Your teen gets home from school. They’re pale, lethargic, and irritable. They’re not their moody self. No, this feels different.
And you can’t help that gnawing sensation in the back of your mind that they’re not OK, even after they repeatedly say they’re fine. Retreating to their bedroom, they stay there for the rest of the day. You don’t want to be that overbearing parent, so you let them be, until you feel a tug in your sleep.
“I don’t feel so good,” says a feeble voice, standing on the edge of your bed. The moonlight casts a shadow on their face, drained of color and dripping in sweat. The alarm clock blinks 2 am. Options are limited. What do you do?
Why Your Child’s Symptoms Are Worse at Night
It’s not your imagination. Symptoms generally tend to act up at night. Physician Dr. Alan Greene has a few possible reasons.
When lying down, the pressure on our bodies changes. It increases congestion, earache, a sore throat, and several kinds of coughs.
The Circadian Rhythm governs our daily hormone levels. Cortisol, a stress hormone, keeps us from feeling pain during the day. When night comes, our brains process the stimuli and pay more attention to the source of the pain, increasing it.
When You Should Be Concerned
Most parents grapple with this. “Is my child sick enough to warrant a visit to the ER?” By using the process of elimination, you can determine if they need medical intervention.
Step 1
Stay calm. Your kid might see your panicked reaction, which will only make things worse. Take their temperature. Remember, anything over 100.4°F reads as a fever.
Also, listen to their breathing. Wheezing or struggling to breathe requires immediate attention. Check for signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth. Ask them to rate their pain and discomfort on a scale of one to five, with one being mild and five being severe.
Step 2
The aim is to relieve them of their pain, so treat it accordingly. Ibuprofen, recommended by your doctor, works well for older kids. If your teen is congested, use saline drops or a humidifier. Let them sleep on an elevated pillow.
A warm compress helps soothe ear pain, while an upset stomach can handle small sips of water.
Step 3
Mild symptoms that can be treated overnight shouldn’t be an issue. But when a fever spikes above 102°F, you don’t mess around. Cleveland Clinic warns that labored or noisy breathing, inconsolable crying due to the pain are no brainers. Then you get them to a physician as quickly as possible.
After-Hours Help
Your child’s health is not something to be played with. They might insist that they’re fine, but your gut says otherwise.
If their illness isn’t as severe, consider an after-hours pharmacy. Most have professionals on call who are readily prepared for these scenarios, depending on the type of pharmacists employed.
Community pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, consultant pharmacists, and yes, even nuclear pharmacists are termed as healthcare providers.
These individuals provide essential health services to their communities, from hospitals to long-term care facilities, explains the University of Findlay. Many serve in direct patient care, medication management, and clinical trials.
Signs of an Emergency
Call 911 or your local emergency number if your child is choking, turning blue, or passing out and throwing up, urges MedlinePlus. Basically, anything that’s life-threatening.
When on a call with emergency services, describe your child’s symptoms, and they’ll advise whether to visit the ER or an urgent care clinic.
If you can’t wait till morning to speak with your doctor, take your sick child to urgent care. Staff are well-trained in treating colds and flu, earaches, sore throats, minor headaches, low-grade fevers, and limited rashes.
Staying Sane
Managing a sick child can be overwhelming for parents. It gets harder for working folks.
Thankfully, as your teen gets older, they get sick less often. In the meantime, plan for backup care for when you’re not able to stay home with them. Consider getting a babysitter or family member to lighten the load.
Also, a parent who is in a good mental space is a present parent. It’s no use looking after a sick child when you’re at the end of your rope. Your immune system takes a knock, and soon you’ll find yourself fighting off germs as well.
Don’t forget that even exhausted parents need a break. Don’t feel guilty for taking some time for yourself, away from your sick teen, for a few hours. You’ll come back feeling refreshed and recharged.
