How do I know if I should take my child to the emergency room?

Take your child to the emergency room if they have difficulty breathing, are unresponsive or very difficult to wake, have a seizure, show signs of severe dehydration, or have a high fever with a rash, neck stiffness, or persistent vomiting. When in doubt, it is always safer to seek emergency assessment than to wait.

Is a paediatric emergency department different from a regular emergency room?

Yes. A paediatric emergency department is staffed by clinicians trained specifically in childhood illness and injury, and is equipped with age-appropriate tools, medication doses, and monitoring equipment. At Lilavati International in Bandra West, Mumbai, the paediatric emergency area is separate from the adult emergency department, ensuring a child-appropriate environment and specialist care.

What age group does a paediatric emergency department treat?

Paediatric emergency departments typically treat children from birth through to late adolescence, generally up to 18 years of age. Newborns requiring intensive care are usually managed in the NICU, while older infants and children needing critical support are admitted to the PICU. Contact Lilavati International directly via the booking form or call 022 69318050 to confirm age-specific pathways.

What should I bring when taking my child to a paediatric emergency?

Bring your child's health insurance card or documents, any current prescription medications (in their original packaging if possible), a list of known allergies, previous medical records or discharge summaries if relevant, and a government-issued ID. If your child has a chronic condition, bring their regular doctor's contact details. Focus on getting to the hospital quickly — the team can work with limited information.

What is the 24-hour rule for fever in children?

The 24-hour rule refers to the guidance that infants between 6 months and 2 years with a fever lasting more than 24 hours should be seen by a doctor, even without other obvious symptoms. For children under 3 months, any fever of 38°C or above requires immediate emergency evaluation. For older children, fever persisting beyond 48–72 hours or accompanied by danger signs warrants urgent review.

When to Take Your Child to a Paediatric Emergency

When Should a Child Be Taken to a Paediatric Emergency Department?

When should I take my child to a paediatric emergency department?

Take your child to a paediatric emergency department immediately if they show signs of breathing difficulty, altered consciousness, uncontrolled bleeding, seizures, severe allergic reaction, or high fever with stiffness of the neck. Any symptom that appears sudden, severe, or rapidly worsening warrants emergency evaluation rather than a scheduled appointment.

Lilavati International in Bandra West, Mumbai operates a dedicated paediatric emergency department on the ground floor of the hospital, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including public holidays. No appointment is required. The department is supported by round-the-clock access to CT, MRI, ultrasound, and a full diagnostic laboratory.

Tip: When in doubt, always err on the side of caution. A paediatric emergency team is trained to assess and reassure — attending when unsure is never the wrong decision.

What are the signs of a paediatric emergency?

Certain symptoms in children require immediate emergency attention. The following are recognised warning signs that should prompt a visit to a paediatric emergency department without delay:

Breathing problems: rapid, laboured, or noisy breathing; bluish colour around the lips or fingertips
Altered consciousness: unresponsiveness, extreme drowsiness, confusion, or difficulty waking
Seizures: any first-time seizure, or a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
Severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face, throat, or tongue; hives with breathing difficulty
High fever with danger signs: fever above 38°C in infants under 3 months; fever with neck stiffness, rash, or persistent vomiting in any age group
Uncontrolled bleeding: wounds that do not stop bleeding after 10 minutes of firm pressure
Suspected poisoning or ingestion: accidental swallowing of medication, household chemicals, or unknown substances
Severe dehydration: no urine output for 8+ hours, sunken eyes, dry mouth, no tears when crying
Head injury: loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, or confusion after a fall or blow to the head
Severe abdominal pain: sudden, intense pain that does not ease, particularly with a rigid or swollen abdomen

Warning: If your child stops breathing, becomes unresponsive, or turns blue, call an ambulance immediately. Do not drive to the hospital yourself. Lilavati International ambulance: +91 97692 50010 or +91 75063 58779.

How long should a child have a fever before going to the emergency department?

Fever is one of the most common reasons parents seek emergency care. The urgency depends on the child's age, the height of the fever, and accompanying symptoms — not the fever alone.

Child's Age	Fever Threshold	Action
Under 3 months	38°C (100.4°F) or above	Go to emergency immediately
3–6 months	38.9°C (102°F) or above	Seek emergency care promptly
6 months – 2 years	Fever lasting more than 24 hours, or above 39.4°C	Consult a doctor; go to emergency if child appears very unwell
2 years and older	Fever persisting beyond 48–72 hours, or above 40°C	Seek medical review; go to emergency if accompanied by danger signs

Regardless of age, go to the emergency department immediately if fever is accompanied by: a non-blanching rash, neck stiffness, persistent vomiting, seizures, difficulty breathing, or if the child is inconsolable or unusually difficult to wake.

What are 5 signs that a child may need urgent medical attention?

Beyond the most severe emergencies, the following five signs indicate a child needs prompt medical evaluation — even if the situation does not appear immediately life-threatening:

Persistent high fever — fever that does not respond to appropriate doses of paracetamol or ibuprofen, or that returns within a few hours of medication
Refusal to eat or drink for more than 8 hours — particularly in infants and toddlers, where dehydration can develop rapidly
Unusual crying or irritability — a high-pitched, inconsolable cry in an infant, or a child who cannot be comforted and appears in pain
Limping or inability to bear weight — sudden refusal to walk or use a limb, especially after a fall or injury
Rash with fever — any new rash appearing alongside a fever, particularly if the rash does not fade when pressed (the glass test)

If any of these signs are present and you are uncertain, contact a paediatric clinician. At Lilavati International, the emergency line is available around the clock: 022-69318063 / 64.

What is a PICU and when does a child need it?

A Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a specialised ward that provides continuous monitoring and advanced life support for critically ill children. It is staffed by clinicians trained specifically in paediatric critical care and equipped with age-appropriate ventilators, monitoring systems, and medication protocols.

A child may be admitted to a PICU when they require:

Mechanical ventilation or respiratory support
Continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, or oxygen levels
Management of severe sepsis or multi-organ involvement
Post-operative care following major surgery
Treatment of severe neurological events, including prolonged seizures or reduced consciousness
Stabilisation after a serious trauma or poisoning

Lilavati International in Bandra West, Mumbai has a dedicated PICU as part of its critical-care infrastructure, which also includes an ICCU, SICU, ICU, and NICU. The hospital is JCI and NABH accredited, providing a structured framework for paediatric critical care.

Tip: The NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Lilavati International caters specifically to newborns requiring intensive support, separate from the PICU which serves older infants and children.

How does Lilavati International support paediatric emergencies in Mumbai?

Lilavati International, located at A-791, Bandra Reclamation Road, Bandra West, Mumbai – 400050, provides a dedicated paediatric emergency department that operates independently from the adult emergency area. The department is situated on the ground floor, next to the MRI unit, and is accessible 24 hours a day, every day of the year — no appointment is needed.

Key capabilities supporting paediatric emergency care at Lilavati International include:

Separate paediatric emergency department with specialist support
Round-the-clock CT, MRI, ultrasound, and diagnostic laboratory services
PICU and NICU for critically ill children and newborns
Cardiac catheterisation laboratory and multiple operation theatres
Blood bank, pathology, dialysis, and endoscopy on site
Dedicated cardiac, stroke, and trauma emergency response teams
Ambulance services: +91 97692 50010 / +91 75063 58779

The hospital holds Joint Commission International (JCI) – 8th Edition accreditation, NABH Hospital Accreditation, and NABL Accreditation, reflecting adherence to internationally recognised clinical standards. International patient-care support is also available for families travelling from outside India.

For paediatric emergency care, explore our Paediatrics speciality page, learn about Paediatric Emergency Care, or find out more about our PICU services.

Reach Lilavati International's Paediatric Emergency Team

Use the booking form on this page, or contact us directly:

Emergency Line: 022-69318063 / 64

Call / WhatsApp: 022 69318050

Ambulance: +91 97692 50010 / +91 75063 58779

Take your child to the emergency room if they have difficulty breathing, are unresponsive or very difficult to wake, have a seizure, show signs of severe dehydration, or have a high fever with a rash, neck stiffness, or persistent vomiting. When in doubt, it is always safer to seek emergency assessment than to wait.
Yes. A paediatric emergency department is staffed by clinicians trained specifically in childhood illness and injury, and is equipped with age-appropriate tools, medication doses, and monitoring equipment. At Lilavati International in Bandra West, Mumbai, the paediatric emergency area is separate from the adult emergency department, ensuring a child-appropriate environment and specialist care.
Paediatric emergency departments typically treat children from birth through to late adolescence, generally up to 18 years of age. Newborns requiring intensive care are usually managed in the NICU, while older infants and children needing critical support are admitted to the PICU. Contact Lilavati International directly via the booking form or call 022 69318050 to confirm age-specific pathways.
Yes. No appointment is required for emergency care at Lilavati International. The paediatric emergency department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. It is located on the ground floor of the hospital at A-791, Bandra Reclamation Road, Bandra West, Mumbai – 400050, next to the MRI unit.
Bring your child's health insurance card or documents, any current prescription medications (in their original packaging if possible), a list of known allergies, previous medical records or discharge summaries if relevant, and a government-issued ID. If your child has a chronic condition, bring their regular doctor's contact details. Focus on getting to the hospital quickly — the team can work with limited information.
The 24-hour rule refers to the guidance that infants between 6 months and 2 years with a fever lasting more than 24 hours should be seen by a doctor, even without other obvious symptoms. For children under 3 months, any fever of 38°C or above requires immediate emergency evaluation. For older children, fever persisting beyond 48–72 hours or accompanied by danger signs warrants urgent review.

When Should a Child Be Taken to a Paediatric Emergency Department?