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It's 11PM...Should I call Dr. Hardin???
If you haven’t figured out from hanging out in our waiting room, cold and flu season (AKA busy season) is here at Northside Pediatrics. The number of sick kids increases exponentially from October through March here in Georgia. Add day care, preschool, or church nursery to your child’s life and these number of illnesses increase even more. Now it’s 11 p.m. on a Friday night and Timmy or Kaitlin is sick again…a big question all our parents ask is “Do I need to call, or can this wait?” This month’s article is a quick overview of when is it time to call….
First…a few important things to know about colds: did you know the average cold lasts 10-14 days? Did you know that green or yellow nasal discharge is a normal part of all viral respiratory illnesses at least for a few days? Did you know that some colds can have fevers of 102 or higher in the first few days? Well, they do!
We need to hear from you after hours right away for a few specific reasons:
If you haven’t figured out from hanging out in our waiting room, cold and flu season (AKA busy season) is here at Northside Pediatrics. The number of sick kids increases exponentially from October through March here in Georgia. Add day care, preschool, or church nursery to your child’s life and these number of illnesses increase even more. Now it’s 11 p.m. on a Friday night and Timmy or Kaitlin is sick again…a big question all our parents ask is “Do I need to call, or can this wait?” This month’s article is a quick overview of when is it time to call….
First…a few important things to know about colds: did you know the average cold lasts 10-14 days? Did you know that green or yellow nasal discharge is a normal part of all viral respiratory illnesses at least for a few days? Did you know that some colds can have fevers of 102 or higher in the first few days? Well, they do!
We need to hear from you after hours right away for a few specific reasons:
1. You have an infant less than 8 week old who
a. Has a temperature greater than 100.5
b. Has a cold and isn’t eating well
c. Has a cold with a persistent cough
2. Your child has asthma or has used an inhaler in the last year and
a. Is still audibly wheezing or working hard to breath after the use of their inhaler
b. Is having a temperature of 101.5 or higher with wheezing
3. Your child has vomiting and/or diarrhea and hasn’t urinated in the last 4-6 hrs
4. Your child has a red or purple rash which doesn’t “blanch” (go away temporarily) after being pressed.
5. Your child has a cold and is working to breathe (ribs sucking in with each breath or belly or neck caving in with each breath).
6. Your child is acting excessively sleepy or lethargic, or is still very irritable after Motrin or Tylenol.
We need to see you the next day (and no after hours call is needed) if:
1. Your child has asthma and the inhaler is working, but is needed more than every 4 hours or symptoms are worsening despite the inhaler.
2. You child has been sick with the same illness greater than 14 days or seems worse after a week.
3. Your child has symptoms of strep throat such as sore throat and fever.
There are many medicines out there that are for sale for colds and the flu. Many studies have shown none of these meds decrease symptoms or make the symptoms go away any faster. In fact the FDA has shown in kids less than 6 years old, these meds can be dangerous causing over sedation. Grandma’s actually right about old fashioned home treatments for colds. Saline (salt water) nose drops help loosen secretions and clear the nasal passages. Steamy showers do the same. In kids older than 2 years, warm (decaf) tea with honey and lemon is a natural cough suppressant and expectorant. Remember, Mucinex has cute ads, but doesn’t work!
So most things can wait until the next day. 70% of the illnesses right now are viral and last a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, we don’t have magic cures, and the simple home treatments go a long way. We always are available, but you don’t need to always call or come in. Hope this article helps you during those late night dilemmas.
We need to see you the next day (and no after hours call is needed) if:
1. Your child has asthma and the inhaler is working, but is needed more than every 4 hours or symptoms are worsening despite the inhaler.
2. You child has been sick with the same illness greater than 14 days or seems worse after a week.
3. Your child has symptoms of strep throat such as sore throat and fever.
There are many medicines out there that are for sale for colds and the flu. Many studies have shown none of these meds decrease symptoms or make the symptoms go away any faster. In fact the FDA has shown in kids less than 6 years old, these meds can be dangerous causing over sedation. Grandma’s actually right about old fashioned home treatments for colds. Saline (salt water) nose drops help loosen secretions and clear the nasal passages. Steamy showers do the same. In kids older than 2 years, warm (decaf) tea with honey and lemon is a natural cough suppressant and expectorant. Remember, Mucinex has cute ads, but doesn’t work!
So most things can wait until the next day. 70% of the illnesses right now are viral and last a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, we don’t have magic cures, and the simple home treatments go a long way. We always are available, but you don’t need to always call or come in. Hope this article helps you during those late night dilemmas.
Click the link below to read past What's Up Doc Articles.
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