The short answer

One symptom can have several possible causes. The safest next step depends on your child’s age, how unwell they appear, how long the concern has lasted and what a clinician finds during assessment.

What this may mean for your family here

Your baby’s records may come from more than one facility—and that is okay.

You may be coming from a maternity centre, PHC, private clinic or another hospital. Call ahead when you can and bring the maternity and newborn records so we can prepare for your baby.

✓ Bring the antenatal card, delivery summary and available results.

✓ If transfer is being discussed, ask the referring clinician to call us before the journey.

✓ Do not delay an urgent call because HMO authorisation is still being arranged.

Seek urgent care if you are seriously worried

Do not wait for an online response if your child appears severely unwell, has marked difficulty breathing, is difficult to wake or is getting worse quickly. Call the hospital for immediate guidance.

Call 08134085400
Understanding the concern

What this may mean

Parents are often the first to notice that something has changed. This guide helps families organise what they are seeing without assuming that one sign confirms a diagnosis.

A clinician may consider your child’s age, health history, recent exposures, feeding and drinking, activity level, sleep and previous treatment before deciding whether tests or specialist review are needed.

Prepare for the visit

What you can observe

✓ When the concern started and whether it is changing

✓ Feeding, drinking, urination, sleep and activity

✓ Any measured temperature or other observations

✓ Medicines already given and previous results

Choosing the next step

When to arrange an assessment

Book a review when the concern persists, keeps returning, affects feeding, sleep, growth, activity or school, or simply does not feel normal for your child. Seek same-day or urgent help when your child is worsening or appears significantly unwell.

Connected care

How Limi Children’s Hospital can help

Specialist round-the-clock care for premature, low-birth-weight and critically unwell newborns, with close monitoring and family support.

Related Limi service

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

A child-centred assessment helps determine what your child actually needs.

Explore service
The Limi difference

Why choose Limi for this concern?

What you learn here is connected to the specialist team that can help with newborn warning signs: when not to wait.

Dedicated paediatric hospital

Your child is cared for within a system designed around their age, development and clinical needs.

Connected multispecialty team

Our general paediatricians, subspecialists, diagnostics, surgery, NICU, PICU and therapy teams can plan care together.

Round-the-clock capability

You can reach hospital and escalation pathways for everyday and complex needs beyond scheduled clinics.

A hospital that teaches professionals

Our symposium, webinars and referral collaboration strengthen the professional community caring for children across Nigeria.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Can this page tell me what my child has?

No. It provides general education and a care pathway. A clinician must assess your child before making a diagnosis.

Can I book without a referral?

Many services can be booked directly. Some specialist tests may require a clinical request. Our care team can guide you.

What should I bring to an appointment?

Bring previous reports, a medication list, HMO details and a brief timeline of what you have noticed.

Evidence base

Authoritative starting points for clinical review

These external resources inform the editorial framework. They do not replace topic-specific approval by a credentialed Limi clinician.

Clinical publication status

This content uses a structured editorial framework. A credentialed specialty reviewer should approve and date it before public clinical publication.

Editorial programme owner: Kela Iseko · Clinical reviewer: assign in the editorial workflow