Things You'll Need:
- Thermometer
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Step 1
Monitor newborns for illness. Take any child under four months of age who is ill to the doctor right away. The doctor will rule out serious illness. Check the soft spot of a child 18 months or younger. A tense, bulging soft spot indicates the brain is under pressure and constitutes a pediatric medical emergency.
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Step 2
Scrutinize tiredness. It's common for a child to be tired when ill. If it progresses to lethargy, it's a pediatric medical emergency. Symptoms of lethargy include extreme tiredness, difficulty waking, sluggishness and complete lack of energy.
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Step 3
Evaluate gate. An abrupt and sustained change in how a child walks is cause for concern. When a child can't walk or stand, it can indicate a leg or foot injury. It can also indicate a balance problem. If a child walks stooped over, it can indicate inflammation or injury of some internal organ.
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Step 4
Look for signs of breathing difficulty. Get help if a child is working hard at breathing, wheezing and making other noises while breathing or has blue lips.
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Step 5
Assess for severe pain. Signs include refusal to be held or touched, continuous crying or screaming and inability to sleep. Severe pain requires evaluation by a doctor. Severe pain, along with a stiff neck can indicate meningitis, a pediatric medical emergency. Severe pain in the belly can also be serious. Assess it by gently pushing in the child's abdomen.
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Step 6
Watch for dehydration. This is often the result of severe vomiting and diarrhea. Signs include low urine output, tearless crying and dry mouth. Infants who are dehydrated have a sunken soft spot. Dehydration is a pediatric medical emergency.
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Step 7
Take the child's temperature. A serious infection can cause high fever and constitutes a pediatric medical emergency. Look for temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius.
