It’s that time of year when kids are back in school and more activities move indoors, which creates the perfect environment for spreading viruses and germs. As a result, influenza, a cold, COVID, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) levels peak during the fall and winter months, and many children get sick.
To paint a more detailed picture, kids get an average of 8-10 colds per year, and nearly every child gets RSV before the age of two. These numbers don’t include flu and COVID.
While you might take some comfort knowing that these respiratory viruses are par for the course in young kids, you still want to understand what you should do for your child. To help, the Neighborhood Pediatrics team, under the direction of Dr. Sharon Lucas and Dr. Rachel McConnell, presents a few guidelines for choosing between a sick visit and a trip to the emergency room.
One of the fears of kids getting sick is a high fever, so this is a good place to start. If your child is running a fever (anything over 100.4°F), that’s not cause for worry on its own.
If your child’s fever reaches 102°F or higher and lasts more than two days, contact us to schedule a sick visit, which can be done in person or via telehealth.
If your child’s body temperature reaches 104°F, it’s a good idea to head to urgent care or the emergency room, especially if your child is lethargic or has a seizure. This doesn't happen often, but we monitor body temperature regularly, just in case.
You should act on any fever in a child two months or younger — you can try to visit us for a same-day appointment or go to your nearest emergency room or urgent care center.
A part of respiratory viruses is congestion, which causes stuffiness in a child’s airways, making it difficult for them to breathe. This congestion should clear in a few days and is perfectly normal. While breathing for a child might be more difficult than usual when they have a cold or flu, they should still be able to get air.
If your child is visibly struggling to breathe and you fear that they’re not getting the oxygen they need, this is an emergency, and we want you to seek care immediately.
If your child has an underlying condition, such as asthma, we recommend scheduling a sick visit with us if they become infected with a respiratory virus. And the sooner the better, as we can prescribe antiviral medications that can shorten the length of the illness.
If your child is immunocompromised, be cautious and visit us if they aren't feeling well
Respiratory viruses are part of growing up, and they help your child to build immunity, so there’s no need to hit the panic button when they get sick. That said, you want to limit exposure somewhat, which means avoiding hotbeds of germs, such as urgent care and emergency rooms.
Our point here is that a sick visit with us is almost always preferable, and we try to accommodate these last-minute requests. If, however, your child is in real discomfort and you’re concerned, by all means, head to your local ER or urgent care.
If you’re at all unsure, we’re happy to discuss whether your child should have a sick visit or you should seek more immediate care. You can contact us at our Shenandoah, Texas, office at 832-843-2049 today to talk with one of our team members.
