9 Tips for Treating Your Sick Child

Now that cold temperatures are here and we’re spending more time inside, we’ll see more illness hitting our kids.

Fevers, flu and colds are the common aliments most parents see at some point during the year.

Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help parents when treating their sick little one.

Fever

Fevers don’t have to be treated, according to AAP, unless your child isn’t sleeping or eating well or if he is lethargic and uncomfortable. They do recommend consulting with your child’s doctor. To keep them comfortable, here are their tips:

• Dress your child lightly and keep his/her room cool
• Encourage them to drink lots of fluids such as water, diluted fruit juice and electrolyte solutions
• If your child is contagious, make sure they stay away from anyone with a compromised immune systems , the elderly or very young children

Colds and Flu

Because there is no cure for the flu or a cold, treatment can be given to help make your child more comfortable from the aches and pains, sore throat or some fevers associated with these illnesses. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends giving ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help relieve these symptoms.

• Administering cold and cough medicine is not recommended for children, especially under the age of 2
• Encourage your child to rest and drink fluids
• You might consider a humidifier to help keep air moist and help with your child’s nasal congestion

Giving Prescription Medication

If your doctor does give you a prescription for your child, the AAP has some recommendations for giving these medications.

• Don’t skip any doses – if you do miss, call your doctor to find out what to do
• Do not give more than the recommended dose, thinking more will make it go away faster. This can be very dangerous for your child
• If your child does not like the taste of the medication, do not try to hide it. Instead, ask your pharmacist about mixing in a Flavorx flavor to make it more appealing.  Flavorx offers 15-20 different flavorings such as bubble gum, watermelon or grape to help make the medicine more appealing. To find one of the 40,000 participating pharmacies, go to www.flavorx.com/locator. If your child has trouble taking pills, try a flavored spray such as Pill Glide to help them swallow their dose. The spray is available in grape and strawberry flavors. For more information on both products, go to www.flavorx.com.