When should a parent take their child to the doctor?

An official with the Winnipeg Children's Hospital wants to remind parents of when it's time to take their child to a doctor, after the sudden pneumonia-related death of an 11-year-old boy last weekend.

Scott Sawyer, medical director for theChildren's Hospitalemergency unitat the Health Sciences Centre, saidwhen it comes to infections, a big thing to watch for is how comfortable or uncomfortable your child looks.

If a child is listless, lethargicand their behaviour is different, that could indicate a more serious infectionand they need to be seen. The number on a thermometer is not quite as important with the exception of babies.

If they have a temperature over 38 C (100.4 F), they need to be seen that day, Sawyer says.

"Lethargic, laboured breathing, complaining of chest pain?We want to see them."

Terrel Kitchekeesik passed away Sept. 25 from complications frompneumonia five days after arriving at the Winnipeg hospital.

The boy'sdeath shocked his parents and the family's home community ofOpaskwayakCree Nation, about 520 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

• Opaskwayak Cree Nation parents in shock after son contracts pneumonia, dies

Kitchekeesik's family told CBC News the boy stayed home from school after complaining about feeling sore and sick. He'd thrown up, had a bad cough and fever. A day later, he was laying on a couch with his "chest caving in," said Dan Constant, the boy's father.

Chest pain? Visit hospital

Sawyer says parents should bring their children to the hospital if they are complaining about chest pain or have any irregularities in their breathing.

"Those things may indicate that the infection needs more treatment," Sawyer says.

Another reason parents should bring their child to the doctor is if they are dehydrated.

"Most kids will feel better if they drink more fluids, but if they're not drinking, or have gone more than 12 hours without peeing ...bring them in."

A child can have a fever and still stay at home, so long as they're comfortable resting, drinkingfluids, and taking Tylenol and Advil, he says.

Childhood deaths from infectious diseases are rare,Sawyer says, addingprevention is key. Parents shouldregularlyremind their kids to wash their hands and not share cups with others, as a way of stemming thespread ofgerms, Sawyer said.

"We can usually identify the issue early and give treatments that work," he said.