When to call your child's doctor

From the first few months with your newborn through the toddler years and beyond, you're likely to have many questions for your child's doctor. Although some of the following advice applies especially to newborns and their parents, the information can be helpful at any stage of parenting.

Before calling the doctor, be prepared to describe your child's symptoms. You may want to have paper and pencil handy to write down any instructions the doctor gives you. It's also helpful to have the name and phone number of a local pharmacy ready, in case the doctor wants to call in a prescription for your child. If you're expecting the doctor to call you back, it's best to keep the phone line open. You may be given a time frame for when to expect the return call. To be prepared for future calls, find out from your child's doctor what to do when you need advice after business hours.


Questions to consider
General questions

When did the symptoms first appear?

How long have the symptoms been present?

Could anything have triggered the symptoms or made them worse?

Have you tried any treatments at home, such as over-the-counter medications or home remedies? What did you try (including medication dosages if applicable), when was the treatment given, and did it help?

Is your child taking any prescription medications?

Has your child been exposed to any contagious diseases, such as chickenpox or strep throat?

Is your child cared for in a child care setting? Are any of the other children there ill?

Is anyone else in the family ill?

Has your child had any recent injuries or falls?

Is your child able to move his or her arms and legs normally?

What is your child's temperature? Keep in mind air temperature, your child's level of activity and the time of day -- temperatures tend to be higher later in the day. Your child's doctor may not be concerned about a rectal temperature below 100.4°F, but an ongoing fever with rectal temperature over 102°F may require medical evaluation. Rather than relying on how warm your child feels, be sure to take his or her temperature. Don't wory about conversions. Simply tell the doctor what the thermometer reads and where the temperature was taken: oral, axillary, rectal, ear or skin.

Symptoms of infection require medical evaluation. Is the area red or streaked with red? Is there any swelling? Is the area warm to the touch? Is there any pus discharge? Is your child in discomfort?
Specific ear-related questions

Is your child pulling or poking at one or both ears?

Is there any discharge from the ears?
Specific respiratory questions

Is your child's nose stuffed up? Describe any congestion problems.

If your child's nose is runny, is the discharge clear and watery or thick and green or yellow in color?

Is your child coughing? Is the cough dry or loose? Does your child cough up any phlegm? If so, is it clear or colored?

Is your child's breathing labored, rapid or noisy? Is there any difference when your child is at rest? Is there any wheezing? Can you count your child's breathing rate? Can you describe how your child's chest, neck and abdomen look when your child breathes?

Does your child's coloring look healthy, or is there paleness around the mouth or in the nail beds? As your child breathes, what does his or her facial expression look like?

Does your child have a history of asthma?
Specific vomiting/diarrhea questions

How many times has your child vomited?

If your child has diarrhea, how many stools has he or she had? What is the consistency and volume of the stools?

If your child is older, when did he or she last urinate? For infants, how many wet diapers have you changed? Also, does your baby's fontanel (soft spot) appear sunken?

How frequent is the vomiting or diarrhea? When did it start? What color is it?
Specific skin-related questions

Does your child have a rash? When did it start? What does it look like? Be prepared to describe any rash as accurately as possible.

Where is the rash located? Is it widespread or only in one area?

Does the rash appear to be itchy?

What color is the affected area?

Is the rash flat or raised?

If spots are present, how many are there and how big are they?

Does the skin feel warm or cool to the touch?

Is your child's skin moist or dry?

Is your child's skin yellow in color? Jaundice (yellowing of the skin) is common from two or three days after birth through the first week of life. It's especially important to ask the doctor about jaundice that exists at birth, develops within the first 24 hours of life or develops or continues after two weeks. The doctor will want to know if your baby is nursing or receiving formula.
Specific throat- and teeth-related questions

Do your child's gums appear swollen where teeth might soon break through?

Are there any white patches on your child's gums, tongue or palate?

Does your child have a sore throat or difficulty swallowing?

Is your child eating fewer solids or drinking less fluids?
Specific behavior-related questions

Has there been any change in your child's routine or normal behavior?

Does your child's cry seem intense or high pitched? How long does it last? Is your child consolable? Be especially aware of sudden crying episodes. For an older infant or toddler, is there intermittent and inconsolable crying?

Is your child less active than usual?

Is your child alert and responsive or too sleepy to arouse?

Is your child more tired than usual or limp and suddenly uninterested?

Is your child more fussy or irritable than usual?

Has your child had a change in sleeping habits?

Has your child had a change in appetite? Let the doctor know if your baby is refusing to breastfeed or take a bottle.
Specific medical history questions

How old is your child?

What is your child's medical history? For example, has your child developed frequent ear infections or been diagnosed with asthma or another chronic disease?

Has your child had a recent immunization?

Has your child developed any medication allergies?

Considerations
If your baby is younger than 3 months old, contact the doctor immediately for symptoms such as fever (100.4°F or higher taken rectally), diarrhea, vomiting, cough, poor feeding or unusual irritability. At this age, what appear to be minor symptoms may actually be the warning signs of a serious illness.
It's typical for children younger than age 5 to develop six to eight colds or other respiratory infections a year, along with two or more bouts of vomiting or diarrhea. The rate of infection often decreases with age, depending on how often the child is exposed to cold viruses or other viruses.

Keep in mind that your child's developmental stage has a significant influence on symptom assessment. For example, an infant who's 1 month old is fairly nearsighted and would be expected to focus only on objects within 1 to 2 feet of his or her eyes. It would be typical to ignore objects in the peripheral (side) vision fields.

When appropriate, allow your child to describe his or her symptoms to the doctor directly. This information can help the doctor assess your child's needs.