A child may need PICU care if they show signs of severe infections, breathing difficulties, seizures, serious accidents, injuries to the vital organs, severe dehydration, and other illnesses that affect their breathing or make them unresponsive, confused, or unconscious.
When Does a Child Need PICU?
For parents, nothing sounds more frightening than being told that your child needs to be admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Mulund. It’s a specialized medical facility for children who are critically ill and may require extensive care, which a general pediatric ward may not provide.
You may have several questions, such as: How exactly do pediatricians decide when children require specialized care? Which conditions may require advanced monitoring?
Understanding PICU
PICU is for babies, older children, and adolescents who have medical conditions that can deteriorate fast or require round-the-clock monitoring, as well as specialized care. It’s equipped with advanced tools that monitor the child’s blood pressure, heart rate, and other vitals, and control infections or provide support to organs that aren’t functioning optimally.
For instance, a child diagnosed with pneumonia may receive care in a general pediatric ward. Antibiotics and monitoring might be sufficient. However, if their condition deteriorates and they develop difficulty breathing or become excessively sleepy, they may require ventilation support in the PICU.
When Does PICU Care Become Necessary?
Here’s when it’s recommended:
Severe Breathing Difficulties
Children have a narrower airway than adults. Any respiratory illness or other medical condition can affect their breathing, causing difficulty breathing, low oxygen levels, signs of exhaustion, and high carbon dioxide levels.
Initially, the doctor may place small tubes in their nose to improve breathing. If breathing deteriorates, they may need ventilator support.
Severe Infection
Pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections can increase the risk of sepsis, a medical emergency in which the infection becomes uncontrolled, and your body’s response starts damaging its organs.
Symptoms include a fast heartbeat, excessive drowsiness, low urine output, pale skin, and a low temperature. PICU admission is often necessary to maintain proper circulation, treat the main cause of the illness, and support them during recovery.
Unconsciousness
When a child is difficult to wake, barely stays up, has confusion or hallucinations, or doesn’t recognize their caregivers, they may require PICU care.
Many illnesses or head injuries can cause unconsciousness in children. Low blood sugar, head injuries, severe dehydration, and prolonged seizures can all increase the risk of unresponsiveness.
Severe Dehydration
Constant diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of fluids can cause dehydration. It gets worse when your baby doesn’t drink enough water to compensate for the lost fluids.
Severe dehydration due to repeated vomiting and very loose stools can affect their blood circulation, which, in serious cases, can cause shock. Immediate care with intravenous fluids, preferably in the PICU, is necessary to prevent complications.
Serious Injury or Accident
An immediate admission to the PICU is necessary following an accident, a serious burn, or other injuries that affect their vital organs. Head injuries, specifically, require supervised care and regular monitoring, even if they don’t immediately show any signs of distress.
If the child loses consciousness, has difficulty breathing, has a racing heartbeat, or seems confused and dehydrated after an accident, take them to apediatrician in Mulund immediately.