Respiratory infections are currently more common in children and infants. What warning signs parents should know and when it’s time for the hospital.
Bremen – Corona, flu and the RS virus are currently circulating and are causing significant sick leave. Experts are already sounding the alarm over the triple wave of respiratory illnesses that might make this winter a very tough one. In addition, there are the “normal” colds, which are completely normal for this time of year.
Children in particular are currently suffering greatly from this wave of infections. Many fall ill unusually often and seriously, so that they have to be treated in hospital. The RS virus in particular is currently causing problems for the little patients. Children’s hospitals are therefore already at the limit in many places, there are simply not enough beds to look following the sick children.
Corona, RSV, flu: With respiratory infections, parents are often unsure when the child should see a doctor
True, many viral diseases in children can be treated at home. But sometimes there is no way around taking the child to the hospital or to the pediatrician. The uncertainty of many parents with regard to respiratory diseases is currently high – especially in view of the increased incidence of the RS virus, many are quickly alarmed. But the omicron variant BQ.1.1 of the corona virus also worries many parents. How can you recognize the signs of whether the child has just caught a harmless infection or whether there is an emergency that requires immediate action?
When the child should go to the hospital immediately – do not hesitate if you have a very high fever or febrile convulsions
In young children, body temperature often rises. Fever is not always a bad thing in itself, but merely a sign that the little one’s immune system is also working at full speed because it is busy fighting off pathogens. From 38.5 degrees Celsius one speaks of fever in children, in the first weeks of life from 38 degrees Celsius.
From 39 degrees Celsius it is according to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) regarding high fever. Such temperatures are not uncommon in children and they can usually be controlled with antipyretics.
However, there is a limit as to when the child should be taken to a clinic immediately. And it’s loud Focus at a body temperature of 41.5 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is so high, there may be a risk of death. The child must then be given intravenous antipyretics and fluids in the hospital. In the case of bacterial infections, antibiotics must be administered quickly. Another emergency in connection with infections is a so-called febrile seizure. If it occurs for the first time or lasts longer than three minutes, you should also take the child to the hospital.
Infections in children: When is the fever so high that rapid medical attention is needed for the sick child?
However, it does not always have to be the emergency room of the hospital when the child is seriously ill. In some cases, however, rapid medical attention is required. According to that Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG) The pediatrician should be consulted if:
- your child’s fever rises to over 39 degrees, in babies under three months already from 38 degrees
- if the fever lasts longer than a day in babies and children up to two years of age
- if it occurs intermittently or repeatedly
- if the fever does not go down despite antipyretics
- if the child has a febrile seizure
What other signs should the child see a doctor besides fever?
Aside from body temperature, there are a few other signs parents or caregivers should look for in children. Loud IQWiG the child should go to the pediatrician’s practice for clarification if, in addition to the fever, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain occurs, a skin rash occurs, your child cannot breathe properly, groans when breathing or if you hear “crackling” breathing noises.
If the child can hardly tilt its head forward, it should also be taken to a doctor quickly. A stiff neck can indicate meningitis, which also requires quick action. In principle, if you have a fever, you should always see a doctor if you are unsure and the child makes a bad overall impression or is apathetic.
When you should take your child to the hospital immediately if they have an infection
does that rise Fever of the child over 41.5 degrees Celsius, the child must be taken to the hospital immediately. Otherwise there is a risk of death. The child then needs intravenous fever reducers and fluids.
Even with one febrile seizure the child should be presented to the clinic – if this is the first time it occurs or if the spasm lasts longer than three minutes. Febrile seizures, while often frightening, are usually harmless.
Caution: Babies do not always have a high fever when they are seriously ill
It’s a little different for babies under three months old. They can also be more seriously ill if they only have a high temperature and not yet a fever. The ability to respond with fever may not be fully developed in children’s immune systems at such a young age. Loud BZgA a severe infection can still be present when measuring “normal” or only “slightly elevated” temperatures. In infants in the first few weeks of life, one speaks of a fever from 38 degrees Celsius.
Parents should also pay attention to whether the baby seems unusually limp or lethargic, whether it does not want to drink, only briefly or weakly, or whether it shows a changed skin color (pale, bluish, red). In this case, you should take the child to the pediatrician relatively quickly.
RSV, corona, flu: the child is very ill, apathetic or can’t breathe – what to do in an emergency?
Since the course of infections in children can change quickly, parents should speak up IQWiG not be afraid to take the sick child to the doctor’s office twice on the same day if the state of health requires it. Parents sometimes go to the emergency room unnecessarily and the clinics are currently very busy, says Jakob Maske from the Professional Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ) to the editorial network Germany (RND). Nevertheless, they usually have a good sense of whether their child is seriously ill and needs help.
Outside of office hours, information from the medical on-call service can be reached on 116117. If the disease progresses more seriously, the child is then referred to the hospital. In the case of respiratory infections such as RS, flu or corona, for example, it is necessary if the children need to be monitored around the clock or if oxygen or ventilation may be required. In an emergency, you can call the emergency medical service by dialing 112 and you can call an ambulance yourself.
