Either one of these is a serious situation. Also call if your child:

• Isn't breathing or is turning blue
• Is unconscious after a fall
• Is having a seizure
• Has a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing
• Has a broken bone that sticks out through the skin
• Took an unknown amount of medicine and is now hard to wake is choking has a large cut that won't stop bleeding .

When Should I Take My Child to the Emergency Department?

Go to the ER if your child has:

• Trouble breathing
• Unusual sleepiness or confusion
• A stiff neck and a fever
• A continuous fast heartbeat
• Took a poison, drug, or unknown substance
• A head injury and is vomiting or loss of consciousness
• An eye injury
• A serious burn

When Should I Call My Child’s Regular Pediatrician?

Call your child’s primary care provider's office for any questions or non-urgent health concerns. You’ll get the help you need to decide on your next step.

Call for problems such as:

• A fever
• Ear pain
• A sore throat
• Belly pain
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• A headache that doesn't go away
• Dehydration, which includes peeing less often, having little-to-no tears when crying, feeling dizzy, sleepy or crankier than usual
• Rashes
• Wheezing
• A lasting cough

What Can Be Treated at an Urgent Care Center?

When it’s after hours and the doctor’s office is closed, you can go to an urgent care center. Our Nemours Children’s Urgent Care locations treat the same problems as your primary care doctor’s office. You can even save your spot online ahead of time to avoid a wait. 

Problems treated include:

• Simple bone injuries, sprains or strains
• Minor burns
• Cuts
• Splinter removal
• Cough, Asthma or flu like symptoms
• Minor animal bites
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Belly pain, vomiting or diarrhea

Use ice on an acute injury. (An acute injury is sudden. It usually happens after a collision or twisting and causes immediate, severe pain.)

Follow medical advice. Sometimes doctors do recommend heat. Check with a sports medicine expert before using heat on an injury.

When Should I Consider Virtual Care?

For minor injuries and illnesses, your child can see a doctor through the Nemours CareConnect app. This app allows your family to talk to a doctor face-to-face from the comfort of your home using your smartphone or tablet. 

Think about virtual care when kids have:

• Rashes
• Minor cuts or burns
• Pinkeye (conjunctivitis)
• Colds
• Fever
• Mild allergic reactions
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

About Nemours 

At Nemours, your family can get a full spectrum of pediatric care. We’re with you every step of the way — from primary care for routine sick and regular well-child visits to on-demand video visits and urgent care for life’s little mishaps. Rely on our specialty, emergency and hospital care for more serious problems. 

Nemours is recognized as one of the nation’s safest pediatric hospitals — and our teams include some of the best doctors, nurses and support specialists around. 

VISIT NEMOURS

Phone - (407) 567-4000