Guide for fathers and mothers: when children with bronchiolitis should go to the emergency room and when not

Given the saturation of pediatric intensive care units due to bronchiolitis, pediatricians remember that a cough or runny nose is not enough symptoms to rush to the hospital.

this pediatric emergencies are overwhelmed Almost all of Spain. “Historical records of children being cared for are being broken,” explains the doctor david andina, an emergency pediatrician who insists waiting times are increasing in Madrid. Hospital floors and pediatric intensive care units are also full. this Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) It usually produces an annual epidemic from November to March and peaks in mid-December. This virus causes bronchiolitis, which is the most common cause of admission in young children. This is a perfect storm, so all pediatricians are reminded of the vital importance of keeping children away from people with respiratory symptoms. Special attention (and hygiene) should be given to babies under one year old.

at the slightest sign cough, vomiting, or feverMany fathers and mothers—especially first-timers—fear. Should we go to the hospital? Spanish Association for Pediatric Emergencies (SEUP) It has a certificate in the form of a traffic light to guide parents. The green color is to indicate that there is no emergency and you can request a consultation with the pediatrician at the health centre. Amber is for symptoms that require an emergency room visit. And red is for situations where you need to call 112 or go to the hospital “immediately”.

1. Do not go to the emergency room in the following cases…

If your child is coughing or has a runny nose but is not having trouble breathing, there is no need to go to the emergency room. All you have to do is make an appointment with your pediatrician at the health center. The same should be done if you vomit occasionally or if you have a stomach ache (not much) and the pain comes and goes. If you have observed a blemish on your skin but it disappears when pressed, you do not need to go to the emergency room.

2. Go to the emergency room in the following cases…

if you have children breathing difficulties (ribs point or do it very quickly or with a beeping sound) yes, going to the emergency room is okay. It’s the same if it’s a baby under three months old and has a fever (38 degrees or more). Dr. Andina, armpit or rectal temperature in this age group 38ºC or higher opens the possibility of bacterial infection and blood and urinalysis are required. In the remaining ages, fever 40.5ºC (taken with an underarm thermometer, not from the front, this may overestimate the fever) You should also go to the emergency room. Same thing, when your baby is one month old, vomits persistently after all it takes. And also if they appear stains Red spots on their skin that do not go away when you press them with your finger.

3. Go to the emergency room immediately in the following cases…

Besides severe shortness of breath, persistent fever and sudden patches of skin, the SEUP traffic light reminds us what to do. Call 112 or go to the emergency room right away if you are a small bad complexion (blue or grayish) and also abnormal movements (seizures) or unresponsive to stimuli. The same thing has a deep wound and the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure or losing consciousness after hitting him on the head.