No matter how hard the parents try, kids fall ill quite often. While in most cases these illnesses resolve on their own, sometimes they may require medical assistance. It is paramount that such serious illnesses are recognized early at home so that proper treatment is started at the earliest. Delay in initiating treatment can indeed adversely affect the outcome. So, it is very helpful to have a checklist of signs that may indicate something serious is going on and we need to act urgently. Here is one such checklist that can be helpful, especially for new parents.

1. Change In Skin Colour

A visible change in the colour of the skin from normal to excessively pale or bluish may indicate poor blood supply and/ or lack of oxygen. Since both of these cases are serious, you must consult a child specialist if your child experiences a change in their skin colour.

2. Breathing Difficulty

You must consult a specialist if your baby is experiencing any difficulty in breathing. This difficulty may present as fast breathing or in-drawing of the abdomen. Sometimes, it may also be associated with some noisy breathing indicating a problem associated with the windpipes or the lungs. Rarely, breathing difficulty may also be a sign of some heart issues.

3. Drowsiness

Drowsiness is a state where your kid needs more than usual stimulation to wake up and is excessively sleepy. This indicates the brain is not working properly, which may happen for many reasons. This should always be taken seriously and must be informed to a specialist immediately.

4. Persistent Excessive Irritability

All children can be fussy and irritable for various reasons. However, due to their inherent nature, they usually calm down. If they remain restless for a prolonged period of time (say more than an hour), then you must consult a doctor to determine the underlying reason. 

5. Spontaneous Bleeding 

It is normal for kids to experience a nosebleed during the summer season. however, if it becomes frequent, consult a doctor immediately. 

You must understand, the presence of any of these signs does not indicate anything serious. The doctor would need to perform the required tests to confirm any diagnosis. However, if such signs are always addressed properly then you can rest assured that you would not miss anything serious or critical. If you have more questions,

Consult Dr Agni Sekhar Saha

Medically reviewed by Dr Sonia Bhatt.