A toddler displaying flu-like symptoms is a natural concern for parents. However, determining whether rest and recovery or a Cumming urgent care pediatrician visit is more appropriate can be challenging. Fortunately, most fevers can be treated at home, but with flu symptoms, staying vigilant will ensure your child gets the best medical care at the right time.
What Are the Signs Your Toddler Needs a Flu Pediatrician Visit?
Flu can impact children in many different ways. By assessing the following symptoms, you can determine whether or not a pediatrician visit is in order.
Common Flu Symptoms in Toddlers
Before focusing on some of the more severe flu symptoms affecting toddlers, it’s worth looking at the more common signs. Some signs of flu in toddlers share similarities with the common cold, but children with flu will typically feel worse and experience a faster onset of these symptoms.
- Runny or stuffy nose
- High temperature
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Mild body aches
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Decreased appetite
Flu Symptoms Requiring a Flu Pediatrician Visit
Urgent care doctors treat children needing rapid attention, bypassing an emergency room visit. The following signs of flu indicate a pediatric visit is necessary for assessing and monitoring the condition, and providing medication if required.
- Persistent fever – If a fever persists for more than a few days, your pediatrician may want to evaluate your child.
- Worsening cough – A cough that gets worse (or improves, then worsens) can signal an issue.
- Consistent lethargy – If your child remains unusually weak and lethargic, they may require a flu treatment intervention.
- Breathing difficulties – Breathing concerns that are not severe enough for the emergency room require a flu pediatrician visit.
- Dehydration – Dry lips and decreased urination are signs that your toddler is dehydrated.
- Ear pain – When a child tugs at their ear it’s often a signal that the flu has led to complications, like sinusitis or an ear infection.
- Vomiting – If your child is struggling to keep fluids down, speak with your pediatrician to allow monitoring for dehydration.
- Exacerbating long-term conditions – For children with a chronic medical condition, flu symptoms could cause their health to become worse overall.
Pediatric Treatments for Flu in Toddlers
During an urgent care visit, your pediatrician will first perform a diagnostic test to confirm the flu. Following diagnosis, various pediatric influenza treatments can be used to reduce symptoms. Common treatments include over-the-counter solutions and antiviral medication.
As with all medical conditions, pediatric doctors focus on providing individualized care based on the flu’s severity and the duration of the illness, along with medical complications (if present). In addition, parents can access up-to-date health advice that includes nutritional support, prevention recommendations, flu vaccination guidance and so on.
Contact Us for Flu Pediatrician Visits in Cumming
If your child is experiencing flu symptoms, arrange a same-day sick care visit with Vickery Pediatrics. Our pediatric team offers expert care for families in Cumming, Buford, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Sugar Hill, Suwanee and Forsyth County. Call (678) 990-2501 or request an appointment today.
