By Aiden ArmstrongWhen your child is sick, it is often a difficult decision whether to take them to a regular urgent care versus an emergency room. Pediatrics Urgent Care in Summerville SC can be a valuable resource for after-hours care without an unnecessary trip to the ER, but how can you tell what is and isn’t necessary? Here is a quick guide to help you decide where to take your child when they need help after hours.
There are many reasons why you may not want to take your child to the ER if it is not necessary. In addition to the extremely high cost of going to an ER, there is a risk of exposing your child to germs from other sick patients, which could make your problem worse. When possible, it is usually best to go to Pediatrics Urgent Care in Summerville SC first and find out what the problem is. If your child needs to go to an ER, the urgent care doctors can usually tell you right away. However, there are some exceptions.
If your child is a newborn, less than 2 months of age, and is running a fever, it is best to go to the ER, as fevers can be extremely dangerous to newborns. Another case where going to the ER first is a good idea is if your child has a medical history such as a history of seizures. If something serious has happened to your child in the past, especially something you fear may be happening again, that is a valid reason to go to the ER instead of wasting time at urgent care. If your child is breathing oddly or has signs of dehydration, that is another reason to head straight to the ER.
In many cases, Pediatrics Urgent Care in Summerville SC can do a fine job of taking care of your child without costing expensive hospital bills and exposing your child to dangerous germs. When in doubt, make sure you can call a hospital or urgent care when you first notice symptoms. Click here for more information.
