3 Signs You Need to Take Your Child to Their Pediatrician

We all love our children, we want the best for them and we want them to be happy. Pediatricians are a great resource when it comes to making sure that your child is healthy. When it comes time to take your child to the pediatrician, the signs may not be as obvious as you think. Here are three signs that your child may need to go to the doctor.

Persistent Fever

You might think that you have to take your child to the doctor for every single fever that they have. Though fever can be alarming, a low-grade fever that lasts a day may not necessitate an emergency visit to the pediatrician. If your child has a fever that is persistent, that will not go away, or that you have been dealing with for more than a day, you may need to seek pediatric doctors. Fever is an indication of infection; when the body fights off an infection, the body temperature rises. Persistent fever can be a sign of a serious infection.

Change in Appetite

Children are creatures of habit. If they have a good appetite, they are generally going to keep it. If they have a sudden change in appetite, like they are not eating, or they are not feeling like eating, you may need to ask advice from pediatric doctors. When a child stops eating, there is a fear that they can become weak or that they may even become dehydrated. If your child becomes dehydrated, they may need to be hospitalized.

Vomiting or Diarrhea

The last thing to look for is changes to their bathroom habits, such as diarrhea or constipation. Vomiting is also an indicator that pediatric doctors advise parents to look for. The main fear with vomiting and diarrhea is that your child can very quickly become weak and dehydrated. With dehydration, the body systems are not going to be able to function properly and over time, with extreme dehydration, the body will shut down. If your child does become dehydrated, they are likely going to need to be hospitalized to help get them the fluids that their body needs.

Many physicians choose to specialize in family medicine or become pediatric doctors. About 93% of all children have seen the doctor in the past year, but appointments with a physician are essential to healthy living. Although you should take your child to the doctor at least once a year for an annual exam, don’t hesitate to call and make an appointment if you’re observing one of the signs listed above. Nothing beats a parent’s intuition, but there are some things only pediatric doctors can address.