Q.  When should I bring my child to the doctor when he/she is sick?

A.  If you are concerned that they have more than a common cold, if their cold hasn’t resolved in 1 week, if
they have a fever longer than a couple days in a row.

Q.  What should I do if my child has a cold?

A.  Make sure it doesn’t seem like they have a fever, Make sure the child is getting lots of fluids (breast
milk or other liquids like Pedialyte) so that they are still making regular wet diapers or urinating regularly,
Allow the opportunity for rest as much as necessary.  Common colds should get better on their own
without needing to do much else.

If you did want to do something more to help a child’s immune system get over a cold quicker, below are some ideas:

If the mom is breast feeding,  mom can take a product called “Bio-Vegetarian” by Priority One Vitamins
which has some immune supportive herbs and enzymes; it is made in the NW; it is safe for breast feeding and we can order it for you if you’d like.

For kids who are no longer breast feeding,
there is a product called Phyto-guard Junior, which is also locally made and has immune supportive herbs; we have it in our clinic if you ask us.

Q.  How do I know if my baby has a fever? (or adult)

A.  If they feel warm/hot to you, you should take their temperature in their armpit or their rectum.  100.5
degrees Fahrenheit or more is considered a fever taken by either method.  If the armpit temp is on the
border, some people add 1 degree to the armpit temp, but technically only a rectal temperature taken is
precise; a temporal artery thermometer is quite accurate also.  I recommend one of the fast 6 second thermometers.  I do not recommend the ear or other forehead
thermometers because they are not accurate.  Older children can do it the old fashioned way – under the
tongue, 100.5 is also a fever in adults.

Q.  When should I give Motrin (Ibuprofen) or (NOT) Tyelnol (Acetaminophen) ?

A.  Firstly, I have begun to recommend Ibuprofen instead of Tylenol/Acetaminophen because of liver
toxicity and potential asthma correlation with Tylenol/Acetaminophen.

If it seems like the child is very uncomfortable from their illness or from some discomfort they are going
through, then it would make sense to give them some pain relief, otherwise the fever itself is thought to be
part of the healing process and reducing it might slow down that natural process.  If the child has a high
fever above 104, you could give ibuprofen (note: if the child has had febrile seizures before, I would give
the medicine for all fevers).

Q.  How high is too high for a fever?

A.  It is very rare that a fever itself is at risk of harming us – brain damage happens at 107-108 degrees
Fahrenheit.  The risk of a seizure associated with a fever becomes higher at 105-106 degreed Fahrenheit
–though interestingly, these types of seizures are not thought to be harmful…that being said, I would
probably give some Ibuprofen at 105 or 106 degrees.

Q.  What is the dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) for my infant?  

A.  I do NOT recommend Tylenol for children.

Q. What is the infant dose for Motrin (ibuprofen)?

A. For infants 6 mos old or greater, the dose is 5-10mg/kg every 6-8 hours (lower dose for fever under
102.5, higher dose for fever >102.5

Q.  What do I do if my child has stomach flu (a bug that causes vomiting or diarrhea or both)?

A.  Focus on maintaining adequate hydration while it passes through their body (which can take 1 week);
they will often have a fever during this time.
-You can buy or make Pedialyte; the recipe is 5 teaspoons sugar (or 2 1/2 teaspoons of maple syrup) and 1/2 teaspoon salt in 1 Liter water.
-Focus on liquids only; do not worry about giving any solid food at all; start with small quantities of liquid –
sips first and increase the volume slowly, if you give a large amount of fluid at once, the child may vomit.
-Warning signs that the child is dehydrated are: lethargic or tired and not easily waking up; you can check
the inside of the cheeks and if it’s dry and pasty, this is also a sign of dehydration; if your child appears
dehydrated despite your attempts at oral hydration, you should go to the ER so that they can give some IV
fluids.

Q.  When should I call the doctor?

A. If you are concerned about your child’s health and feel it is urgent to discuss their care, then call.  If the question is not urgent, then schedule an appointment to discuss.  If you are concerned that your child is having a severe problem or emergency, call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Room, for children: ideally Randall Childrens Hospital or Doernbecher.