Urgent care or emergency room: Determining the best fit for your sick or injured child

Ear pain, sore throats, colds and flu, minor burns and cuts. For some children, childhood is marked by more than just a few visits to the emergency room or urgent care clinic. Many times, when childhood injuries and illnesses occur, the doctor's office is closed. Parents are left asking whether to steer the car in the direction of the emergency room or an urgent care clinic.

Urgent care clinics are for illnesses and injuries that your child normally would receive care for at his or her doctor's office. Most often, urgent care locations are open when regular doctors' offices are closed. In many cases, urgent care clinics will offer lower co-pays and shorter wait times than emergency rooms.

Your child may need urgent care for:

• Ear infections with pain and/or fever.
• Sore or strep throat.
• Cold or the flu.
• Mild asthma attacks.
• Vomiting and diarrhea, especially in babies and small children.
• Minor bleeding.
• Minor burns or cuts.
• Minor head injury with no loss of consciousness.
• Hives, rash or diaper rash.
• Bruises or sprains.
• Lice, scabies or ringworm.
• Drug reactions such as hives or rashes.

The emergency room is for more serious illnesses and injuries. Emergency rooms are equipped to care for all patients, from those with minor illnesses to those with life-threatening injuries. Because of this, patients with a less severe problem usually will have to wait - sometimes hours - until the more critically ill patients are treated. 

Your child may need emergency care for:

• Serious broken bones such as the leg or arm.
• Gun or knife wounds.
• Severe or unusual bleeding that will not stop.
• Suspected stroke.
• Sudden inability to see, move or speak.
• Choking or trouble breathing.
• Possible poisoning.
• Unconsciousness.
• Fainting or syncope.
• Convulsions or prolonged, repeated seizures.
• Drug overdose.
• Major injuries.
• Severe pain.

Unfortunately, some childhood injuries and illnesses may require more immediate care. In emergencies, always call 9-1-1.

While arming yourself with information is one of the best things you can do, remember to trust your instincts. You know your child best.