COMMON PEDIATRIC PROBLEMS
WHEN DO I CALL THE DOCTOR? A parents dilemma. Decisions,
decisions. Worry in the night. Frustration because my child is so little and can’t
tell me what’s wrong. Is this something simple or something serious? Taking a guess,
explaining it away, hoping that if I wait, it will go away, these are natural reactions,
but none of us would want to place our child at risk. Most doctors, when asked, will reply
that they would rather hear from you no matter the time of day or night than have you take
a chance….so pick up the phone and call the pediatrician if you think your baby is
sick.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP US HELP YOU: We can be effective
partners, and we can help you to handle a feverish infant, a vomiting toddler, a child in
pain. Participating in the evaluation and handling of your child’s illness will give
you confidence and assurance.
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? Here are a few sample questions your
doctor will probably want to ask, so gather some of this information before you pick up
the phone.
- How long has he been ill? When did symptoms first appear?
- Does she have a fever? How high?
- Is the baby having trouble breathing? - you can check respirations by
counting how many times in a minute his or her chest rises and falls.
- Is the child coughing? Does he have a runny nose or is he congested? Is
it a barky or a crowing cough?
- Has the baby refused to eat? Is her tummy hard or bloated?
- How many times has the child vomited or had diarrhea in the past 24
hours?
- Is this baby sleeping more than usual, or is he difficult to arouse?
- Has there been a recent injury, or has she been recently exposed to
contagious illness?
- Does the child have a chronic medical problem we need to be reminded
about, when we don’t have your chart with us after hours?
- What medicines have you given? Allergies to medications?
- Does the baby just not seem "right" to you?
FOLLOWING ARE SOME TIPS FOR OTHER COMMON PEDIATRIC
PROBLEMS:
WHEN YOUR CHILD HAS A COLD……. A
cold is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the linings of the upper respiratory
tract, including the nose, the sinuses,, and the throat. The
inflammation produces swelling and increases the rate of mucus formation leading to
congestion and stuffiness. At last count over l00 different viruses have been isolated and
implicated as causing the common cold, or what we call and upper respiratory infection.
FACTS:
- A cold is self-limiting, usually lasting about one to two weeks.
- A cold is spread via droplet spray and by direct contact; coughing, sneezing, kissing,
and touching.
- In older children, the cold symptoms may last 5 - 7 days, preschoolers usually take a
week to 10 days and infants may not clear up for up to two weeks.
- May be accompanied by low grade temperature of 100 degrees to 102 degrees F. orally
which may last for 2 - 3 days. As long as the temperature responds to treatment, the
other symptoms are not as worrisome so long as there is no overall worsening of the
patient’s general condition.
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TREATMENT: Acetaminophen (TYLENOL) for children and infants for
temperature
elevation and to relieve aches and pains. When
mucus drainage is copious, decongestants may be used to help
dry up mucus membranes. Saline nose drops (Ocean Spray), Pediacare Infant Drops for infants, or Dimetapp and Triaminic for toddlers and older children are helpful. Rest and fluids, also humidification of room with mist may help. Do not give babies 3 months of age or younger any medication not prescribed for him by a doctor, not even an over- the-counter drug.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR: If your child is less than 3 months old, if
cold symptoms persist more than 10 days, or any of the above
symptoms intensify. Ear pain, drainage, productive cough,, behavior changes, persistent
high fever, rapid, noisy, and difficult breathing, swollen glands in the neck, severe or
continuous cough that keeps the child awake at night.
REMEMBER: It’s perfectly normal for your child
to pick up several colds each year.
You can handle most colds at home without seeing a physician. If, however, you suspect that your youngster may be suffering from more than a simple cold, always check with your pediatrician.
BREATHING PROBLEMS:
After your child has been seen for a respiratory illness, it is important
to follow the recommendations of your physician or nurse
practitioner. Please notify them right away if it is not possible to do so.
