Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Spanish version
The Sick Infant: Judging the Severity of Illness
During the first 2 years of a child's life, most parents
feel uncomfortable and inadequate in determining how sick
their child is during a cold or other infection. Since the
child can't talk, he or she can't help much with the
diagnosis. How sick your child looks or acts is much more
relevant than the level of fever. Also, a child may look
much better 30 to 40 minutes after the fever is reduced with
medicine.
CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY IF:
- Your child is a newborn (less than 1 month old) with any
sign of illness. (Exception: You don't need to call
your physician if your newborn has just mild nasal
congestion.)
- Your child looks or acts very sick.
- Your child cannot be made to smile or hardly responds.
- Your child refuses to play.
- Your child is too weak to sit up or stand.
- Your child cries constantly for more than 3 hours.
- Your child cries when you touch him or hold him.
- The cry becomes high-pitched and strange sounding.
- The cry becomes a weak whimper or moan.
- Your child cannot sleep for more than 30 minutes at a
time.
- Your child cannot be comforted for more than 30 minutes
at a time.
- Your child cannot be fully awakened.
- Your child's breathing becomes labored.
- Your child's mouth and lips turn bluish.
- Your child's skin becomes grayish.
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