Managing day to day
Preparing for unexpected hospital visits
Learn how to prepare for unexpected hospital visits when your child has IBD, including warning signs, what to pack, medical information to bring and how to support your child during an emergency.
When your child has Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, an unexpected hospital visit can be frightening and overwhelming. Even when you are familiar with IBD, it can be difficult to know what to do when symptoms suddenly worsen or your child needs urgent medical attention.
You might find yourself trying to decide whether symptoms are serious enough to go to hospital, arranging transport, contacting your child's gastroenterology team and worrying about what will happen next.
Although you cannot predict every emergency, having a plan in place can help you feel more prepared. Knowing what to pack, what information to bring and what to expect can make an unexpected hospital visit a little less stressful for both you and your child.
🚨 When should you take your child to hospital?
Children with IBD can experience symptoms that need urgent medical assessment. It is important to know when to seek help rather than assuming every new symptom is simply part of their condition.
Seek urgent medical attention if your child has:
Severe or worsening abdominal pain.
Significant rectal bleeding or bleeding accompanied by weakness or dizziness.
Persistent vomiting or an inability to keep fluids down.
Signs of dehydration, such as very little urine, a dry mouth, marked dizziness or unusual drowsiness.
A swollen or distended abdomen, particularly with severe pain or vomiting.
A high fever or signs that they are seriously unwell, especially if they take medication that suppresses the immune system.
Fainting, confusion, difficulty breathing or another potentially life-threatening symptom.
Call your local emergency number if your child appears seriously unwell or needs immediate emergency assistance.
If symptoms are worsening but do not appear immediately life-threatening, contact your child's IBD team or seek urgent medical advice. They can help you decide whether your child needs to be assessed in hospital.
Do not delay urgent care while trying dietary changes, waiting for a routine appointment or attempting to manage severe symptoms at home.
🎒 Keep a hospital bag ready
If your child has experienced previous flares or hospital admissions, keeping a small bag prepared can save time when you need to leave quickly.
You do not need to pack everything for a long stay. Focus on essentials that will make the first few hours more comfortable.
Consider including:
Comfortable clothing and spare underwear.
Pyjamas and warm socks.
A toothbrush, toothpaste and basic toiletries.
Phone chargers and headphones.
A favourite comfort item, book or small activity.
A water bottle, if drinking is appropriate and hospital staff have not advised otherwise.
Any personal hygiene supplies your child regularly uses.
If your child has a stoma, include suitable appliances and supplies if readily available.
Keep essential medication information and medical documents somewhere easy to find, even if you do not have time to pack a bag.
Important: If your child needs emergency care, leave for hospital rather than delaying to collect belongings. You can bring additional items later.
💊 Bring a list of medications and medical information
Having accurate information about your child's treatment can help hospital staff assess them and make appropriate decisions.
Keep an up-to-date list containing:
Your child's diagnosis and relevant medical history.
Current medications, doses and usual administration times.
Medication allergies and other known allergies.
Recent medication changes.
Known complications or previous significant reactions to treatment.
Contact details for their gastroenterologist or IBD team.
Any existing emergency or flare management plan.
If your child takes medicines such as azathioprine, biologic therapies, corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants, make sure hospital staff know.
If you have recent blood test results, stool test results or discharge summaries readily available, these may also be useful. However, do not delay seeking care to find paperwork.
Bring medication packaging or prescriptions if convenient, but do not give additional doses or change their treatment without guidance from the treating team.
🩺 What might happen when you arrive?
The hospital team will assess your child's symptoms, overall condition and medical history to determine what care they need.
Depending on the reason for the visit, this may involve:
Checking temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and hydration.
Asking about abdominal pain, bowel movements, bleeding, vomiting and other symptoms.
Reviewing current medications and recent treatment changes.
Taking blood samples to assess inflammation, blood counts, electrolytes and other relevant markers.
Requesting stool tests if an infection or another cause of symptoms needs to be investigated.
Arranging imaging or other investigations if complications are suspected.
Providing fluids, pain relief or other supportive treatment as appropriate.
Not every child will need every test or treatment. The assessment will depend on their symptoms and what the clinicians find.
If your child has severe symptoms, the team may need to investigate possible complications, such as significant dehydration, severe intestinal inflammation or bowel obstruction.
🦠 Could it be an infection rather than an IBD flare?
Not every episode of diarrhoea, abdominal pain or fever in a child with IBD is caused by active inflammation.
Gastrointestinal infections can produce similar symptoms, and infections may be particularly important to consider in children taking medicines that suppress the immune system.
The hospital team may request stool tests or other investigations to help identify the cause.
This distinction matters because treatment for an infection can differ from treatment for an IBD flare. For example, increasing immunosuppressive treatment without considering a possible infection may not be appropriate.
Tell the team about recent illnesses, antibiotic use, travel and any sick contacts if you know this information.
🧪 What if your child needs blood tests or other procedures?
Hospital investigations can be unsettling for children, especially if they have had difficult experiences with needles, blood tests or previous admissions.
Where possible, explain what is happening in simple, honest language.
You might say, “The doctors want to take some blood to help understand why you are feeling unwell. I'll stay with you while they do it.”
Helpful approaches include:
Bringing headphones, a favourite toy or another distraction.
Asking whether a parent can stay with your child during the procedure.
Letting staff know if your child has significant needle anxiety.
Asking whether numbing cream or other comfort measures are appropriate.
Allowing your child to ask questions or express their fears.
Avoid promising that something will not hurt if you cannot be certain. Honest reassurance helps children know they can trust you.
🛏️ What if your child needs to stay in hospital?
Sometimes, a hospital visit results in admission for monitoring or treatment.
Your child may need intravenous fluids, medication, nutritional support, investigations or treatment for a severe flare or complication.
If admission is recommended, ask the treating team to explain:
Why your child needs to stay.
What treatment or investigations are planned.
Whether they can eat and drink normally.
How their usual medication will be managed.
What signs of improvement the team will look for.
How you will be kept informed about progress.
You can also ask about visiting arrangements, whether a parent can stay overnight and what facilities are available for carers.
If your child is admitted unexpectedly, you do not need to understand everything immediately. It is okay to ask staff to explain information again or write down important details.
💚 Helping your child feel safe
An unexpected hospital visit can leave children frightened, particularly if they are in pain or do not understand why they need medical care.
Try to stay calm where possible and explain what is happening in age-appropriate language.
You might remind them:
“We're here to help you feel better.”
“The doctors are working out what is making you unwell.”
“You can ask questions if something worries you.”
“I'll tell you what I know, and we'll ask the team about anything we're unsure of.”
Give your child choices when appropriate, such as which comfort item to use or whether they would prefer to listen to music during a procedure.
If your child is older, respect their privacy and involve them in discussions about their care as much as their age and circumstances allow.
You cannot remove every frightening part of a hospital visit, but your presence and reassurance can help them feel less alone.
📱 Keep school and work arrangements simple
An unexpected hospital visit can disrupt the whole family's routine. You may need to contact your employer, arrange care for other children or let your child's school know they will be absent.
If possible, keep a short message ready that you can adapt when needed.
You do not need to explain every medical detail. A simple update can let the relevant people know that your child is receiving medical care and that you will provide further information when you can.
If another adult can help with transport, school pickups or practical tasks, consider contacting them once your child is receiving appropriate care.
Try not to worry about catching up on everything immediately. Your child's health comes first, and work or school arrangements can often be addressed once the urgent situation is under control.
📝 Questions to ask before your child leaves hospital
If your child is discharged home, make sure you understand what happens next.
Before leaving, ask the treating team:
What do you think caused my child's symptoms?
Were any complications identified, or are further results still pending?
Should any medications be started, stopped or changed?
What symptoms should prompt us to return to hospital?
Who should we contact if symptoms worsen?
When should we follow up with our child's gastroenterologist?
Are there any specific instructions about food, fluids, activity or school?
Ask for written discharge instructions if available.
Make sure you know how pending test results will be communicated and who is responsible for reviewing them.
If something is unclear, ask before leaving. You do not need to remember every detail from a stressful conversation.
🌷 Look after yourself, too
It is normal to feel shaken after an unexpected hospital visit. You may experience relief that your child is receiving care, alongside fear, exhaustion or worry about what comes next.
You might also feel frustrated if you have had to cancel work, rearrange family plans or spend hours waiting for answers.
Try to give yourself time to recover once the immediate situation has passed. Eat something, drink water, rest when you can and accept practical help from people you trust.
If your child has repeated hospital visits, ask their IBD team whether a written flare plan or additional support could help you feel more prepared.
You do not have to manage every detail perfectly during a crisis. Getting your child the care they need is the priority.
❤️ What to remember
Unexpected hospital visits can be one of the most stressful parts of parenting a child with IBD. Even with experience, it can be difficult to know what will happen or how serious a new symptom might be.
Having essential information ready, knowing when to seek urgent help and understanding what to ask the hospital team can make these situations a little more manageable.
You cannot predict every flare or prevent every hospital visit. But you can prepare for the possibility and remind your child that they will be supported through it.
You do not have to have all the answers when you arrive at hospital. You just need to take the next step to help your child get the care they need.
✅ Quick action plan
Save important information: Keep an up-to-date medication list, medical history and healthcare contact details accessible.
Know when to seek help: Understand your child's warning signs and when to contact their IBD team or emergency services.
Prepare a small hospital bag: Keep essential comfort items and spare clothing ready if unexpected admissions are a possibility.
Ask questions: Find out what investigations are planned, how treatment will be managed and what to watch for after discharge.
Plan the next steps: Confirm follow-up arrangements, medication instructions and whom to contact if symptoms worsen.
❤️ Remember, you’re not alone
Unexpected hospital visits can feel frightening and overwhelming, especially when your child has IBD. You don’t need to have every answer or remember every detail. Focus on getting your child the care they need, asking questions when you’re unsure, and taking things one step at a time.
Being prepared can help you feel more confident, but you don’t have to prepare for every possibility. Your child’s healthcare team is there to help you navigate the unexpected.
This article is for general information and education. It is not a substitute for medical advice from your child’s doctor, paediatric gastroenterologist or IBD team.
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