Childhood is full of bumps, bruises, sniffles and sneezes, and a home with children never seems to have enough Band-Aids and cough syrup. But, as a parent, how do you know whether your child's scraped knee or runny nose warrants a remedy from the medicine cabinet or a trip to the doctor? What follows are some general guidelines for when to seek medical help.
When to Call for Common Problems

  Fever - Although fever is often a sign that the body is fighting infection, it's important to monitor a child's fever closely. Body temperature is considered feverish if it is more than 100.4 degrees. For an infant under 4 months, call the doctor right away when fever is present. When the child is older than 4 months, call the doctor if a fever is 104 degrees or higher and hasn't responded to home treatment within four hours. 

  Colds - A child's cough and runny nose may simply be signs of a common cold; however, they can also be symptoms of a more serious viral or bacterial infection. Call your doctor if your child:

• Has had a cough and runny nose longer than two weeks.
• Has trouble swallowing.
• Has a frequent, choking cough.
• Has ear pain or bloody discharge from the ear.
• Has thick eye discharge.

  Vomiting - Most bouts of vomiting can be dealt with at home. Call your doctor if your child has had recurrent vomiting for more than 12 hours, shows signs of dehydration, is abnormally drowsy or vomits greenish-yellow matter. 

  Rashes - Poison ivy, diaper rash or eczema can usually be treated at home with Calamine lotion and wet compresses. Call your doctor, however, if your child's rash is large, accompanied by a fever, causes swelling around the eyes or has itching that can't be controlled with lotion. 

  Burns - A burn over a small area that is slightly swollen and red can usually be treated with cool water and acetaminophen to ease pain. Burns with blisters covering large areas of the body should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.

  All of the problems listed above have the potential to become serious and require treatment from a doctor. But if the problem gets worse in the middle of the night, how do you know if you should seek urgent care or visit the emergency room? 

  An ailment that requires urgent care needs prompt attention, usually within 48 hours, but does not pose an immediate health threat. Some conditions that may require urgent care include:

• A sprain or fracture.
• Lacerations that may need stitches.
• A mild asthma attack.
• Violent vomiting.
• Persistent high fever.
• A sudden rash.

  A situation that requires an emergency room visit or a call to 911 is usually sudden and life-threatening, such as:

• Unconsciousness.
• Extreme difficulty breathing. 
• Seizures.
• Head trauma.
• Severe bleeding.
• Choking.

  If you're unsure about your child's symptoms and what to do or something just doesn't seem right, don't be afraid to call your doctor. When in doubt, it's always better to be safe than sorry.