Knowing when to take your baby or young child to the emergency room (ER) can be difficult, especially when he or she can't tell you exactly what's wrong. If your child's symptoms don't seem life-threatening, you may want to call his or her doctor for advice.

But you should take your child to the ER right away if he or she:

• Suffers a serious injury
• Has foreign objects lodged in the nose, ears or eyes
• Has a high fever (103 degrees or higher)
• Is lethargic or unconscious
• Has difficulty breathing or feeding/eating
• Has persistent or severe vomiting or diarrhea
• Cries inconsolably

"We encourage parents who aren't sure if their children are experiencing a true emergency to go to the ER anyway," says Christy Escandon, RN, MBA, Assistant Administrator at Edinburg Children's Hospital. "Emergency specialists can evaluate kids' conditions and provide care that can help them feel better faster."

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