should i take my son to the ER?

Question

my son is about 15 months old, he has had a little cold for a couple days, runny nose, coughing etc. but yesterday his eyes started getting really puffy and having a yellow, greenish discharge. i have recently moved from MI to FL and am fighting with the state trying to get my son insurance but with no luck yet, and unfortunately I can not afford the 200.00 to pay for a doctor visit. For the cold I know the doctor would have just said he will get over it on his own bc they dont give prescriptions for colds, but now with the eye thing, Im worried. Could this be just another symptom of his cold or do you think it could be pinkeye or something? Will this all just run its course or should I take him to the ER and get him something? Thank you all in advance.

Answer 1

If you have to ask this question you probably should.

Answer 2

An ER visit will cost more than the doctor. Is he teething the big teeth in the back cause despite what doctors tell you I know for a fact that teething cause symptoms similar to colds and if the teeth coming in are pulling on the muscles by the eye it could be the problem. Try a warm wet tea bag on your sons eyes to clean them he probably has an infection in them or a "cold in the eye" which isnt technical but a common term for this problem. It would only be Pinkeye if the white part of his eye is pink. If so go to the health department they may be able to help you at a much lower rate than ER would be.

Answer 3

If it's yellow it's probably conjuctivitus, which is often found when they have a bad cold. He will need some drops for this which you need a prescription for, well at least you do here in England don't know about Florida sorry. Conjuctivitus is very contageous and your will need to keep everything seperate for him and change his bed clothes and towels daily. You can bathe the eyes with cool boiled water and clean the eye using a cotton pad wiping from the corner of the eye outwards and chaning the cotton pad after each wipe, then thoroughly wash your hands or you will get it. Bathing will soothe his eyes but will not clear up the infection.
I wouldn't bother going to the er unless he has problems with the light and starts crying none stop, just keep a close eye on him and use your maternal instincts mums just know when theres something really wrong.

Hope he gets better soon x

Answer 4

You are right, it could be part of the cold just coming from his eyes. It sounds pretty normal, even though I know in your eyes it doesn't seem to be. If it were pink eye, the whites of his eyes would be very pink, so I don't think that is the case. If it continues for too long, I think I would still take him to the doctor, I know the bills are high, but you can pay them just what you can monthly. I am no doctor so I think that's who should be giving you the advice. In my county they have a doctors office for people with out or little insurance,each visit only cost 20.00 maybe you should check into something like that....Good luck and take care!

Answer 5

Try the over the counter drops for pink eye (yes they make them) It is likely that the cold has worked it's way to the eye. A warm washrag over the eyse will help discomfort. Continue to give decongestants and force fluids. The more water you can get into him, the faster this will be over. You might also want to up his intake of vitamin C (they even sell candy drops contianing Vit. C in the cough drop section) and zinc (also in the cough and ocld section). If he has not shown some improvement (or gets wheezy, spikes a fever 104 [F] or higher, or gets worse in general) in 24 hours, then go to a doctor. You might want to consider an "urgent care" center (quicker). I hope your son feels better soon.

Answer 6

Sounds like allergens from the move from MI to FLA. The eyes clinched it. That is an allergic reaction, and FLA certainly has lots of plants pollinating all the time. Why don't you call the local ER and just ask. Perhaps they would refer you to the financial office where you can fill out papers for low income. OR, they might have over the counter allergy meds at the grocery.

Answer 7

It sounds like an allergy alot of times allergys have the same simtomes as a cold. I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old and we lived in Virginia and moved to West Virginia and I thought they were sick with a cold but when I took them to their docter they said it was allergys and told me to get an over the counter medicne for allergys and try some eye drops.With you moving from one place to the other it is diffrent then what he is used to and could effect him untell his emoun system gets used to the atmosphere,thats how it was for my boys. If you still dont feel this is what it is their should be a place were you can take him like a Health Department were you feel out some papers on income and thats were they base your price.

Answer 8

The general rule of thumb, not only with children, but with adults as well, is that discharge (i.e.snot, vaginal discharge, penile discharge, eye discharge, wound discharge etc)...is usually harmless if it is clear or white in color. Greenish discharge is usually a sign of infection and should probably not only be seen by a doctor but treated with an antibiotic.

It is probably a good idea to take your son to the emergency room, if only for peace of mind. They may say, simply, give him tylenol and wait it out. Or they may prescribe 3-4 medications for inflamation, infection, etc. Either way, most doctors and books suggest seeing a pediatrician when discharge is colored.

Answer 9

Money isn't the object here. Get your baby to the ER as soon as you can and have him looked at. Chances are that it's a simple infection or allergy but you can't take the chance. Have you spoken to anyone at the Dept of Social Services? Many states have plans for children but not for adults. Start working the phones; there are a lot of people out there that will help you.

Answer 10

It sounds like the cold has spread to his eyes. Are his eyes red? Pink eye usually comes with red/pink eyes (like the name)
There must be some kind of walk in clinic in your area that you could use instead of the ER. I am not fimilar with the American Medical programs, but it would seem to me that an ER visit would cost more than just a trip to the doctor, but I could be wrong.
In the mean time try a warm compress to the eye to try to bring out any infection that might be in there.

Answer 11

try giving him some baby asprin.. follow directions for his age.. and for his eyes. get some eye drops and see if they get rid of it.. should only take a couple of days to see if it is working.. put it in about 3 times a day or when ever it looks really bad.. as for the cough and stuff they have cough syrups for the little ones too. get him to taking something.. if he developes a fever cool him down in a bath of warm water.. that will take care of fever.. if he continues to get worse you better take him in no matter what the cost they will let you make payments on it.. His health is the most important thing right now..
good luck and hope he is feeling better soon