Symptom Checker

Emergency Symptoms Not to Miss

Emergency symptoms are signs that a child may have a life-threatening problem and needs immediate medical help. These symptoms can involve breathing, circulation, consciousness, severe allergic reactions, major injury or other sudden changes.

Many different illnesses and injuries can cause emergency symptoms. The exact diagnosis may not be clear at first, which is why the seriousness of the symptom itself can determine the need for emergency care.

Call a nurse All symptoms

Where this comes from

The American Academy of Pediatrics publishes the guidance behind this page and keeps it current. Their Symptom Checker carries a question-by-question tool for individual symptoms, and it covers this subject as background rather than as a set of questions to work through.

Open the AAP Symptom Checker

When to see a doctor

Contact your pediatrician or another healthcare professional if:

Your child has symptoms that concern you but do not appear immediately life-threatening.
You are unsure whether your child needs the emergency department or same-day pediatric care.
Your child is getting worse and you are not comfortable watching the symptoms at home.

Call 911 or get emergency care if:

Your child is struggling for each breath or stops breathing.
Your child’s lips or face turn blue or gray.
Your child cannot be woken normally, collapses or has a seizure with serious illness.
Your child has uncontrolled severe bleeding, a major injury or signs of anaphylaxis.
You believe your child has any life-threatening emergency.

Talk to a nurse now, at any hour

Hours, addresses and directions

When can my child be seen

Be seen today.

Every office keeps same-day appointments for illness and injury.

This evening or at the weekend.

Most offices run After Hours Care, by appointment rather than walk-in.

If you are worried, call. We would rather answer a question that turns out to be nothing.

Emergency Symptoms Not to Miss

Where this comes from

When to see a doctor

Talk to a nurse now, at any hour

When can my child be seen

More on fever and infection