Every parent hopes they never have to take their child to the emergency room. But kids get sick, accidents happen and sometimes quick medical care is necessary. Understanding the top reasons for pediatric ER visits can help parents know when to seek help and when it might be OK to wait or try urgent care instead.
If you need to take your child to the emergency department, it helps to know where you need to go in an urgent situation. Find the nearest emergency department to you.
Top reasons for pediatric ER visits
Children are often seen in the pediatric emergency department for a wide range of problems, from minor injuries to more serious or even life-threatening conditions. Knowing the difference and recognizing warning signs can help parents act fast when it matters most.
High fevers that won’t go down
Fever is one of the most common reasons parents bring their children to the emergency department. A mild fever is often the body’s way of fighting off infection and doesn’t always require a trip to the ED. However, very high fevers or fevers that won’t go down with medicine can be concerning, especially in babies or toddlers.
You should seek medical attention if:
- Your child is younger than 3 months and has a fever higher than 100.4 degrees F
- The fever is above 104 degrees F in any age group
- The fever lasts more than a few days
- Your child seems very sleepy, irritable or hard to wake
Fevers with other symptoms – like rash, stiff neck or difficulty breathing – should be checked right away.
Breathing problems or trouble breathing
Difficulty breathing is another one of the top reasons for pediatric ER visits. Breathing problems can happen suddenly and may be a sign of conditions like asthma, RSV or an allergic reaction.
Watch for:
- Fast or labored breathing
- Wheezing or whistling sounds
- Flaring nostrils
- Blue lips or fingertips
- Struggling to talk or cry
If your child shows any of these signs, don’t wait. Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away.
Head injuries and loss of consciousness
Children bump their heads all the time and most minor falls don’t cause serious harm. But sometimes a head injury needs emergency care. This is especially true if your child was knocked unconscious, is acting confused or has vomited after hitting their head.
Go to the ED if your child:
- Lost consciousness, even briefly
- Can’t remember what happened
- Is very sleepy or hard to wake
- Has a seizure after the injury
- Has clear fluid or blood coming from the ears or nose
Head injuries can sometimes lead to a concussion or other brain injury, so it’s important to get checked out if symptoms seem serious.
Broken bones and serious falls
Broken bones are a common reason for ER visits, especially in active kids. Whether it’s a fall from the monkey bars or a sports injury, a break is painful and may need immediate treatment.
Signs of a broken bone include:
- Swelling and bruising
- The limb looks twisted or out of place
- Inability to move the limb
- Pain that gets worse
The emergency care team can help by diagnosing and treating broken bones with X-rays, splints or even surgery in more serious cases.
Severe allergic reactions
Some allergic reactions are mild, like a runny nose or itchy skin. Others can be life-threatening. This kind of reaction, called anaphylaxis, needs emergency care right away.
Watch for:
- Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Hives or rash spreading quickly
- Vomiting or dizziness after a known allergen (like peanuts, bee stings or certain medicines)
If your child has an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen), use it immediately and go to the ED for follow-up care.
Stomach pain and vomiting
Tummy troubles are another common reason for a trip to the emergency room. Most stomach pain goes away with rest, fluids and time. But sometimes it’s more serious, like appendicitis, a stomach virus or dehydration.
Head to the ED if your child has:
- Severe stomach pain that won’t go away
- Pain in the lower right side of the belly
- Repeated vomiting, especially if they can’t keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, not peeing)
Doctors can check for serious conditions and help your child feel better with fluids or medicine.
Seizures
Seeing a child have a seizure can be very scary, especially if it’s their first time. Some seizures are short and not dangerous, but others need fast medical care.
Go to the ED if:
- The seizure lasts more than five minutes
- Your child has trouble breathing after the seizure
- Your child doesn’t wake up or respond afterward
- They’ve never had a seizure before
Seizures can be caused by fever, infection, epilepsy or other medical problems. A doctor will need to check to find out the cause.
When to go to urgent care
Not every problem needs an ER visit. Urgent care is a good choice for things like minor injuries, ear infections or colds when your doctor’s office is closed. But if the issue is severe, involves trouble breathing, head trauma or life-threatening symptoms, the emergency department is the safest place.
How we can help
If your child has a high fever, trouble breathing, serious injury or other signs of a medical emergency, don’t wait. An emergency care provider trained in pediatric emergencies can evaluate the situation, give your child the right care and guide you on what to do next.
Know where the nearest emergency department is so when you need care quickly, you know where to go.
Find a Bon Secours emergency department near you.
