How do you decide when to take you child to the doctor?

My DD has had a cough and runny nose (clear) for about a week. The cough sounds to me like it's in her chest. She doesn't have a fever. She is acting normally otherwise. I want to take her in, my husband thinks there's no need.

Would you take your child in for this? How do you decide when to take them in and when to just ride it out? P.S. My DD is 18months old.

Thanks!

How do you decide when to take you child to the doctor?

if she's sick and not getting better or if she has symptoms that i dont know how to treat i call. they usually will tell me over the phone if i should come in or not. of course if i wanted to go in i would just call and make a sick appointment.

however i always go by how the child acts cause that is what my ped recommends. if the child is in no way bothered by the cough and runny nose i prob wouldnt do anything other than maybe give some honey with lemon to break up the congestion. but my DD gets like that from teething so i know its nothing to be concerned about unless it doesn't go away by the time the teeth cut.

honestly the dr cant do anything if its just a cough and runny nose so I wouldnt go in unless you are concerned for other reasons. if you are borderline its probably worth calling.

Re: How do you decide when to take you child to the doctor?

If I am concerned I call the drs office and ask if they think I need to bring DC in. If they say no they usually tell me what I can do for it at home.

How do you decide when to take you child to the doctor?

I learned a 3 day rule applies. If she's acting fine and otherwise alright, eating as well. Then the 3 day rule applies. 3 days with a fever and then I take her in. Any sooner I'm told its just a viral thing or its a cold with a fever or its about to end, or too early or something.

At 3days its like IT saying "did you reboot" and you say "Yeah 3 times and i defragged" they seem to look at her differently like "oh well then...."

Now if she's acting 'low' or not herself or if the fever will NOT react to tylenol or motrin by itself and if it only comes down with both, then its a more immediate issue. Here's my list:

3 days before appt:
- fever (controlled with one drug)
- otherwise fine
- eating well

24hrs/Night Pediatrics
- fever (controlled by at least one drug but better with two)
- lethargic
- not eating well

Immediate
- trouble breathing / swallowing
- Can't seem to stay awake
- fever over 104 (lasting longer than one hour with meds)
- obvious emergancy issues

But that's just *ME*. You have to consider *I* use the same general rules for myself except 7 days and 3 days instead of 3d / 24hrs.

Re: How do you decide when to take you child to the doctor?

I would take DS to the dr for a cough/runny nose for longer then 4 days. If he has those symptoms with a temp over 101 then he goes sooner.. So far I have only been told 2 times that he just has a cold. Every other time it has been an ear infection, URI, or sinus infection....