A lot of parents, especially first time parents, worry about every little sniffle or cough their children have. In most cases, there is really no need to rush a child to the emergency room, and most issues can easily be tended to by a family doctor or a pediatrician. There are times when parents have good reasons to be concerned, and it is important for all parents to know what needs to be treated immediately, and the things that probably aren’t all that serious. This keeps kids from having to visit the doctor all the time, and it saves parents a lot of money in unnecessary medical bills.
One of the things most parents worry about and call their child physician in Columbus, MS about is fever. While fevers can be signs of serious illnesses, not all fevers mean that a child is sick with more than anything but a little cold or virus. A fever is not a disease, but a symptom of an illness. If infants under six months have temperatures at or above 100.4 F, or infants older than six months have temperatures at or above 103 F, it is time to take them to see the pediatrician.
Vomiting tends to go along with diarrhea, and is usually a symptom of a stomach virus. If a child vomits a few times, it is probably not serious. But, if a child is vomiting a lot, is bringing up dark green bile, or is projectile vomiting, a visit to the doctor is necessary. One of the biggest things to worry about with vomiting is dehydration. If the vomiting is associated with abdominal pain, it could be a sign of appendicitis, and must be seen to immediately.
Regular coughs and colds can be treated with over the counter medications, and it’s not usually necessary for a child to see a doctor. If a cough persists, it is a good idea to make an appointment with a child physician in Columbus, MS at the Children’s Health Center of Columbus, Inc. The doctor will be able to diagnose and treat the problem, and let parents know what signs of illness to look for in the future.