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Is It an Emergency?
If your child has any of the signs on this page, come to Limi Children's Hospital now, day or night. Do not wait for a call back, a message reply or an appointment, and do not wait to see if it settles. If you cannot get here quickly, go to the nearest emergency department. Call 0813 408 5400 on the way so the team can prepare.
Go Now If Your Child
Any one of these is enough. Trust what you see, and trust the feeling that your child is seriously unwell.
Breathing
- Is struggling to breathe, or the skin sucks in under the ribs
- Is grunting with every breath, or too breathless to talk or feed
- Is breathing 60 or more times a minute while calm
- Has blue or grey lips, tongue or face
- Has stopped breathing, even briefly, or has pauses over 20 seconds
- Is choking and cannot cough, cry or breathe — start first aid now
Awake and Responding
- Is very hard to wake, or will not stay awake
- Is floppy, or does not respond to you as usual
- Is confused, or not making sense
- Has a fit, especially a first fit or one lasting over 5 minutes
- Has a weak, high-pitched or non-stop cry
Fever and Rash
- Is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38 °C or more
- Has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it
- Has a fever with a stiff neck, or a bulging soft spot in a baby
- Has sickle cell disease and a temperature of 38 °C or more
Fluids and Tummy
- Cannot drink, or vomits everything
- Is vomiting green or yellow-green fluid, or blood
- Has severe tummy pain that is getting worse, or a swollen hard tummy
- Has had no wee for 12 hours, with sunken eyes
Accidents and Poisons
- May have swallowed a button battery, a magnet, medicine, kerosene, petrol or bleach — what to do
- Has a head injury and is drowsy, vomiting repeatedly, or was knocked out
- Has a burn larger than their palm, or on the face, hands or groin
- Was pulled from water, even if they seem fine now
- Was bitten by a snake or a dog
Other Signs
- Is a newborn who turned yellow in the first 24 hours, or whose palms or soles are yellow
- Is very pale, with yellow eyes or dark urine
- Has sudden severe pain in a testicle
- Has swelling of the lips, tongue or throat after food, a sting or a medicine
- Talks about wanting to die or harming themselves, or has taken an overdose
- Is bleeding and it will not stop with firm pressure
On the Way
- Go straight away. Do not stop at a chemist for an injection or a drip on the way.
- Have someone else drive if you can, so one adult watches the child's breathing and colour.
- Call us on the way on 0813 408 5400 so the team can prepare.
- Keep a baby warm, skin to skin on an adult's chest with a wrapper over both of you.
- Do not give food or drink if your child has severe tummy pain or an injury that may need an operation.
- Bring what you can grab in 30 seconds: the child health card, any medicines or packets they took, and your phone.
The Fridge Card
Print this and stick it where every carer — grandparents, nanny, older siblings — can see it.
- Struggling to breathe, blue, or choking
- Very hard to wake, floppy, or a fit
- Under 3 months with 38 °C or more
- Rash that does not fade under a glass
- Swallowed a battery, medicine, kerosene or bleach
- Cannot drink, green vomit, or severe tummy pain
Come to Limi Children's Hospital now, day or night: 39 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse 2. Call on the way: 0813 408 5400 or 0809 059 9995. If you cannot get there quickly, go to the nearest emergency department.
Not an Emergency, but Needs a Doctor Today
These can wait a few hours, not until next week. Come in today or call to book, and go now if things get worse.
Fever
Use the fever checker
- A baby 3 to 6 months with 39 °C or more
- A fever for 3 days or more, or back after malaria treatment
- Fever with ear pain, or pain passing urine
Breathing and Feeding
Use the breathing counter
- Breathing faster than normal for their age
- Feeding or drinking less than half the usual
- Fewer wet nappies, or some signs of dehydration
Newborns
- Jaundice spreading down to the tummy or legs, or lasting beyond 2 weeks
- Redness spreading around the cord
- Sticky, swollen eyes in the first weeks
Anything else you are unsure about: find the right place to start, or call us. You never need to be sure it is serious before you ask.
Transferring a Sick Newborn or Child from Another Hospital?
Call before transfer so our team can prepare. Limi Children's Hospital runs a NICU and a PICU, with emergency assessment and inpatient care day and night. The receiving team talks you through stabilisation while you arrange transport.
Transfer guidance for clinicians
Not an Emergency, but Still Worried? Book a Visit or Call the Care Team Today.
If your child is seriously unwell, do not book and do not wait for a message reply. Come to Limi Children's Hospital now, day or night, or go to the nearest emergency department if you cannot get here quickly. Have someone else drive if you can, so you can watch your child, and call 0813 408 5400 on the way so the team can prepare. See the signs that mean go now.