How do you know if your baby's illness is minor, or if you need to take her to the doctor? Dr. Mike helps fill in the grey areas about which symptoms set off red flags when your child is sick.

When we asked Dr. Mike, a pediatric intensive care doctor belonging to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if he could give us some guidelines as to when to give your child Robitussin and when to haul her into the emergency room, this was his professional advice:

Hi! I'm Dr. Mike.

For the past 10 years, I have worked in a pediatric intensive care unit. I have seen the "worst of the worst", making me extremely cautious when it comes to the health of children.

I hope that this information will help you become more aware of the signs and symptoms that can be early signals of a more serious impending illness.

When you as a parent are dealing with a sick child, one of the most important questions you will be confronted with is when to take your sick child to see the doctor. Since different signs and symptoms vary with age, I have separated these warning signs by age group.

The most fragile age group, which is the newborn to 1 month-of-age baby, can get sick hard and fast. Within minutes to hours, these little ones can become overwhelmed and die. If you see any of the following, take it as a sure sign to see your doctor:

Newborn to One Month

• Fever of more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (taken rectally)
• Your baby stops eating normally
• Uncontrollable crying, and you cannot console your baby
• Vomiting that continues for more than 8-12 hours
• Bowel movements than happen more than 8 times a day
• The belly button is red
• "Pink eye"
• White patches on the tongue and inside the mouth

Now, let's move on to the older baby, age 1 month to 1 year. Watch out for the following warning signs. If present, it's best to seek medical attention for your little one immediately.

One Month to One Year

• Fever greater than 100.4 degrees F (rectally) in babies less than 3 months of age
• Fever greater than 101 degrees F (rectally) in babies aged 3 Ð 6 months
• Fever greater than 104 degrees F (rectally) in babies older than 6 months
• Refusal to eat at multiple feedings
• Extreme irritability
• Extreme drowsiness

For the child who is from 1 year of age to 18 years, there are a lot, but I've included the most important. If you see any one of these, take your treasure in to see your doctor.

One to Eighteen Years

• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Earache
• Terrible headache
• Any discharge from the ear or eye
• Extreme sleepiness
• A loss of control of the arm, leg, or other part of the body
• Stiff neck
• Yellow hue to skin or eyes
• Any trouble breathing
• Throwing up for more than 12 hours
• Blurred vision
• Inability to walk normally
• Throwing up blood
• Severe stomach pain
• Blood or mucous in the stool
• Painful urination
• Pus from a cut or scrape
• Fast and developing rash over most of the body

Great! Now I've scared you to death. That's really not what I'm trying to do. It's just that by recognizing some of these signs early, and acting on them, you can prevent something more serious from happening.

As for the "common" sicknesses that happen at home, most can be treated with the "common sense" approach:

Minor Accidents and Illnesses That Can Be Treated At Home:

• Minor rashes, scrapes, and cuts can be treated with an over-the-counter antiseptic and a band-aid
• If your child has the cold or flu, keep him/her hydrated
• If your child has a low-grade temperature (outside of the parameters I set above) administer some children's Tylenol or Motrin
• If your child acts tired, let him rest

Despite this laundry list that I have provided for you, I strongly believe that most of the time, you will have to go with your gut feeling. If you are just not feeling right about your child, get on the phone and call your doc. As a pediatrician and intensive care doctor, I know that I would rather see your sick child early, instead of late.

You can ask Dr. Mike a specific medical question regarding your baby by visiting "Ask Dr. Mike" at Intensive Caring.