By Julieane Hernandez
Children are such fragile beings in terms of health, and with good reason, too. Since their bodies are still developing, any slight cough or sneeze could be an indication of a much larger sickness, like asthma or bronchitis. But as the sickness continues in the body, its resistance are strengthened so when the same strain attacks again, the body can easily fight if off.
In most cases, this doesn’t mean that you should let the child suffer without any medicine for cough and cold. You should definitely bring them to a doctor for a prognosis and prescription. But if you don’t know how to notice these things, here are 10 dangerous kids’ symptoms you should never ignore.
1. Coughing
As common as this may sound, coughing could be an indication of either an irritation in the throat (which could lead to choking, or a bacterial or viral infection. If it’s a phlegm-y cough, check the color. White means it’s possibly viral; any hue of green means it’s bacterial.
2. Colds
Any kind of sniffling should be immediately looked at. Aside from the fact that there might be something lodged in the child’s nose, phlegm build-up in the nasal passages could also be an indication of a bacterial or viral infection. Cough and colds almost always go hand. It’s nearly impossible to separate the two.
3. Fever
When a child’s body temperature goes up, it means that his/her body is fighting an infection. Immediately bring to your child to the pediatrician when this happens.
4. Intense headaches
If a child is suffering from a powerful headache that keeps him/her from opening their eyes, bring them straight to the doctor. You need to rule out the possibility of meningitis.
5. Diarrhea and 6. Vomiting
Any expelling of fluids from the mouth or watery stool are symptoms that should not be left ignored. Dehydration will occur and cause more complications. Rush your child to the hospital. It might be a sign that he/she needs IV fluids or medication to stop these symptoms.
6. Loss of hearing
We live in a media-abundant generation, where kids as young as 5 can have access to a plethora of devices such as tablets, iPods, smartphones, computers, etc. The use of these machines early on can contribute to early hearing loss during the teenage years.
If your child complains about hearing loss during these formative years, immediately bring them to a doctor and minimize the use of such devices for your child’s sake.
7. Breathing problems
Difficulty breathing could mean that a child is suffering from croup (an illness that results in noisy inhalation), asthma, or a lodged piece of food in their throat or lung. Proceed by immediately calling your doctor to get an idea of how to proceed. A piece of food stuck inside a lung must be removed via surgery.
8. Unnatural thirst
It is quite normal for children to ask for water after a long day out with their playmates. However, if their thirst has become very insatiable, immediately go to your doctor to rule out the possibility of diabetes. An increased thirst is one of the many symptoms of diabetes.
9. A rash
Rashes are usually harmless skin irritations that go away. Sans symptoms, they can be ignored. But, if other signs show up like swelling in the face or lips, it might be an allergic reaction. Your doctor may be able to prescribe an antihistamine or allergy shot to keep it at bay.
Then next time you see any of these symptoms, remember this article and always check with your doctor to take the necessary steps. Sound off in the comments section below I you know other child symptoms to look out for.
– Julieane Hernandez is a freelance writer and a hotel and restaurant management graduate turned designer. She’s an advanced tri-athlete during weekends. She’s been in the industry for about 6 years now and She’s learned so much from all the experiences she’s been through. Follow her on twitter and google+.