Should I Take My Child To The Emergency Center Or Urgent Care?

Often times, families turn to an emergency centre or an emergency department at their nearest local hospital, on weekends or perhaps even during the weekday, when a significant event occurs with their child. Though the emergency centre is the right place for some incidents or ailments, the majority of the time, minor illnesses can and should be treated at a paediatric urgent care facility when your physician’s office is closed and you are not comfortable waiting until the office opens.

One of the most common concerns for parents is when their child has a fever. For children 4 weeks of age or younger who have a fever of 100.4 degrees (38°C) or higher, parents should immediately take the child to a paediatric emergency centre. If the child is older than 8 weeks with a fever of 100.4 (38°C) degrees or higher, parents should contact their paediatrician or seek care at a paediatric urgent care clinic. Infants between 4-8 weeks of age with fever should be taken to a paediatric emergency centre if the infant is acting sick, otherwise contact your paediatrician’s office for instructions.

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Any conditions which threaten a child’s life or limb should be treated at a paediatric emergency centre

which can also provide initial stabilization for severely injured paediatric patients. Other conditions that should be treated at a paediatric emergency centre include:

• Bleeding that won’t stop

• Extensive or complicated cuts or lacerations

• Fainting or head injury with loss of consciousness or disorientation

• Loss or change of vision

• Major fracture that breaks the skin or is at a severe angle

• Seizures without a previous diagnosis or epilepsy

• Serious burns

• Snake bites

• Spinal injuries

• Sudden change in mental state

• Sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Vomiting or coughing up blood

For those conditions that require immediate care but are not life threatening, families should seek care for their child at a paediatric urgent care clinic.

Mersal Children’s Clinic is equipped to treat the following conditions:

• Abdominal pain

• Allergic reactions

• Asthma

• Cough

• Croup

• Ear pain

• Fever

• Flu

• Minor injuries from falls or sports

• Pink eye

• Rashes

• Simple lacerations

• Sinus infections

• Skin infections

• Sore throat

• Sprains and strains

• Urinary tract infections

• Vomiting and diarrhea

These tips should help guide parents as they determine which setting is best suited to treat their child’s ailments and injuries. However, if there is ever any doubt, families can always contact their paediatrician for additional decision-making support.