When to Seek Medical Care

Call your doctor if the following conditions develop:

• Your child has a high fever.



• The child is breathing faster than normal or has noisy breathing.



• The child has signs of dehydration, including increased sleepiness, dry mouth, or decreased urination.



• The child starts having loud, high-pitched wheezing while breathing.



• The child begins to struggle to breathe or speaks in short sentences because of lack of breath.



• The child has difficulty swallowing.



• The child is having signs of restlessness or sluggishness either from respiratory distress or dehydration.



• The child has signs of respiratory distress, including retractions of skin around the ribs from deep breathing, nostril flaring, or rapid breathing.

Cyanosis, which is a bluish color to the skin, lips, or nail bed, indicates severe lack of oxygen in the body and should be considered an emergency.