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What should I do if my child has a fever?
Pediatricians consider a fever significant when it's above 100.4 degrees. Call your pediatrician if your child (1) is younger than 4 months and has a fever; (2) has other symptoms along with the fever; (3) is a toddler who has had a fever for more than three days or is an older child with a fever for six days. In other cases, it's usually safe to use children's ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Never give a child aspirin – it poses a risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness that affects the liver and brain.
What else can I do to bring down my child's temperature?
A sponge bath with lukewarm water may help cool skin. Never use cold water, ice, or rubbing alcohol. Dress your child lightly and don't wrap him up in heavy blankets. Watch for signs of dehydration -- in infants, that includes dry diapers, crying without tears, and dry mouth or tongue. If your infant seems dehydrated, call your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room.
When do I need to call my pediatrician?
Aside from fever, call your pediatrician if your child: (1) Is younger than 6 months and you think he has the flu; (2) has mucus coming from the nose that is thick and yellow or has any discharge after 10 days; (3) has any discharge from the eyes. Go to the emergency room if your child has trouble breathing, doesn't cry or respond to you, appears dehydrated, refuses to eat, has a rash, or experiences a febrile seizure.
Will chicken soup really help my child's cold?
Yes. Some studies show chicken soup may help reduce inflammation. If nothing else, it's nutritious. In the other five days a cold typically lasts (we know it seems longer!), have your child try these helpful cold remedies: to relieve stuffy noses, try inhaled steam from a hot shower or use a cool mist vaporizer. Rubbing the chest can help to loosen mucus and may help kids cough it out. Petroleum jelly under the nose can soothe irritated skin. Give plenty of fluids, like water or juice
What eases a sore throat and cough?
Most sore throats are caused by colds and last about four to five days. For kids over the age of 2, give warm tea or water with a ½ tsp. of honey and lemon to ease a sore throat and cough. For kids over the age of three, hard candy or over-the-counter lozenges with anesthetic can help reduce pain. Gargling with warm salt water may help, too. Strep throat tends to come on suddenly and not be accompanied by cold symptoms. Call your doctor if you suspect strep -- your child needs antibiotics to get rid of the infection.
How old does my child need to be to take cough or cold medicine?
Don't give over-the-counter cold medicine or cough medicine to children younger than 4. Several studies have shown that these OTC medicines don't actually help symptoms in children so young. In fact, they may cause serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. To ease cold symptoms, give extra fluids, use a nasal aspirator, and use a humidifier.
When my child has a cold and a cough, should I give one medicine or two?
Choose medicines only for the symptoms your child has. So, it's OK to give one multi-symptom over-the-counter medicine – as long as it fits your child's symptoms. To avoid over-medicating your child, read and follow the directions, use the measuring device that is packaged with the medication, and don't choose products that treat symptoms your child doesn't have. For instance, don't choose a multi-symptom cold medicine or cough medicine for only a sore throat.
If you give two medicines, don't double up on a drug.
Be sure you don't give your child two over-the-counter medicines with the same active ingredients. For example, many cold medicines for kids contain acetaminophen – which is the same as Tylenol. In the same way, a cough medication may also contain other ingredients to treat decongestion. So it's easy to unintentionally double a child's dose if you don't read carefully. Compare ingredients in the 'Drug Facts' box so you don't risk giving your child an overdose.
Decongestant, expectorant -- what do I give when?
Decongestants shrink stuffy nasal passages. They're available as nasal sprays or oral medicine. Nasal sprays should not be used for more than 2-3 days in a row. Cough expectorants may help thin mucus so it can be coughed up. Your child needs to drink a lot of water for an expectorant to work. Cough suppressants don't help get rid of mucus. Even if a cough keeps a child awake at night, it's usually better not to suppress it.
How do I figure out the right dose?
Dose OTC medication according to the directions based on your child's age and weight. Read the "Warnings" sections for possible drug interactions and side effects. Pay attention to label abbreviations like Tbsp (tablespoon) and Tsp (teaspoon), oz. (ounces), ml. (milliliter), and mg. (milligram). Those are all very different measurements. And use the measuring device that is packaged with the medication.
Does it really make a difference if I use a kitchen spoon for medicine?
It can. To be safe, avoid using common kitchen spoons, which can significantly vary in size. If your child's over-the-counter medicine came with its own cup or spoon, be sure to use it. What if there is no measuring device with the medication and the label says to give a dose of 2 teaspoons? Use an actual measuring spoon or dosing cup marked in teaspoons. That way you'll know you gave him the right dose -- enough to work, but not too much.
If my child vomits, should I give another dose?
No. If your child vomits up his medicine or spits some of it out, you may be tempted to give another dose. But you can't be sure how much of the OTC medicine your child actually swallowed, and giving another full dose risks giving too much. Instead, call your pediatrician for instructions. If your child hates the taste of the medicine, ask your pharmacist if you can mix it with a favorite food or drink.
I don't have any children's medicine. Can I give half an adult dose?
Never give your child OTC medicines that are meant for adults. You'll just be guessing at the right dose, and some medicines are formulated differently for children. Use only products that are labeled for use in babies, infants, or children ("for pediatric use").
Don't call OTC medicine "candy."
Kids, especially young ones, love to imitate what adults do. Take these precautions:
- Avoid taking your own prescription or OTC medication in front of children.
- Be sure you never call any medicine "candy."
- Don't use sweet-tasting medication -- like children's vitamins -- as a reward. You can offer a favorite drink afterward to "wash the taste away."
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Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on October 06, 2008
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REFERENCES:
Steven J. Parker, MD; associate professor of pediatrics, Boston University
School of Medicine; WebMD pediatric consultant; co-author, Dr. Spock’s Baby
and Child Care (1998 edition).
Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth.com: “Medications: Using Them Safely.”
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/SafeMedication.com: “Medications
and You.”
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “Public Health Advisory: Nonprescription
Cough and Cold Medicine Use in Children,” “How to Give Medicine to Children,”
“Preventing Iron Poisoning in Children.” Safe Kids USA: “Poison Safety.”
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: “Children Act Fast…So Do Poisons.”
WebMD Medical Reference: “Kids' Cold Medicines: New Guidelines.”Palos Community
Hospital, Palos, Ill.: “Medication Safety.”
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information:
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
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