My Child is Sick, What Now?

Care at home for mild symptoms. Here is what you can do: Offer plenty of fluids, especially Pedialyte or clear soups in small quantities frequently (one ounce every 5 minutes). Serve bland foods (crackers, toast, scrambled eggs, apple sauce).

Contact your child's physician if: illness lasts more than 2 days, if child has blood in diarrhea, or if you cannot bring fever below 101 degrees.

Go to the Emergency Room if child is experiencing any of the following symptoms: persistent abdominal pain or signs of dehydration: dizziness, sunken eyes, poor muscle or skin tone.

Care at home for mild symptoms. Here is what you can do: offer plenty of fluids and use OTC medicines for children age 4 and older (expectorants with guaifenesin, cough suppressants with dextromethorphan).

Contact your child's physician if: your child has a cough with significant fever, worsening thick mucus or phlegm, or a cough that interferes with sleep or persists for a week.

Go to the Emergency Room if child is experiencing any of the following symptoms: difficulty breathing or retractions (ribs showing when breathing).

Care at home for mild symptoms. Here is what you can do: increase fluid intake. Give acetaminophen (or ibuprofen if older than 6 months).

Contact your child's physician if: you are unable to bring fever below 103 degrees with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if newborn (under 2 months) has fever over 100.4 degrees, if child has fever lasting more than 5 days, or if child has fewer than 4 wet diapers per day.

Go to the Emergency Room if child is experiencing any of the following symptoms: confused/lethargic, severe headache with vomiting or stiff neck, seizure, or difficulty breathing.

Care at home for mild symptoms. Here is what you can do: increase fluid intake. For infants: consider small amounts of apple, prune, or pear juice in addition to normal feedings or introducing pureed peas or prunes. If necessary, add a Glycerin suppository.

Contact your child's physician if: infant has infrequent hard stool or abdominal distension, or if child has not improved with at home care measures.

Go to the Emergency Room if child is experiencing any of the following symptoms: pain or vomiting.

Care at home for mild symptoms. Here is what you can do: Use Calamine lotion for contact dermatitis or aloe lotion for sunburn. Introduce a lukewarm oatmeal bath to soothe itchy rashes or Popsicles to soothe mouth sores. Ibuprofen can be used for sunburns.

Contact your child's physician if: child has a fever over 101 degrees or if child has mouth sores or rash that impairs eating or drinking.

Go to the Emergency Room if child is experiencing any of the following symptoms: generalized and/or blistering rash.

For care at home, here is what you can do: take prescribed controller/rescue medications, avoid cigarette smoke and other irritants, and treat asthma triggers like allergies or URI symptoms.

Contact your child's physician if: child has persistent daily nighttime cough, child uses rescue medication more than 2x/week or more frequently than normal, or child has shortness of breath, wheezing or cough during exercise.

Go to the Emergency Room if child is experiencing any of the following symptoms: confusion/drowsiness, worsening breathing interferes with eating or playing, or wheezing/breathing problems despite rescue medications.

For care at home, here is what you can do: wear a medical alert bracelet, monitor blood sugar, and take prescribed medications.

Contact your child's physician if: child has increased thirst, nausea/vomiting, trembling/weakness, persistently elevated blood sugar, recurrently low blood sugar.

Go to the Emergency Room if child is experiencing any of the following symptoms: Persistent low blood sugar, especially with confusion/loss of consciousness and rapid breathing.