When to Call the Doctor

Call the doctor if your child has any of these symptoms:

• high fever with ill appearance
• thick nasal discharge that is yellow, green, or gray
• worsening cough or cough that produces yellow, green, or gray mucus

Call also if you think your child might be dehydrated.

In infants, besides the symptoms already mentioned, call the doctor if your baby is unusually irritable or inactive, or refuses to breastfeed or bottle-feed.

Seek immediate medical help if you feel your child is having difficulty breathing or is breathing very rapidly, is lethargic, or if his or her lips or fingernails appear blue.