Children require constant attention and care. They encounter so many new experiences as they grow; it’s always a question of what the next day will bring. It is common for children to contact germs that lead to a cold or stomach bug. Children frequently fall and obtain various bumps, scrapes, and other injuries. There is no planned schedule for these mishaps, and it’s never known when one will require an unplanned visit to a healthcare provider.
AFC Urgent Care North Bergen can treat patients from age 1 to 99. Our center treats general illness symptoms and injuries and even has preventative care. Learn more about what we provide and visit our urgent care center today.
Emergencies
These incidents often require a trip to see a medical professional. While taking the child to their pediatrician would usually be preferred, it isn’t always possible. Accidents and illness strike at all hours of the night and on the weekend. Urgent cares and emergency rooms offer quick treatment around the clock for these situations. Knowing when to take a child to the emergency room and when an urgent care facility would be more beneficial is important.
Urgent Care
Urgent care offers medical professionals who regularly deal with various health conditions and types of patients. They have the knowledge and tools to treat many sudden health conditions in children. Urgent Cares are often located in more convenient locations, provide quality care, and are more cost-effective than emergency rooms.
Urgent care should be utilized for non-life-threatening situations where the child is not at immediate or obvious risk. Common health conditions that can be treated at urgent care include:
- Minor lacerations
- Cough
- Asthma
- Ear pain
- Allergic reactions
- Minor burns
- Flu
- Strains and sprains
- Abdominal pain
- Croup
- Fever (100 degrees or higher for children older than eight weeks)
- Minor burns
- Pink eye
- Bumps and bruises
- Sinus infections
- Vomiting
- Skin infection
- Diarrhea
- Urinary tract infections
- Rashes
Emergency Room
The emergency room is the most well-equipped medical facility and is made to handle life-threatening situations, including with children. They have the experience, staff, and equipment to stabilize patients and treat them efficiently.
Emergency rooms may be in a more centralized location, can be overcrowded, and will often be a costly monetary burden. Health conditions that require an emergency room include:
- Fever of 100 degrees or high (children under four weeks old)
- Snake bites
- Change or loss of vision
- Severe lacerations
- Major fractures
- Broken skin fractures
- Fainting
- Spinal injury
- Serious burns
- Undiagnosed seizures
- Coughing up blood
- Vomiting blood
- Change of mental state
- Difficulty breathing
- Uncontrolled bleeding
Professional Guidance
These guidelines should aid parents trying to decide where to take their sick or injured child. Certain circumstances will call for other options, but it is best to reach out to a medical professional when a child requires care. Pediatricians have the child’s background information and can help decide where the child should be treated in urgent situations.
