When do you need urgent pediatric care?

Both pediatric urgent care centers and ERs (emergency rooms) provide acute medical care. These are both options when your child needs urgent medical attention. So, when your child is sick or injured, how do you know which to choose—pediatric urgent care or the ER? Here are some general guidelines.

What does urgent care for children provide?

In some areas, you can find specialized children's urgent care. But even conventional urgent centers can help children with acute medical needs. The level of assistance the centers can provide varies. Some urgent care centers can treat more serious conditions than others.

In general, urgent care for kids includes:

  • Animal bites, minor bone fractures, minor burns, and cuts that require suturing (stitches)
  • Cough, sore throat, high fever, and flu
  • Ear pain, sinus pain, eye problems, minor headache, and minor difficulty breathing
  • Itching and skin problems
  • Minor sports injuries.
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain

Usually, an urgent care center can perform minor diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and lab tests. In addition, minor treatments may be performed, such as sutures or foreign body removal. However, it does not support extensive tests or procedures. Sometimes, it can be challenging to know if your child needs more than immediate care before you get there. Make sure we introduce you. You can also call an ambulance if necessary.

What does pediatric emergency care provide?

In a true emergency, the ER is the safest place to take your child. This includes:

  • Broken bones with deformed limbs, open wounds, or bones that have penetrated the skin
  • A deep cut or wound that does not stop bleeding after 15 minutes of pressure
  • Difficulty breathing, confusion, or excessive sleepiness
  • Seizure, head injury, difficulty walking or standing, or neck stiffness with headache and fever
  • Severe burns or severe allergic reactions
  • Hematemesis or severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea

In other situations, bringing in paramedics is the safest option. They can assess the condition and begin treatment on the way to the hospital. Ambulances can safely handle traffic jams and delays.

Call 911 if your child's condition may worsen while at the hospital or if your child:

  • Stopped breathing or suffocating.
  • Ingested potentially toxic substances including drugs, vitamins, cleaning products, or any substance not intended for human consumption.
  • lost consciousness
  • Possible neck or spinal cord injury
  • Seizures that last longer than three minutes.

At an urgent care center, your child will be cared for by a provider who specializes in providing quality care. About 70% of doctors working in emergency medical centers are specialists in emergency medicine or family medicine. Therefore, emergency treatment is an expensive option for appropriate situations.

  

Location: New York, NY, USA

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