What To Do When Your Kid Gets Sick on Vacation

You packed the sunscreen. You remembered the swimsuits. You even brought the backup snacks.

And then your child wakes up with a fever.

If you travel with kids, you already know: illness does not care that you’re on vacation. The good news is that most childhood issues that pop up during beach trips are common, manageable, and treatable. The trick is knowing what you can handle at the rental and when it’s time to get help.

During busy travel seasons in Fairhope, Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach, these are some of the most common issues we see in visiting families.

Swimmer’s Ear (Ear Pain After Swimming)

Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal caused by water that lingers after swimming. It’s extremely common in kids who spend long days in pools or the Gulf. Your child will usually complain of ear pain that may get worse when you gently tug on the earlobe. The ear may also feel itchy, tender, or full.

At the rental: Keep the ear dry and avoid putting anything inside it. Over-the-counter drops marketed for swimmer’s ear may help with mild discomfort.

When to get it checked: Swimmer’s ear does not clear up on its own. It typically requires prescription antibiotic ear drops. If your child is complaining of ear pain after swimming, plan to get them seen sooner rather than later. Waiting usually makes it more painful.

Stomach Bugs and Food Poisoning

Between new restaurants, beach snacks, travel fatigue, and relaxed handwashing routines, stomach issues are almost a vacation tradition. Vomiting and diarrhea are miserable but often short-lived.

At the rental: Hydration is the priority. For younger kids, electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte are ideal. Older kids can sip sports drinks or water with a few crackers. Stick to bland foods when they’re ready to eat, such as bananas, toast, rice, or broth. Let the stomach rest and don’t rush solid meals.

When to get it checked: If your child cannot keep fluids down for more than eight hours, shows signs of dehydration such as very dark urine, no tears when crying, or unusual sleepiness, has a high fever, or there is blood in the stool, it’s time to seek care.

Sunburn in Kids

Even the most careful parents end up with a sunburned kid at some point. Mild sunburn is painful but manageable. Severe sunburn, especially in young children, is a different story.

At the rental: Use cool baths or compresses, apply aloe vera, and give age-appropriate pain relievers if needed. Keep them out of the sun, dress them in loose clothing, and encourage extra fluids since sunburn draws moisture out of the body.

When to get it checked: If the burn includes blistering, significant swelling, fever, chills, confusion, or lethargy, medical care is appropriate.

Heat Exhaustion and Dehydration

Kids overheat quickly, especially when they’re having too much fun to stop and drink water. Heat exhaustion can show up as heavy sweating, pale or flushed skin, nausea, weakness, headache, or dizziness.

At the rental: Move them into air conditioning immediately. Apply damp cloths to the neck and wrists. Encourage slow, steady hydration. Most children improve within an hour once they cool down.

When to get it checked: If they are not improving after 30 to 45 minutes, stop sweating but still feel hot, seem confused, or lose consciousness, those may be signs of heat stroke. Call 911 immediately.

Jellyfish Stings

Jellyfish are part of Gulf life, and mild stings are fairly common. Kids usually feel a sudden burning or stinging sensation in the water, followed by red, raised lines on the skin.

At the rental: Rinse the area with saltwater, not freshwater. Use tweezers or the edge of a credit card to carefully remove any visible tentacles from the skin. Rinse the area with vinegar to help neutralize the sting. Hydrocortisone cream or an oral antihistamine can help with itching.

When to get it checked: Seek care if the sting causes severe pain, widespread rash, vomiting, trouble breathing, or if your child seems weak or dizzy.

Colds, Sore Throats, and Fever

Travel exposes kids to new germs, and sometimes a regular cold sneaks in. A mild fever along with congestion or cough is usually a virus that simply needs time.

At the rental: Rest, fluids, and age-appropriate fever reducers can help keep them comfortable.

When to get it checked: A fever over 104°F, a fever lasting more than three days, difficulty swallowing, a sore throat without other cold symptoms, or a rash alongside the fever.

What to Know Before You Go

If your child needs care while you’re on vacation, urgent care clinics are a convenient option for many non-emergency illnesses and minor injuries.

Most clinics accept walk-ins, so you don’t need an appointment. Bringing your child’s insurance card, a photo ID, and a list of current medications can help speed things up at check-in.

Urgent care is typically the right choice for things like ear infections, stomach bugs, sore throats, minor injuries, and other common childhood illnesses. If your child is having trouble breathing, has a severe injury, or symptoms that feel life-threatening, the nearest emergency room is the best place to go.

It can also help to pack a small “vacation health kit” before your trip. A few basics can solve a lot of minor problems without leaving the condo.

Include things like:

• Children’s fever reducer (Tylenol or Motrin)
• Electrolyte packets or drinks
• Aloe or after-sun lotion
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Bandages and antibiotic ointment
• Antihistamines for allergic reactions

Hopefully you won’t need any of it, but a little preparation can make unexpected hiccups much easier to handle. 

When In Doubt, Get Checked Out

Parents usually know when something feels off. If your child seems significantly worse than expected, unusually lethargic, or simply not improving, it’s okay to get them checked out.

If you’re visiting Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, or the surrounding Baldwin County area, Urgent Care of Fairhope welcomes both local families and vacationing guests. We offer walk-in care for many common childhood illnesses and minor injuries so you can get answers quickly and, hopefully, get back to enjoying your time on the Gulf.

Because vacations are meant for beach memories, not waiting rooms.