that warrant an urgent call for medical help. Obviously any very alarming or unusual symptoms will prompt you to call your doctor immediately, but here is a checklist of some of the main symptoms that always require urgent medical attention:

1. Breathing difficulties, including croup (a rough, barking cough) with fever. And any undue coughing or hoarseness associated with breathing difficulties.

2.  Nose  bleeds   or  any  other  bleeding  that doesn’t stop within an hour.

3.  Severe abdominal or any other pain that lasts for more than an hour.

4.  Excessive drowsiness or loss of consciousness—when the child can’t be wakened.

5.  Convulsions.

6.  Vomiting and  diarrhea together, particularly in a baby.

7.  In a baby, lack of interest in food with a weak   cry  or   unusual   quietness   or   apathy.

8.  Emergency accidents—poisoning, bleeding that won’t stop, head injury that doesn’t seem better after 15 minutes, severe burns, scalds, stings, etc.

9. A sudden very high rise in temperature, if accompanied by other signs of illness.