Pediatric Emergencies

Pediatric Emergencies

We’re Safe, Effective & Always Open.

Free Medical Screening

Pediatric Emergencies

Pediatric Emergencies Require Immediate Specialized Care. Knowing what type of injury or illness can be cared for at home or when it’s best to visit the Doctor or ER is vital.

Pediatric Emergencies Make up 30% of all ER Visits

Children represent nearly 30% of all emergency room visits. They are one of the most diverse and challenging patients for an emergency physician, which is why having pediatric emergency doctors, nurses and pediatric care rooms on hand is so important.

What are the Most Common Pediatric Emergencies?

There are many reasons why children end up in one of our emergency centers, luckily only about 5% of the patients are critically ill or injured.

baby receiving medical exam

Pediatric Emergencies Require Immediate Specialized Care. Knowing what type of injury or illness can be cared for at home or when it’s best to visit the Doctor or ER is vital.

Pediatric Emergencies

Some of the common reasons why parents bring their children to the ER include:

Infections

Infections can be viral, bacterial, or fungal, and they range from mild to life-threatening. It is important to remember that any infection which is not treated properly can cause serious harm to any patient but especially children.

Types of Infections Treated in the ER

  • Ear Infections
  • Respiratory Infections
  • Infected Cuts and Lacerations
  • Meningitis
  • Encephalitis
  • Endocarditis
  • Whooping Cough

Skin Conditions

Skin conditions vary greatly in symptoms and severity, some are temporary while others are chronic, some are accompanied by pain, itchiness, or some other form of discomfort, while others are painless. Some skin conditions are due to genetic factors others are related to viral illnesses or exposure to certain substances.

Types of Skin Conditions Treated in Our Pediatric Emergency Rooms

  • Hives
  • Rashes
  • Erythema
  • Chicken Pox
  • Pustules

Pain

Pain has many causes, pain that is produced by having hit against something is something that is usually temporary, and, in most cases, it won’t require medical attention, however, if the trauma was severe enough it could cause hairline fractures which will require x-rays to diagnose.

Pain can also be caused by inflamed organs, or some illnesses and these will require an evaluation by a pediatric physician.

Types of Pain Diagnosed and Treated in the Emergency Room

  • Abdominal Pain
  • Chest Pain
  • Acute Headaches
  • Orthopedic Pain

Environmental Injuries

Sometimes the medical emergency is caused by an environmental cause, being exposed to toxic substances, fire, water submersion, etc.

Types of Environmental Injuries Treated in Our Centers

  • Poisoning
  • Burns
  • Smoke Inhalation
  • Drowning
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Hypothermia
  • Heat Stroke
  • Dehydration

Trauma

When a child is involved in an accident be it as a pedestrian, on their bicycles, in a car crash, a fall, or when playing sports, moderate to severe trauma can occur. These situations will always require a visit to the doctor or emergency room depending on the severity of the injuries.

Types of Trauma Treated in the ER

  • Concussions
  • Bone Fractures
  • Deep Lacerations
  • Head Injuries

Digestive Issues

Children are exposed to numerous viruses and bacteria, and some have undiagnosed food allergies or sensitivities which can cause digestive problems.

Digestive Issues Treated in All Our Centers

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)
  • Gastritis
  • Intestinal Obstruction
  • Hepatitis

When to Go to the Emergency Room

When it comes children, parents need to trust their instincts, nobody knows or understands the patient better than the parents, in general terms parents should bring their kids into the emergency room for an emergency pediatric evaluation when:

  • The child is complaining of severe pain
  • The child has trouble breathing
  • When they have unrelenting diarrhea and vomiting
  • If they have been injured in a fall, crash or while playing sports
  • If they have few or no bowel movements
  • Bowel movements that are painful
  • If they have a fever which is not responding to medication
  • If the child was exposed to any toxic substance
  • If the child shows signs of dehydration
When to Go to the Emergency Room with a Chest Pain?
Emergency Street sign

If you experience recurrent chest pain or pain that lasts for several hours or even days, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

However, if your chest pain is gradually getting worse, with pain building in intensity that is not relieved by resting, you could be having a heart attack and should come to the nearest Altus Emergency Center immediately. Correctly diagnosing the cause of chest pain is not something you can do at home; only a doctor can do it. And you should never ignore any type of chest pain.

At Altus Emergency Centers, we have the most experienced emergency physicians who can quickly and accurately diagnose the cause of a patient’s chest pain. We are open 24/7, with no lines.

If the chest pain is caused by other factors, our specialists could recommend any of the following:

  • Lung re-inflation in case of a collapsed lung.
  • Antacids and other heartburn medications.
  • Antianxiety medications if a panic attack is responsible for the chest pain.