Crying, Age 3 And Younger: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Has your child cried continuously for 30 minutes?

See significance of a child who cries for 30 minutes if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your child's crying.

Call your child's health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Has your child cried continuously for 30 minutes and shown signs of pain?

Yes

Does your child have a bulge in the groin area and appear to be in pain?

Yes

Does your child have episodes of sudden, severe, intense crying and pulls his or her legs up to the abdomen, and these episodes come and go?

Call your child's health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Is your child's crying continuing after 30 minutes of home treatment, and you cannot find a reason for the crying?

Your child needs an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Has your child who has been diagnosed with colic had an increase in the frequency of his or her crying episodes?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	March 15, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer