Would you know if your child was sick? Here are the signs and symptoms.
How can you tell when a child is sick, and needs to be seen by a healthcare provider? It’s a very real concern for many parents. Sometimes a child is too young to tell you when they’re ill, or don’t know yet how to tell you what’s wrong. To make matters even more complicated, symptoms can sometimes be confusing.
So, how can you tell? Sometimes the symptoms are obvious. If your child has a fever, is vomiting or has diarrhea, has a cough, a rash, or is in pain, then you’ll want to call a trusted medical provider. But sometimes the symptoms are more vague.
Here are a list of symptoms to watch for in children. Keep this list handy to consult. Is your child suffering from any of the following issues?
- Lower than normal energy
- New troubles with sleeping
- Out of the ordinary fretfulness, listlessness or irritability
- Crankiness, and you’re unable to comfort them when you usually can
- Loss of appetite
- If your child seems unusually flushed or pale
- Complaints of feeling cold
These are common symptoms of illness that parents often see in young children. If you’re concerned, it’s worth checking out.
In addition to watching for the symptoms on the list, we also recommend that you trust your instincts. For the most part, if your child is eating, sleeping and playing normally then all is likely to be well. You know your child, and what is likely to be normal for them. But if your child is acting differently than is usual for them, then it’s wise to look for causes and try to determine if they are ill or dealing with a new issue.
Here are some things that can cause new, unusual issues in a child’s behavior and health. If you think any of the following might be an issue, then it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider:
- Mold in the home
- Evidence of allergies
- Food intolerances
- Other environmental irritants, such as lead
- Possible parasitic or other infection due to exposure on a trip or outing, or due to pets in the home
You’ll want to make sure to find a health care provider that’s open to reviewing all holistic factors, to make sure you don’t miss underlying issues. You want to take into consideration all factors, including environmental risks and new situations that might have uncovered an issue for your child.
If you’re concerned about your child and want to try a holistic, integrative approach to taking care of the health of your family please don’t hesitate to reach reach out to us. Visit us online to learn more and feel free to reach out with any questions.