What to do When Your Child Is Sick

Posted on March 27, 2009
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Most parents know when their child is becoming ill, even though it’s difficult to know what precisely is wrong.

This chapter will help you decide when to call the doctor, when home nursing will suffice, and what to do to make your child comfortable. A child may need special care and attention because of a chronic condition such as asthma,or a learning disorder such as dyslexia, or he may simply be very advanced for his years. Early identification of special needs is very important; you are your child’s main care giver, and the better informed you are, the more you can do for him. First aid is an essential skill for all parents.

A sick child is pale, listless, and indifferent to food. You should be able to treat him successfully at home for most things. If you’re ever worried or uncertain, however, call your doctor. Some situations always require immediate medical attention (see Emergencies, opposite).

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

If your child is getting sick, signs that you should monitor closely are his temperature, appetite, and breathing rate.

Raised temperature The normal body temperature for a child is 98.6°F(37oC). When your child’s temperature rises above lOO.4oF (38°C) he has a fever, in which case you should seek medical help. Call a doctor right away if a raised temperature is accompanied by a stiff neck and a rash, since these symptoms may indicate meningitis.

Diarrhea Loose, watery bowel movements mean that the intestines are inflamed and irritated; the most common cause is gastroenteritis. Diarrhea is always serious in babies and young children since it can lead to dehydration.

Vomiting Consult your doctor if your child has been vomiting intermittently during a six-hour period or longer, especially if the. vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea or fever. Vomiting is usually caused by food that hasn’t agreed with your child or by gastroenteritis. Occasionally, there may be a more serious cause; your doctor will make a diagnosis.

Pain You should see your doctor if your child complains of headaches, particularly after he’s bumped his head or if the headache comes on a few hours after the head injury, or if there is blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, or stomach pain, particularly on the lower right side of the abdomen.

Breathing Difficulty in breathing is a medical emergency and requires immediate help. Breathing may be labored and you may notice that your child’s ribs are drawn in sharply each time he takes a breath. If your child’s lips turn blue, you should treat this as an emergency and send for an ambulance.

Appetite Sudden changes in appetite may indicate underlying illness, especially if your child has a fever, even a mild one. Your doctor should be alerted if your child refuses food for a day and seems lethargic.

WHAT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR

In order to make a diagnosis, your doctor will need a description of your child’s symptoms, when they started, in what order they occurred, how severe they are, and whether anything precipitated them (eating something poisonous, for instance). In addition to this, your doctor will need to know your child’s age and medical history.

Your doctor may ask the following questions: Has your child vomited or had diarrhea? Does he have any pain? Where is it? How long has it lasted? Have you given him anything for it? Is his temperature elevated? How quickly did the fever come on and what was his highest temperature? Has he lost consciousness at any time? Have you noticed swollen glands or a rash? Has he had any dizziness or blurred vision? The doctor will also ask general questions about your child’s appetite and sleeping patterns. What to ask your doctor If your child is prescribed drugs, make sure that you know when they should be taken (some need to be taken on a full or empty stomach), how long they should be taken for, and whether there are likely to be any side effects. Find out how your child should be cared for and how soon you can expect his symptoms to go away.


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