When to Seek Urgent Medical Care

Emergency warning signs

• Severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, grey colour, pauses in breathing, or a child too breathless to speak, cry, or feed.
• Unconsciousness, seizure, confusion, severe drowsiness, floppy child, or difficult to wake.
• Serious injury, fall from height, head injury with worsening symptoms, suspected fracture, major bleeding, or near drowning.
• Possible poisoning, unsafe medicine ingestion, button battery or magnet ingestion, or chemical exposure.
• Choking, persistent coughing after choking, burns to the face or airway concern, or a burn that is large, deep, or in a sensitive area.

Signs of dehydration or severe illness

• Very reduced urine, no tears, dry mouth, sunken eyes, or a child too tired to drink.
• Persistent vomiting, green vomiting, blood in vomit or stool, or severe abdominal pain.
• Non-blanching rash, stiff neck, severe headache with fever, or a baby under 3 months with fever or poor feeding.
• Severe pain, testicular pain, spreading skin infection, or a child who is rapidly worsening.

What parents can do while getting help

• Call your local emergency number for life-threatening symptoms. In India, 112 is the national emergency response number in many areas; local ambulance numbers may also apply.
• Keep the child in a safe, comfortable position and avoid forcing food or drink if breathing or alertness is affected.
• Bring key details: age, symptoms, timing, allergies, medical conditions, medicines taken, injury details, and product containers if poisoning is possible.
• For concerning but less severe symptoms, contact your paediatrician, local urgent care service, or emergency department for advice.

What not to do

• Do not wait at home for severe breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, ongoing seizure, choking, poisoning, severe injury, or a child who looks dangerously unwell.
• Do not give repeated medicines to hide worsening symptoms without medical review.
• Do not use this guide to decide that urgent care is unnecessary when your concern remains high.

Red flags / when to seek urgent care

Medical disclaimer

References

1. Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Kids Health Info emergency and illness guidance. Accessed 24 May 2026.
2. NHS. Child illness and poisoning guidance. Accessed 24 May 2026.
3. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Emergency symptoms guidance. Accessed 24 May 2026.
4. Government of India. 112 Emergency Response Support System resources. Accessed 24 May 2026.