Does my child need primary care, urgent care, or emergency care?

If your child's illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Let our guide help you decide.

Sometimes it is hard to know what level of care your child needs. The following information will help you make that decision.

When to Visit Your Pediatrician

Visit your child's primary care pediatrician for any of the following conditions:

Allergies
Allergic reactions (no breathing problems)
Asthma attack (minor)
Burn (minor)
Cold
Cough
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Earache and ear infection
Fever over 100.5 (children over 2 months old)
Headache
Head injury (minor and without loss of consciousness)
Insect or minor dog bite
Mental health concerns - Non-urgent (depression, anxiety, etc.)
Nausea
Pink eye
Pneumonia
Rash
Sore throat
Sprain or strain
Stomach pain (mild)
Swallowing an object (for possible button battery ingestion go to the closest emergency center).
Urinary infection

When to Visit an Urgent Care Center

Visit your nearest urgent care center for any of the following conditions:

Allergies
Allergic reactions (no breathing problems)
Asthma attack (minor)
Broken bone (not sticking out of skin)
Burn (minor)
Cast issues (soiled or wet)
Cold
Cough
Cut (needs stitches)
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Earache and ear infection
Fever over 100.5 (children over 2 months old)
Headache
Head injury (minor and without loss of consciousness)
Insect or minor dog bite
Nausea
Pink eye
Pneumonia
Rash
Sore throat
Sprain or strain
Stomach pain (mild)
Swallowing object (for a possible button battery ingestion go to the nearest emergency center)
Urinary infection

When to Visit the Emergency Department

Visit your nearest emergency department if your child has any of the following conditions:

Asthma attack (severe)
Bleeding that won't stop
Broken bone (sticking out of the skin)
Burn (severe)
Button battery ingestion
Cut (severe)
Dehydration
Fainting
Fever over 100.5 (infants less than 2 months old)
Head injury (with loss of consciousness)
Mental health concerns - Emergency (violent behavior and suicidal thoughts)
Migraine headache not responding to medication at home
Poisoning (call Poison Control at (800) 222-1222
Seizure
Shock
Sickle cell disease with pain crisis or fever
Stomach pain (severe)
Trouble breathing

Patient and parent using tablet to access myCHKD.

MyCHKD Patient Portal

MyCHKD offers secure, online access to your child's health information as well as tools to help you communicate more efficiently with your CHKD provider's office. If you haven't done so already, please register for a MyCHKD account in person at your provider's office.