If there is one thing you learn as a parent, it is that there is no need to jump and run to the nearest urgent care center every time your child gets a runny nose or lets out a sneeze. Common colds are just a thing you have to usually wait to run their course and manage the symptoms the best you can when you have a toddler. However, there are some colds that are a little more serious and your toddler may not be able to get over them quite so quickly without medical attention, but how do you know the difference? Check out these three signs your toddler's cold could be more serious than it seems.
Your toddler's temperature is more than just a low-grade fever.
With some of the most basic colds and viruses, it is actually really common for your child to run a mild, low-grade fever because this actually helps the body fight off the bug. However, if there is something more serious taking place, their fever may climb to a higher degree, which can be dangerous. This happens when the body kicks into overtime to try to ward off a virus or threat that it sees as a severe risk, so it is best to seek help at an urgent care center for advice.
Your child is acting like they feel horrible even with a temperature that is not elevated.
Every parent can just about tell you when their child has a fever even when they haven't taken their temperature simply by the way they act. Toddlers will often get fussy, seem really tired and inactive, and may even have a different look about their face. If your child looks and acts like they have a fever, but the thermometer shows a normal reading, it is best to seek medical attention.
Your child develops new symptoms even though you thought they were getting better.
Say for example your toddler has what you think is a common cold. They're coughing, have a runny nose, and maybe even a low-grade fever. You wait for the illness to run its course and the symptoms gradually get better. However, after some symptoms clear up, your toddler starts to complain about new symptoms, like a sore throat or they seem to be running a higher fever. This can actually be a sign that the illness is getting worse, not better, and can mean a respiratory infection or other infectious illness is flaring up. So it is best to get a medical assessment of their condition.
Visit a local pediatric urgent care for more information.
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