Category: Children’s Health

*  Bacterial sore throats usually cause a high fever, headaches, or swollen neck glands. But sometimes children with bacterial sore throats have no other problems. Strep throat is one kind of bacterial sore throat. Antibiotics can help cure a bacterial sore throat.

*  Viral sore throats are more common. They may or may not cause the same problems as a bacterial sore throat. You can’t cure a viral sore throat with antibiotics.

*  Have your child gargle with 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1/2 cup of warm water. Do this every few hours. Only do this with children over 6 years old.

*  Give your child warm drinks like tea and soup. The tea can be plain or with honey. (Don’t give honey to a baby under 1 year old.)

*  For strep throat, give cold foods and liquids, like popsicles and frozen yogurt.

*  Keep your child away from secondhand smoke.

*  Use a cool-mist vaporizer in the room where your child spends most of the time. Clean it every day. Use distilled (not tap) water.

*  Feed your child foods that are soft and/or cold. The food should be easy to swallow. Don’t give your child spicy foods.

*  Have your child suck on a piece of hard candy or a cough drop if he or she is 5 or more years old. You can give corn syrup to a younger child.

*  For pain and fever give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure to give the right kind and dose for his or her weight. (Note: Do not give aspirin. Aspirin and other medicines that have salicylates have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome.)

*  Don’t use throat sprays. Some throat sprays have benzocaine. Benzocaine bothers some children.

*  Your child has the flu or some other sickness.

*  Your child isn’t getting enough water.

*  Your child is holding in the bowel movement because he or she:

– Has a bad diaper rash.

– Has a tear in the rectum (the opening where stool comes out).

– Is being toilet trained.

*  Give your child lots of water and other things to drink. (This is very important when the weather is hot.)

*  Give your child prune juice.

*  To help your baby pass stool, lie the baby on his or her back. Move the baby’s legs like he or she is riding a bicycle. Or bend your baby’s legs at the knees and hold them up to your baby’s chest.

*  Don’t give honey to an infant.

*  Feed your child foods with fiber:

– Babies 6 months old and older can have whole wheat baby cereal.

– Older children can eat fruit, and whole-wheat breads and cereals, and vegetables.

– Put 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of syrup in 4 ounces of water.

OR

– Put 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of syrup in 4 ounces of formula.

*  Mineral oil. (Don’t give mineral oil to a child under 3 years old.)

*  Glycerin suppositories.

*  Laxatives like Colace® or Metamucil®.

*  Hard.

*  “Rubbery.”

*  Without pain.

*  Getting bigger.

*  A throat or ear infection is a  common cause of swollen glands in the neck.

*  An infection in the feet, legs, or groin can make the lymph glands in the groin swell.

*  Mononucleosis can make neck glands swell. (High school and college students call this “mono” or “the kissing disease.”)

*  Mumps.

*  Cat scratch fever. A cat’s claws carry this sickness.

*  Medicines, like Dilantin®. (This medicine is for epilepsy.)

*  Dental work.

*  Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph glands, or leukemia.

*  Tuberculosis (TB).

*  Make sure your children’s measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shots are up-to-date.

*  Keep your child away from people who have sicknesses they can catch.

*  Tell your child to rest when they feel tired. Tell them not to “overdo it.”

*  Give your child plenty to drink.

*  Put warm, wet washcloths and antiseptic creams on scratches and other wounds.

*  Asthma.

*  Bronchitis. This is a respiratory tract infection.

*  A cold or the flu.

*  Croup.

*  Measles.

*  Smoking or secondhand smoke.

*  Swollen adenoids. (This can lead to an infection.)

*  Whooping cough. A vaccine for this is part of the DTaP shot.

*  Give your child plenty of liquids, like water and clear soup. These help loosen mucus and soothe a sore throat. Fruit juices are good, too.

*  Use a cool-mist vaporizer, especially in the bedroom. Use distilled (not tap) water. Put a humidifier on the furnace. Keep them very clean. Remember to change the filter on the humidifier.

*  Sit with your child in the bathroom with the shower running. The steam can help thin the mucus. (If your child has asthma, do not follow this tip.)

*  Raise your child’s head when resting if he or she has a cold or respiratory infection.

*  Put your child’s head lower than his or her chest if the infection is in the lungs.

*  Ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist what kind of cough medicine is O.K. to give your child.

*  Make your own cough medicine. Mix 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts honey. (Don’t give this to children under 1 year old.)

*  Have your child suck on cough drops, hard candies, or suckers. Give suckers that have safety loops instead of hard sticks. (Don’t give these to a child under 5 years old.)

*  If your baby coughs after eating:

– Have your baby sit up when he or she eats.

– If your baby drinks from a bottle, burp your baby after each ounce of formula. Burp the baby every few minutes when breast-feeding.

– Don’t lie the baby down after feeding.

*  Don’t smoke. Keep your child away from secondhand smoke. Tell your child not to smoke.

*  Keep your child away from chemical gases that can hurt their lungs.

*  When your child is better, promote exercise on a regular basis. Your child’s breathing muscles will get stronger. Your child will fight infection better, too.

*  Keep your child’s shots up-to-date.

*  For fever and aches, give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure you give the right kind and dose for your child’s weight.

*  If your child gets bronchitis easily, keep him or her away from air pollution as much as you can. Use  air conditioning and air filters. Have your child wear a filter mask over his or her nose and mouth if needed. Keep your child inside when air pollution is heavy.

*  Call the doctor if your child doesn’t get better in 24 hours.

*  Keep coins, paper clips, balloons, and small toy parts out of the reach of babies and small children. Anything that is small enough to fit through the center of a paper towel roll is a choking hazard for babies and small children.

*  Watch your child when he or she eats. For a child less than 4 years old, give foods that are soft and cut up. Don’t give foods in the list below to a child less than 4 years old.

– Peanuts and other nuts.

– Popcorn.

– Hot dogs (even when cut in round pieces).

– Raisins and other dried fruit.

– Raw carrots.

– Chewing gum.

– Peanut butter from a spoon.

– Hard candy, sunflower or pumpkin seeds. (Wait until a child is age 5 years old to give these.)

*  Viruses in the intestines. (Your child can get diarrhea, too.)

*  Getting upset.

*  Morning sickness in pregnant teens.

*  Motion sickness (getting “car sick” or “seasick” from travelling).

*  Some medicines.

*  Spoiled food.

*  Eating or drinking too much.

*  Appendicitis. This is when your child’s appendix is infected.

*  Stomach ulcers.

*  Meningitis.

*  Brain tumors.

*  Be calm and loving. Throwing up can scare a child.

*  Keep a bowl or basin near your child. Hold your hand against your child’s forehead when he or she vomits.

*  Give your child water to rinse his or her mouth out after throwing up. Sponge your child’s face.

*  Take away dirty clothes or bedding. Change to clean ones.

*  Don’t smoke near your child.

*  Don’t feed your child solid food. Don’t give your child milk.

*  Wait 1 hour after your child throws up. Then give your child clear fluids (not too cold or too hot). Here are some examples:

– Pedialyte®, Revital Ice®-rehydrating freezer pops, or other over-the-counter mixtures.

– Lemon-lime soda or ginger ale for  older children. Stir the soda until the fizz is gone.

– Gelatin (any color but red).

*  Start with 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of liquid every 10 minutes for babies. Start with 1 to 2 ounces every 15 minutes for children. Give twice as much each hour after the vomiting stops. If your child is still vomiting, stop fluids for 1 hour. Then start to give small amounts of fluid again.

*  Slowly give your child more and more clear fluids. Don’t make your child drink when he or she doesn’t want anything.

– If the baby throws up 3 or more times, give your baby Pedialyte® or other over-the-counter mixture.

– Go back to nursing when your baby has gone 2 to 4 hours without vomiting. But feed less. Do only one side, and only for about 10 minutes.

– Go back to nursing on both sides after 8 hours of no vomiting. But feed your baby less than usual for about 8 hours.

*  For bottle-fed babies: After 12 hours of no vomiting, give formula. But mix 1/2 formula with 1/2 water.

*  After your child stops throwing up, keep giving him or her clear fluids, like broth and gelatin (any color but red). Do this for 8 hours. Then give foods easy to digest, like crackers and rice. Then go back to the usual foods your child eats. But wait 12 to 24 hours after the last time your child vomited to give milk.

*  Don’t give your child over-the-counter medicine unless the doctor tells you to.

*  Infection by viruses, bacteria, or parasites (A virus is the most common cause. Your child may also throw up, have a fever, have a runny nose, and/or feel very tired. Children can catch these viruses at school or daycare.)

*  Eating too much of foods they are not used to.

*  Food poisoning.

*  Allergies. (Example: milk allergy).

*  Taking too many laxatives. (Example: Teens trying to lose weight sometimes take laxatives.)

*  Taking some medicines. (Example: Antibiotics.)

*  Getting upset.

*  Drinking bad water or food while traveling.

*  Catching an infection from someone else who has been travelling.

– Is thirsty.

– Has a dry mouth and dry skin.

– Has a dry diaper or passed little or no urine.

– Is confused or dizzy.

– Is weak or has a weak cry.

*  Get medical care fast.

*  Stop solid foods. Give clear liquids. Give the liquids the doctor tells you to give.

*  Don’t give your child very cold or hot liquids or boiled milk.

*  Don’t give your child liquids with lots of sugar, like soft drinks, gelatins, grape juice, and apple juice. These can make the diarrhea worse.

*  Don’t give just clear liquids for more than 24 hours. Start normal meals within 12 hours.

* For bottle-fed babies and children under 2, give over-the-counter mixtures like Pedialyte®. They have liquid and minerals.

– For breast-fed babies, nurse the baby. But give only as much breast milk as the baby wants. Feed every 2 hours. Ask the baby’s doctor about giving water and over-the-counter mixtures.

– For children over age 2, give up to 6 cups of liquid per day. Good choices are: Over-the-counter mixtures, like Pedialyte®; Kool-Aid®; Sports drinks, like Gatorade®. Water, but don’t give just water. Give other clear liquids, too.

*  Feed your child normal meals. Your child may want to eat smaller amounts than normal.

*  Don’t give fatty or fried foods.

*  Don’t give your child foods that upset his or her stomach.

*  Don’t feed your child just a B.R.A.T. diet. This was an old way to treat diarrhea. B.R.A.T. stands for ripe Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and dry Toast. It is O.K. to give your child these foods with other ones, though.

*  Don’t let your child exercise too hard until the diarrhea is all gone.

*  Don’t give your child Kaopectate® or other over-the-counter medicines to stop diarrhea unless your child’s doctor says it’s O.K. And, don’t give your child Pepto-Bismol®. Like aspirin, Pepto-Bismol® has salicylates which have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome, a condition that can kill.

*  To keep diarrhea germs from spreading, follow these tips:

– Make sure your child washes his or her hands after using the toilet.

– Give your child paper towels to dry his or her hands.

– Have everyone at home wash their hands often, so the infection doesn’t spread.

– Be sure to wash your hands after changing diapers or washing your child.

*  Wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds (count to 30) before you handle food or items used to prepare foods.

*  Use clean tools and clean surfaces when you prepare foods.

*  Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, and fish away from other foods, utensils, and serving plates.

*  Wash your hands after you touch or prepare raw meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, or eggs. Wash the items used to prepare these foods, too. Use hot soapy water or put them in the dishwasher.

*  Don’t mix raw foods with cooked and ready-to-eat foods when you shop, prepare, and store foods.

*  Store foods that can spoil in the refrigerator. Read food labels. Use leftovers stored in the refrigerator within 3 to 4 days.

*  Don’t eat raw eggs or eggs that aren’t cooked enough. Don’t eat foods with raw eggs like cookie batter.

*  Cook foods to a safe temperature. Check and follow the label or recipe.

*  Keep hot foods hot (higher than 140ºF) and cold foods cold (40ºF or lower).

*  Don’t put things in your child’s ears like cotton swabs, bobby pins, or your fingers. You can hurt the eardrums.

*  Don’t smoke. Don’t let your child smoke. Keep your child away from secondhand smoke.

*  Put a warm washcloth next to the sore ear. Or put an ice bag or ice in a wet washcloth over the ear for 20 minutes.

*  Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure you give the right kind and dose for your child’s weight. (Note: Do not give aspirin. Aspirin and other medicines that have salicylates have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome.)

*  Have your child shake his or her head.

*  Dry the ear canal with a tissue. Twist each corner of the tissue into a tip. Stick each tip into the ear canal for 10 seconds. Use a clean tissue on the other ear.

*  Use a product like Swim-Ear®. Drop it into the ears to fight the infection.

*  Put the child in a dark room. Shine a light near the ear for a few minutes. (The bug may fly out.)

*  Pour a little warm olive oil, baby oil, or mineral oil in the ear to make the bug float out. Pull the earlobe gently back and up as you pour. If this doesn’t work, call your child’s doctor.

*  Sit up.

*  Sleep with his or her head raised.

*  Yawn. Yawning moves the muscles that open the tubes.

*  Hold his or her nose closed and have your child blow gently through the nose until he or she hears a pop. This can be done many times a day. It can also be done on a plane when it starts to land.

*  Stay awake during airplane take-offs and landings. (If your child is an infant, nurse or bottle-feed him or her as the plane takes off, gets ready to land, and when it lands.)

*  Chew gum or suck hard candy. This helps a lot on an airplane, too. It can also help when your child wakes up at night with ear pain. But only let your child do this if he or she is more than 5 years old.

*  Don’t let your child swim in dirty water. Have your child wear a bathing cap when he or she swims.

*  Use a cool-mist vaporizer, especially at night. Clean it every day.

*  Give your child lots of liquids to drink.

*  Hold a baby upright when you bottle-feed.