Need help NOW? Call 911.
Poison control center: 1-800-222-1222.
Want to look something up? Kidshealth.org
Need to go to an ER? We recommend CHOP, DuPont, Crozer, or Bryn Mawr where pediatricians are available to access your child.
Poison control center: 1-800-222-1222.
Want to look something up? Kidshealth.org
Need to go to an ER? We recommend CHOP, DuPont, Crozer, or Bryn Mawr where pediatricians are available to access your child.
These are resources that may help you when your child is sick. As always, please call your child's pediatrician if you have a specific concern. And definitely call if you think your child is having difficulty breathing or is in danger of becoming dehydrated (not wetting many diapers or peeing less).
Fever
Fever
- A baby under 2 month with a RECTAL temperature of 100.4F or above requires immediate medical attention at the closest children's hospital. Only check your baby's temperature if you think something might be wrong. For example: the baby feels very warm, is difficult to arouse, or is difficult to console, etc. Don't check on a daily or regular basis.
- Generally, even if your child (older than 4-5 months) develops a fever but is otherwise happy and eating well, no medication is needed. Consult your child's pediatrician for specific concerns. See dosage chart here for fever/pain medications.
- A fever WILL NOT damage your child's brain. Treat the discomfort, not the temperature.
- Don't wake a sleeping child to give medication, let him or her sleep.
- You've heard us say it before, IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!
- See more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics here.
- Sometimes parents are concerned that their kids have a breathing problem. Most of the time, the kid is just breathing loud from nasal congestion. Here are signs when you should give your kid albuterol if they have it, and/or go to the ER or call the doctor's office if you see these things. The following what "difficulty breathing" look like:
- Shortness of breath with routine activities or conversation
- Lift up the shirt and see if the ribs are flaring in and out (bad sign)
- Look at the belly and see if an indentation is going in and out underneath the ribs
- Look at the neck for an indentation going in and out with each breath
- Look at the nostrils for flaring
- Shallow breathing, breathing faster than normal
- As of September 23, 2014, the virus has been confirmed in 30 states including Pennsylvania. Here are a few general tips to keep in mind.
- Wash hands frequently, do not allow children to visit friends or family in the hospital unless they have to (so they don't spread the virus to sick children), cover coughs, and wash hands. Did we mention washing hands? Keep your child at home if they have a cold.
- If your child has a history of wheezing or using an inhaled steroid (such as budesonide, flovent, qvar, pulmicort), then start the inhaled steroid or increase the dose at the first sign of a runny nose or cold symptoms. Continue for 2 weeks. Have the albuterol rescue medication available on hand to administer if your child develops a cough. Remember, you can use albuterol up to every 4 hours. Call the doctor's office if you have to use the albuterol more frequently than every 4 hours or for more than 2-3 days.
- For persistent coughing or has signs of difficulty breathing (see above), administer albuterol and call the doctor's office or take your child to the emergency department, preferably at a pediatric hospital. Or if you feel your child is getting worse very quickly, call 911.
- See the CDC website if you would like to read more details about the virus.
- Often caused by viruses and usually self limiting.
- You will know if your child is well hydrated by the number of times he or she has a wet diaper or voids. The goal is at least 3 wet diapers a day or voiding at least 3 times per day. If your child falls short of this, then push the hydration with fluids such as pedialyte for younger children or gatorade for children older than 3 years old. Children older than 18 months may also do well with popsicles!
- If your child has persistent vomiting that looks bloody or green, call the doctor's office!
- If your child has persistent vomiting and is not voiding much, you may need to take him or her to the nears children's hospital for IV fluids.
- Often caused by viruses and usually self limiting.
- See vomiting info above on hydration.
- Avoid juice (as you should anyway) as this may cause more diarrhea.
- Runny nose, sneezing, cough, maybe a fever? Try teaspoon of honey, lots of soft tissues, moisturizer on the nose, rest, and fluids!
- It is normal for kids to get 10 colds per year. Green, yellow, blue, purple snot does not mean a sinus infection. Call your doctor's office to speak with a nurse or the on call doctor if you have any specific concerns.
- Call the doctor if the symptoms are lasting more than 1 week, or if the fever lasts more than 2-3 days, or if you feel your child is having difficulty breathing or persistent coughing especially if the coughing lasts all night long.
- More information coming soon.
- Manifests as a barky cough with noisy breathing when the child breathes in.
- Try exposing your child to a steamed up the bathroom or to cold air for 20 minutes.
- Usually gets worse for 3 days before getting better.
- Call the doctor's office if you feel your child is having difficulty breathing or persistent coughing especially if the coughing lasts all night long.
- This is usually caused by viruses such as RSV that circulate fall to spring, caused by a VIRUS, so expect a fever for a few days.
- Affects babies to toddlers usually.
- Can manifest as a LOT of congestion and cough. For this you can just do supportive care. If the congestion is not interfering with your child's play, eating, or sleeping, then it bothers you more than it bothers your child.
- However, if the congestion is interfering with routine activities, then you can either administer saline drops or sit your child in a steamed up bathroom (kid not in the tub) for 20 minutes several times a day to loosen up the congestion.
- Hydrate well with plenty of fluids, make sure your child is still peeing more than 3 times per day.
- Watch for signs of difficulty breathing (see above) as some kids may develop this and wheezing.
- Know your asthma action plan! Ask your doctor if you don't know what it is.
- ALBUTEROL: aka albuterol, pro air, ventolin, proventil, xopenex, levalbuterol; the rescue medication, the medication you use if you need help now, if you have difficulty breathing.
- INHALED STEROID: aka budesonide, pulmicort, flovent, qvar, symbicort; the prevention medication, the medication you take to avoid going into an asthma attack.
- Please know which inhaler contains which medications, knowing only the color of the inhaler is not helpful because the different companies use all different and sometimes the same color with no rhyme or reason. KNOW YOUR MEDICATIONS!
- See above for signs of difficulty breathing, take your albuterol if you have problems breathing. If your breathing problem continues, then call 911 or go to the nearest ER. If your breathing problem is only temporarily better, then take the albuterol every 4 hours for 2-4 days. Call the doctor's office if you need the albuterol more than 4 days or more often than every 4 hours.
- More information coming soon.
- There are many prescription creams and gels available, in addition to some prescription oral medications. Don't waste your money on brands with false promises. Make an appointment with the doctor to find a good regimen for your child. See the teen spirit link for some more ideas.
- Bath or shower in lukewarm water, no more than 10-15 minutes, avoid bubble baths, stick with a gentle soap without dyes or fragrances such as Dove.
- Pat dry with a towel and immediately seal in the moisture with Aquaphor or Cetaphil
- Moisturize at least twice a day, especially during the dry fall/winter season.
- For flares, use a topical steroid, twice a day for 7 days. Some strengths require a prescription.
- Clotrimazole, aka Lotrimin or Jock Itch Cream or Athlete's Foot Cream, twice a day until the rash disappears
- Headache diaries for children and teens. These are useful to keep track of headaches and helps doctors better understand your child's headaches.
- Hydrate, get 8-10 hours of sleep, exercise, avoid MSG (Chinese food, ready to use bread crumbs) and nitrates (hot dogs)
- Information on symptoms and foods to avoid here.
- Make note to have other dietary sources of calcium and vitamin D.