Parent’s often have questions about when they should take their child to the doctor.
Call 911 or your local emergency number if your child:
- has severe trouble breathing or blue lips;
- is limp or unable to move;
- is hard to wake up or does not respond;
- has a stiff neck or severe headache;
- seems confused; or
- has a seizure (convulsion/fit)
Take your child to an emergency department, nearest hospital, nursing station or health centre if your child:
- is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 38°C or more;
- has trouble breathing when resting, is wheezing, has chest pain when breathing or is coughing up bloody sputum (phlegm or saliva);
- is showing signs of dehydration (fewer than 4 wet diapers in 24 hours, increased thirst, no tears, dry skin, mouth and tongue, faster heartbeat, sunken eyes, grayish skin, sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on baby’s head);
- is constantly irritable and will not calm down;
- is listless, not interested in playing with toys or unusually sleepy.
Contact your child’s health care provider:
- if your child still has a fever after five days or was feeling better and then suddenly develops a new fever.
- if your child has a bad earache or sore throat.
- if your child has symptoms of influenza and has a condition listed below that may put them at a higher risk of complication
- asthma
- diabetes, kidney, heart disease or lung disease
- morbid obesity
- neurologic conditions including cerebral palsy, muscle weakness, seizures and developmental delay
- heart disease such as congenital heart disease and congestive heart failure
- blood disorders such as sickle cell disease
- immune system problems or taking medications that suppress the immune system (such as chemotherapy)
- receiving long-term aspirin therapy for chronic disorders
Not sure where to go for health care in Manitoba?
- Call Health Links – Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257
- Visit Shared Health’s Where to Go page.
