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Health Information
This area of our website is designed
to answer common questions you may have. It should be used for informational purposes
only and not as a substitute for an office visit with one of our providers.What is the Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Infection)?  Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose - everyone knows the first signs of a cold, probably the most common illness known. The common cold is usually mild, with symptoms lasting 1 to 2 weeks. Children have about 6 to 10 colds a year. One important reason why colds are so common in children is because they are often in close contact with each other in daycare centers and schools. In families with children in school, the number of colds per child can be as high as 12 a year. Causes More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. Some, such as the rhinoviruses, seldom produce serious illnesses. Others, such as parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus, produce mild infections in adults but can precipitate severe lower respiratory infections in young children. There is no evidence that you can get a cold from exposure to cold weather or from getting chilled or overheated. There is also no evidence that your chances of getting a cold are related to factors such as exercise, diet, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids. On the other hand, research suggests that psychological stress and allergic diseases affecting your nose or throat may have an impact on your chances of getting infected by cold viruses. The Cold Season In the United States, most colds occur during the fall and winter. Beginning in late August or early September, the rate of colds increases slowly for a few weeks and remains high until March or April, when it declines. The seasonal variation may relate to the opening of schools and to cold weather, which prompt people to spend more time indoors and increase the chances that viruses will spread to you from someone else. Seasonal changes in relative humidity also may affect the prevalence of colds. The most common cold-causing viruses survive better when humidity is low-the colder months of the year. Cold weather also may make the inside lining of your nose drier and more vulnerable to viral infection. Symptoms Symptoms of the common cold usually begin 2 to 3 days after infection and often include:
Complications Colds occasionally can lead to bacterial infections of your middle ear or sinuses, requiring treatment with antibiotics. High fever, significantly swollen glands, severe sinus pain, and a cough that produces thick, colored mucus, may indicate a complication or more serious illness requiring a visit to the office. Transmission Cold viruses are spread by hands touching infected noses and mouths and then touching environmental surfaces, such as telephones, doorknobs, and stair rails, or other people. Those hands touching your eyes or nose will spread the virus. Cold viruses may also be acquired by inhaling drops of mucus full of cold germs from the air Treatment There is no cure for the common cold, but your child can get relief from cold symptoms by resting in bed, dinking plenty of fluids, gargling with warm salt water or using throat sprays or lozenges for a scratchy or sore throat, using petroleum jelly for a raw nose, and taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and over-the-counter cold medicines. Nonprescription cold remedies, including decongestants and cough suppressants, may relieve some of your cold symptoms but will not prevent or even shorten the length of your cold. Moreover, because most of these medicines have some side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, insomnia, or upset stomach, you should take them with care. AntibioticsPrevention There are several ways you can keep yourself from getting a cold or passing one on to others. Because cold germs on your hands can easily enter through your eyes and nose, keep your hands away from those areas of your body
Rhinoviruses can live up to 3 hours on your skin. They also can survive up to 3 hours on objects such as telephones and stair railings. Cleaning environmental surfaces with a virus-killing disinfectant might help prevent spread of infection. back to top What Do I Do In The Case Of A Fever?Understanding a Fever A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. Your child's normal body temperature varies with his age, general health, activity level, the time of day and may be lower in the morning and higher between late afternoon and early evening. Body temperature also will be slightly higher with strenuous exercise. A reading above 100.4 degrees is a sign of a fever. This number may vary depending on the method used for taking your child's temperature. If you call the office, say which method you used. When your child becomes ill because of a virus or bacteria, her body may respond by increasing body temperature. It is important to remember that fever itself is not an illness - only a symptom of one. Fever itself also is not a sign that your child needs an antibiotic. Fevers are generally harmless and help your child fight infection. They can be considered a good sign that your child's immune system is working and the body is trying to rid itself of the infection. If your child has a fever, his or her heart and breathing rates naturally will speed up. You may notice that your child feels warm or looks flushed or perspires more than usual. A person with fever will require more fluids. Some children feel fine when they have a fever. However, most will have symptoms of the illness that is causing the fever. Your child may have an earache, a sore throat, a rash or a stomachache. These signs can provide important clues as to the cause of your child's fever. Call the office if your child has a fever AND:
A child older than 6 months of age who has a temperature below 101° probably does not need to be treated for fever, unless the child is uncomfortable. Observe her behavior. If your child is eating and sleeping well and is able to play, you may wait to see if the fever improves by itself. In the meantime:
Ibuprofen should only be used for children older than 6 months of age. It should not be given to children who are vomiting constantly or are dehydrated. Do not use aspirin to treat your child's fever. Aspirin has been linked with side effects such as an upset stomach, intestinal bleeding and, most seriously, Reye syndrome. If your child is vomiting and unable to take medication by mouth, a rectal suppository may be given to your child. Acetaminophen suppositories (i.e. Fever-all) can be effective in reducing fever in a vomiting child. An alternative to over-the-counter medications is to sponge your child with lukewarm water. Sponging may reduce your child's temperature as water evaporates from the skin. Do not use cold water to sponge your child, as this could cause shivering. That could increase his or her temperature. Never add alcohol to the water. Alcohol can be absorbed into the skin or inhaled, causing serious problems such as a coma. Usually 5 to 10 minutes in the tub is enough time for a child's temperature to start dropping. If your child becomes upset during the sponging, simply let her play in the water. If your child is still bothered by the bath, it is better to remove your child from the bath even if it has not been in long enough to reduce the body temperature. Also remove your child from the bath if he or she continues to shiver because shivering may increase body temperature. Do not try to reduce your child's temperature to normal too quickly. This could cause the temperature to rebound higher. Be sure to call the office if your child still "acts sick" once the fever is brought down, or if you feel that your child is very sick. Also call if the fever persists for more than three days. Help Me With Over the Counter Medication Dosing
back to top What Do I Do When My Child Starts With Vomiting, Diarrhea?When a normally healthy, playful, and happy child begins to vomit or have diarrhea, the greatest concern is dehydration. The top six causes and their most characteristic features in a child are:
Diarrhea is a change in the frequency and consistency of stools. An increase in frequency of 1 ½ to 2 times your child's normal pattern is abnormal. If the child's stool is loose, watery, green, runny or contains mucus, that is considered a significant change. If your child has vomiting and diarrhea, he/she is more likely to dehydrate than if s/he only has one symptom. How Do I Get Through the Night? The first thing is DO NOT PANIC. Keep in mind it usually takes about 12 hours of severe vomiting for a child to become dehydrated. There are three stages to the process
You should familiarize yourself with the signs of dehydration.
back to top How Do I Get My Child to Sleep?Sleep practices of children, both infants and older children, have become one of societies "measures of a good parent." If a child sleeps well, many consider the parent to be a great parent or just lucky. If a child sleeps poorly, the parent is considered by many to be a bad parent, or just unlucky. Neither of those two statements is true. Sleep is based on many factors, including personality, parental attitude, family lifestyle and the sleeping environment itself. Newborns Newborns routinely wake one to three times per night, almost always because they are hungry and need to feed. Some infants even sleep well during the day, and are awake frequently at night. This occurs when the commonly called, "nights and days are reversed." Night and Day reversal may be accomplished by stimulating your infant during the day. At night place the baby in his or her own crib in a darkened room. We recommend placing your baby on his/her back to sleep. Make sure to spread sheets smoothly and tuck them tightly beneath the mattress. You should have a crib mattress that is firm and conforms to safety standards. Check the space between the crib rails - they should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Cribs made prior to 1979 may have wider spacing. Be sure the mattress fits the crib perfectly. If pushed all the way to one corner, there should be no more than 1 1/2 inches between it and the side or the end of the crib. Do not use any loose fitting plastic mattress covers or waterproof sheets as they may wrap around baby's head or neck and cause suffocation. Do not place pillows or soft stuffed toys in the crib. Baby should not be allowed to sleep on soft surfaces such as waterbeds, beanbags, fluffy blankets or comforters. Your baby should be dressed in clothing that you would feel comfortable in. The air/room temperature needs to be at a level that would be comfortable for anyone in that room. There is no need to dress baby warmer than you would dress, or give extra blankets. Simply dress according to the temperature. You may also want to accustom baby to sleep through ordinary household sounds. There is no need for silence when a baby is sleeping. Tip-toeing and whispering are not necessary, but do avoid sudden jarring noises and loud commotion. Many infants have a polyphasic sleep pattern, which means short periods of sleep interspersed with even shorter periods of waking. The ability to sleep for a longer period of time comes with growth and maturity. Some may sleep for extended periods of time as early as 3 to 4 months. Some others may not until 10 to 15 months. Because of immaturity of the nervous system, an infant cannot be trained to sleep longer. Introducing solid foods at bedtime has never been shown to prolong the sleep period. Have patience, by four months of age, most infants will sleep 8 hours or more and by 6 months almost all infants can sleep through the night. Children A structured night time routine and bedtime continues to be important as children grow older. The bedtime routine should be one that helps the child calm from a busy, active day to a restful pace for the evening prior to going to bed. Play should be at a minimum for the last hour before bedtime and it should be quiet play. Even TV viewing should be calming and video games should be stopped in that last hour. A warm bath may soothe a child, but if the bath is highly active with play, it may serve the opposite purpose and actually invigorate the child to remain awake. Snacks often help but should be more carbohydrates than sugar sweets such as unsweetened cereal or a bagel with a glass of milk. Once the child is ready for bed, a story or comforting by the parent can help. Make sure this is done in the childs' own room. If they want to sleep on the floor, with a blanket, a soft animal or favorite doll, or even a night light, that is okay. These items often help the child to accept a parents departure from the room easier. That departure should also be done while the child is still somewhat awake. A child will learn to transition to sleep without their parent in the room by experience. If your child has problems doing this, place a chair next to the bed and comfort the child from the chair with as little stimulation, touching or holding, as possible. Over the next few nights move the chair away from the bed and toward the door. Continue to comfort verbally from the chair. Soon you will be just outside the door and your child will receive comfort by your presence only. This is a part of learning the all important "self-soothing" that will help them transition to sleep without an adult being present. Remember, you as the parent set the tone for how a child will respond to bedtime. Following these simple steps may take more time to achieve that "good night's sleep," but eventually your child will learn that all important skill that makes day time a much more enjoyable experience. back to top Auto SafetyThe major cause of childhood injuries and death in the United States is automobile accidents. By following a few simple rules, you can reduce the risks of an accident significantly. Which way should my child face? Infants less than one year of age must ride in a rear facing care seat. First time car seat users should take their car seat to their local fire department station where a certified fire fighter will be more than happy to inspect and help you install your car seat. Children at one year of age and at least 20 pounds may face forward, but must remain in the rear seat of the car. Until age 13 years, the child must remain in the rear seat. Children 13 years and older may sit in the front seat What type of seat should I buy? When buying any car seat, make sure you know the size and weight limitations of the seat you buy. Babies grow at different rates, so be sure the car seat you use matches your childs' height and weight. Some seats are "convertible." Again, remember and check the weight and height limitations on this or any seat you purchase. Children that weigh more than 40 pounds may ride in a booster seat. A booster seat with a high back will help to provide protection from whiplash injuries, especially when a childs' head and ears are higher than the back of the automobile seat. Virginia law requires that children must be in car seats until they are 80 pounds and 8 years of age. Children under age 8 who are at least 4 feet and 9 inches tall may not need a car seat. Other Tips If your automobile has side air bags, they should be deactivated if the car seat is next to a door so equipped. Never let a child move around or get out of the car seat while the car is in motion. All too frequently, we see children injured or killed in that "moment" to move or adjust, and the child is not in the car seat. Car seats should be replaced when a child exceeds the weight or height limitations. Exceeding the weight or height limitation destroys any opportunity for the seat to save your child from injury or death. Car seats involved in accidents should be replaced as well as the safety features built into the car seat. They may no longer function after an accident, even though the seat appears to be "intact" and operable. Safety belts should be worn by all. Setting a good example for children sets them up for lifetime use of the safety belt without question. It becomes a part of the normal routine of riding or driving a car. Also remember who is "on board" when you drive. A few extra precautions can go a long way in preventing an accident. back to top |
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