Quick answer: Take your child to urgent care for problems that need attention today but aren’t life-threatening, such as fever in children over 3 months, ear pain, sore throat, pink eye, mild asthma symptoms, rashes, minor cuts and sprains. Go to the ER or call 911 for a fever of 100.4°F or higher in a baby under 3 months, trouble breathing, a seizure, unusual sleepiness or confusion, signs of severe dehydration, or a serious injury.

When your child gets sick at night or on a weekend, it’s hard to know where to go. This guide helps parents in Alexandria decide between urgent care, the emergency room and your pediatrician.

New to PACS? Start with our complete guide to urgent care in Alexandria, VA.

When urgent care is a good choice

PACS offers pediatric urgent care for infants through teens, 7 days a week. Common reasons parents bring kids in:

  • Fever in a child older than 3 months who is drinking and alert. See our guide to fever treatment.
  • Ear pain or a suspected ear infection. See ear infections and pink eye.
  • Sore throat, with a rapid strep test on site
  • Cough, cold, flu, COVID-19 or RSV testing
  • Pink eye or eye redness and discharge
  • Mild asthma symptoms or wheezing (nebulizer treatments on site)
  • Rashes, hives and insect bites
  • Vomiting or diarrhea with mild dehydration
  • Painful urination or a possible UTI
  • Minor cuts that may need stitches
  • Sprains and possible simple fractures, with on-site X-ray
  • School, sports and camp physicals

Not sure if it’s a cold or something more? Read cold, flu or COVID.

When to go to the ER or call 911

Go to the emergency room, or call 911, if your child has any of these:

  • A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby younger than 3 months
  • Trouble breathing: working hard to breathe, skin pulling in between the ribs, grunting, or blue or gray lips
  • A seizure
  • Being very hard to wake, limp, confused or not responding normally
  • Signs of severe dehydration: very few or no wet diapers or trips to the bathroom, no tears when crying, sunken eyes, very dry mouth
  • A head injury followed by vomiting, confusion or passing out
  • Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat after a food, medicine or sting
  • A bone that is clearly deformed or pushing through the skin
  • Bleeding that won’t stop with firm pressure
  • A stiff neck with fever, or a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed

If your child may have swallowed a medicine, chemical or button battery, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or 911 if they have symptoms. For more ER warning signs, see our full guide.

When to call your pediatrician

Your pediatrician is still the best choice for:

  • Well-child checkups and the routine vaccine schedule
  • Ongoing conditions like asthma management, ADHD or allergies
  • Growth, development and behavior concerns
  • Follow-up after an urgent care or ER visit

Many pediatric offices have a nurse line for after-hours advice. If they tell you to have your child seen tonight or this weekend, urgent care is often the next step.

How to prepare for your child’s visit

  • Note when symptoms started and the highest temperature you measured
  • Bring a list of medicines your child takes, with the last dose of any fever reducer
  • Know your child’s approximate weight (it helps with dosing)
  • Bring your insurance card and any school or sports forms
  • Bring a comfort item, a snack and a charged phone or tablet
  • Check in online to cut down your time in the waiting room

A parent or legal guardian should come with children under 18.

Frequently asked questions

What age does PACS Urgent Care see?

PACS sees patients of all ages, from infants through teens and adults.

Should I take my child to urgent care for a fever?

For children over 3 months who are drinking fluids and acting fairly normal between fevers, urgent care is a good place for a check. For babies under 3 months with a fever of 100.4°F or higher, go to the ER. Read our full guide to fever in children.

Can urgent care treat ear infections in kids?

Yes. Providers can examine the ear, diagnose an infection and prescribe treatment if needed.

Can urgent care give my child a note for school?

Yes. Ask at your visit for a school or daycare note.

Is pediatric urgent care covered by Medicaid?

PACS participates with Medicaid and many Medicaid managed care plans, including Anthem HealthKeepers Plus. Call to confirm your child’s plan.

Get care today at PACS Urgent Care

PACS Urgent Care – Alexandria
3481 N Beauregard St, Alexandria, VA 22302
Open 7 days a week, 8 AM – 8 PM · Walk-ins welcome
Call (571) 656-8838 · Get directions · New patient guide

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911.