Red Flags: When to Seek Urgent Medical Care

What is it?

Red flags are warning signs that a child may need urgent medical review. They do not always mean a serious illness is present, but they should not be ignored.

Contact your paediatrician or doctor promptly for concerning but less severe symptoms. Seek urgent medical care now if symptoms are severe, worsening, or your child looks very unwell.

Symptoms and signs to take seriously

• Breathing difficulty, blue lips, grey or pale colour, or pauses in breathing.
• Not drinking, very reduced urine, dry mouth, no tears, or lethargy.
• Seizure, confusion, very drowsy child, or difficult to wake.
• Non-blanching rash, persistent high fever, or fever in a young baby.
• Severe or worsening pain, green vomiting, or blood in vomit or stool.

Breathing danger signs

• Breathing difficulty, fast breathing, chest indrawing, or ribs sucking in.
• Blue lips, grey or pale colour, or child too breathless to feed, speak, or cry normally.
• Pauses in breathing, grunting, severe wheeze, or noisy breathing at rest.
• Call your local emergency number if breathing difficulty is severe.

Dehydration signs

• Not drinking or unable to keep fluids down.
• Very reduced urine, fewer wet nappies, or dark urine.
• Dry mouth, no tears, sunken eyes, marked weakness, or dizziness.
• Lethargy or a child who is too tired to drink.

Brain and behaviour warning signs

• Seizure, seizure not stopping, or repeated seizures.
• Stiff neck, severe headache with fever, confusion, or unusual behaviour.
• Very drowsy, floppy, difficult to wake, or not responding normally.
• Call your local emergency number if the child is unconscious or a seizure is not stopping.

Fever and rash warning signs

• Non-blanching rash, which means a rash that does not fade when pressed.
• Persistent high fever, fever with a very unwell child, or fever in a young baby.
• Rash with breathing difficulty, drowsiness, neck stiffness, or severe pain.
• Skin infection signs such as spreading redness, swelling, warmth, pain, pus, or oozing.

Pain and abdomen warning signs

• Severe or worsening pain anywhere in the body.
• Right lower abdominal pain, abdominal distension, or child unable to walk straight because of pain.
• Green vomiting, persistent vomiting, or blood in vomit or stool.
• Testicular pain or swelling in boys needs urgent review.

Baby-specific warning signs

• Baby under 3 months with fever, poor feeding, breathing symptoms, or unusual sleepiness.
• Poor feeding, fewer wet nappies, weak cry, floppy baby, or difficult to wake.
• Repeated vomiting, green vomiting, blue colour, or pauses in breathing.
• If you are worried about a young baby, seek medical advice early.

Injury and accident warning signs

• Serious fall, head injury, seizure after injury, repeated vomiting after injury, or unusual drowsiness.
• Burn, poisoning, choking episode, near drowning, or suspected fracture.
• Severe bleeding, deep wound, bite injury, or injury with breathing difficulty.
• Call your local emergency number for severe injury, unconsciousness, choking, poisoning, or major breathing difficulty.

Home management while arranging care

• Stay calm, keep the child in a comfortable position, and do not force food or drink if breathing is difficult.
• Keep important details ready: age, symptoms, temperature, medicines taken, allergies, medical conditions, and recent events.
• For concerning but less severe symptoms, contact your paediatrician or doctor promptly.
• For severe symptoms, go to urgent care or call your local emergency number.

What to avoid

• Do not wait at home if the child has severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, unconsciousness, a seizure that is not stopping, or severe injury.
• Do not give repeated medicines to hide worsening symptoms without medical review.
• Do not use this guide as a diagnosis checklist or treatment algorithm.
• Do not ignore your concern if the child looks very different from usual.

School and daycare guidance

A child with red flag symptoms should not attend school or daycare. After urgent illness or injury, return should follow doctor advice, local policy, and the child ability to participate safely.

Important facts

• Parents know their child usual behaviour. A major change deserves attention.
• Red flags are about safety, not blame or panic.
• When in doubt, seeking advice early is safer than waiting for severe symptoms.
• This guide cannot cover every situation. Use clinical help when something feels wrong.

Red flags / when to seek urgent care

Medical disclaimer

References

1. RCH Kids Health Info. Fever in children. Accessed 20 May 2026.
2. RCH Kids Health Info. Dehydration. Accessed 20 May 2026.
3. NHS. Child illness urgent warning signs. Accessed 20 May 2026.
4. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Emergency symptoms guidance. Accessed 20 May 2026.