A case for the emergency services?

Well, it sounds a bit trite, but the basic rule is: you should go to A&E if your child is in distress.

And when is that the case?

• A child is definitely in distress if they’re not getting enough air, if they’re clearly struggling to breathe.

• Another reason to have a child examined by a doctor very quickly is if they seem odd to you, if they’re noticeably different from usual – sluggish, lethargic, apathetic.

• Then, of course, there are accidents: extensive scalds, suspected fractures (indicators: severe pain, extreme reluctance to move) and similar issues – these should also be dealt with by a doctor as a matter of urgency.

A special case: babies. With very young children, it’s said that babies in their first three to four months with a temperature of 38 degrees or higher should also be examined promptly, because with such tiny babies, things can sometimes take a really nasty turn very quickly.

With everything else, you can and should be patient and wait until the next day. And, even better: you can find reliable information, both generally and when the need arises. Not just anywhere online, but, for example, in our ‘Tips from the Doc’. There you can read, for instance, how to assess fever, a sore throat and other symptoms.

We paediatricians want parents to be supported, informed and guided by us, of course, but we also want them to learn how to deal with these kinds of issues themselves.