What should you do when your child falls and gets a bump on the head? Do you need to go to the emergency department now? Is the croupy cough that just started serious? These are questions that all of us have. And frequently they arise in the evenings and weekend when your doctor's office is closed. The Child Symptoms of the Symptom Checker are designed especially for these times. The topics help you make appropriate decisions on what level of medical care (if any) is needed and how to provide symptom relief for minor conditions at home. You can select any of the 80 Pediatric Topics from the following 15 categories:  Abdomen (GI) Symptoms | Genital or Urinary Symptoms | | Arm & Leg (Limb) Symptoms | Head or Brain Symptoms | | Bites/Stings | Mouth/Teeth/Throat Symptoms | | Breathing or Chest Symptoms | Newborn Questions | | Drug Dosage Tables | Nose Symptoms | | Ear Symptoms | Skin - Localized Symptoms | | Eye Symptoms | Skin - Widespread Symptoms | | Fever/Infections/Crying | |
A Decision Chart (When to Call Your Doctor Chart) is provided for each topic. By using the decision chart and using your common sense, you should be able to select one of the five following Decision Chart categories: - Call 911 Now (you may need an ambulance)
- Call Your Doctor Now (night or day)
- Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm)
- Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours
- Parent Care at Home
When in doubt, call or see your doctor NOW! Or go to the closest emergency department.
Additional Resources:
How to use the Child Health Topics pages
Parent responses to illness & injury
Reviewers of clinical content Disclaimer Notice: The information contained in these topics is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nothing contained in these topics is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. | 
