| |
Fever
Definitions
• Fever is not an illness but a response to an illness.
• Fever helps fight illness by making the body an inhospitable place for illness to reside.
• Even a fever as high as 106° F will not cause brain damage and need not be feared.
• Fever severity does not correspond with the degree of illness; assess the behavior of your child to determine the seriousness of the illness.
Treatment
• Treat discomfort, not fever.
• Use the guides in the appendix for appropriate acetaminophen and ibuprofen doses.
• Dress your child comfortably when a fever is present.
• A lukewarm bath may help your child feel more comfortable.
• Encourage fluids.
Call the office:
• If your child is irritable or inconsolable.
• Your child has a fever and is less than three months old.
• If your child has a stiff neck, a bruise-like rash or trouble breathing.
• If your child is hard to arouse.
• If there are other symptoms that concern you.
Common Colds
Definitions
• The most common symptoms of colds (upper respiratory infections) are runny nose, stuffy nose and cough.
• Other symptoms include muscle aches, sore throat, headache, red eyes, sneezing, loss of appetite and a run-down feeling.
• Viruses cause the majority of illnesses with these symptoms and cannot be treated with antibiotics.
• Most colds last five to fifteen days.
• Young children may have about eight colds a year with those in daycare having more.
• Most cold germs are passed by unwashed hands.
Treatment
• Salt-water nose drops may help infant’s stuffy noses; you can purchase the drops or make them by mixing 1/4 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup of warm water.
• A room humidifier will add moisture to the air to loosen airway secretions; use clean water every day and sterilize the unit weekly.
• A nasal aspirator used gently can remove mucous plugging from the nasal passages.
• Encourage fluids.
• Over-the-counter or prescription cold medicines are usually not effective.
Call the office:
• If your child has an earache.
• If your child has difficulty breathing not due to a stuffy nose.
• If your child is wheezing.
• If cough or sinus symptoms last more than two weeks.
• If there are other symptoms
that concern you.
Ear Infections
Definitions
• Ear infections (otitis media) are second only to common colds as the most common illnesses of childhood.
• In ear infections the middle ear cavity becomes inflamed.
• Symptoms can vary from hearing loss and incoordination to pain, fussiness, restlessness and tugging on the ears.
• Ear infections commonly follow colds.
• Ear pain may be worse at night; antibiotics will not relieve pain immediately.
Treatment
• Mild antibiotics are indicated for intermittent ear infections.
• If there is only clear fluid in the middle ear, it will resolve with time.
• Some ear pain is caused by pressure changes within the ear and the pain resolves with time.
• If an ear infection develops at night, pain may be relieved with acetaminophen or ibuprofen or a warm compress placed gently against the ear.
Call the office:
• Most ear infections are not emergencies and children may be seen in the office the following day.
• If there are other symptoms that concern you.
Diarrhea
Definitions
• Diarrhea is the frequent passing of watery stools.
• Diarrhea is usually caused by a virus.
• Babies who are breast fed often have frequent, loose stools that are mistaken for diarrhea.
• Most episodes of diarrhea are self limited.
• After a diarrheal illness, loose stools may occur for several weeks after while the body is healing itself.
• Associated symptoms may include fever, vomiting, stomach ache, fussiness, irritative diaper rash and decreased appetite.
Treatment
• Avoid solids for eight hours.
• Stop any medications that may be making the diarrhea worse for eight hours.
• Clear liquids may help; avoid fruit juices which may make the diarrhea worse.
• Bananas, rice cereal, applesauce, toast and crackers may be helpful.
• Feeding your child a normal diet through the diarrhea may be the best treatment.
Call the office if:
• There are signs of dehydration such as urinating less than three times a day, lack of tears, dryness or pastiness inside the mouth, doughy skin or an increase in drowsiness.
• There is blood in the stool.
• The diarrhea is severe (continuous, especially in a young child).
• There is associated severe abdominal cramping for more than four hours.
• There are other symptoms that concern you. |
|
Chickenpox
Definitions
• Chickenpox is an illness caused by the Varicella Zoster virus.
• It has a characteristic rash of red bumps, blisters and crusts.
• The pox may appear on any portion of the skin or mucous lining of the body.
• Children with chickenpox are contagious 2 days prior to the rash appearing and until the pox crust over (usually 6 to 7 days).
• The incubation period is from 7 to 21 days with 14 to 16 days being average.
• Chickenpox is most common during late winter and early spring.
Treatment
• Baking soda or oatmeal (Aveeno) baths help relieve itching.
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) taken orally may be used for severe itching.
• Topical Calamine lotion may provide itching relief.
• Loose clothing, staying out of the sun lessens skin irritation.
• Keep fingernails clipped short and wash your child’s hands with antibacterial soap to lessen the chance of infected pox.
Call the office:
• If scratching keeps your child up at night.
• If the pox develop signs of infection such as pustular fluid or an expanding area of redness.
• If there is breathing difficulty.
• If your child becomes disoriented, hard to arouse or vomits.
• If other symptoms concern you.
Sore Throat
Definitions
• Most sore throats are caused by viruses or associated with common colds.
• Strep sore throat is caused by a bacteria (streptococcus) and may have associated headache, stomach ache and fever.
• Strep tests or throat cultures are the only way to accurately diagnose strep sore throat.
Treatment
• Acetaminophen and ibuprofen provide relief for throat pain.
• Gargling with saltwater may also provide relief.
• Cool foods and liquids may sooth a sore throat.
Call the office:
• If you suspect your child has strep throat.
• If your child choked on an object and is having trouble swallowing or is drooling.
• If your child is having difficulty breathing.
• If a fine, red sandpaper-like rash develops on the body along with sore throat symptoms.
• Call if there are other symptoms that
concern you.
Vomiting
Definitions
• Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of most of the stomach’s contents where “spitting-up” is the effortless spitting of one or two mouthfuls of stomach contents.
• Viruses are the main cause of the stomach “flu.”
• The bulk of vomiting in any illness is usually in the first 24 hours.
• Associated symptoms may include fever, diarrhea, stomach ache and decreased appetite.
• Dehydration is unlikely in the first twelve hours.
Treatment
• Two hours after vomiting, begin a clear liquid diet such as Pedialyte® or Infalyte®; children older than one year may be started on flat 7-Up, Gatorade or Jello-water.
• Start with small sips and if this is tolerated, increase the amount to one ounce every half hour.
• If this is tolerated, slowly increase the amount of fluid given.
• If your child starts to vomit again, wait two hours and start over.
• After being on a clear liquid diet for 12 to 24 hours, offer a bland diet for those old enough for solid food; this can include cereal, toast, applesauce, bananas, toast, soup and crackers.
Call the office if:
• There is blood in the vomited material.
• There are signs of dehydration such as urinating less than three times a day, lack of tears, dryness or pastiness inside the mouth, doughy skin or an increase in drowsiness.
• Your child is delirious, confused and difficult to arouse.
• Your child ingested any toxic material or swallowed a foreign body.
• Your child had recent head trauma.
• There is abdominal pain present continuously for more than two hours, especially in the right lower portion of the abdomen.
• There are other symptoms that concern you.
Croup
Definitions
• Croup is a set of symptoms including a “barky” cough, hoarseness and noisy breathing that is frequently worse at night.
• It is most often caused by a virus.
• It is usually preceded by a few days of cold symptoms.
Treatment
• A cool mist vaporizer lessens the symptoms.
• Control your child’s fever with acetaminophen to make your child more comfortable.
• Steaming the bathroom with the shower and letting your child breath the mist for ten to fifteen minutes can help night symptoms.
Call the office if:
• Your child has trouble swallowing or is drooling.
• Your child is working hard at breathing, sucking in the abdomen or the space between the ribs while breathing; or is breathing rapidly.
• The croup symptoms develop after your child choked on a foreign body. |
