What You Need To Know About Common Childhood Illnesses

Managing Common Childhood Illnesses: Colds, Flu, and Ear Infections

Children often become ill, and it’s sometimes difficult to know what to do. How do you manage your child’s illness, and when should you bring your child to see the pediatrician? The pediatricians at Tri-Valley Pediatrics provide a wide range of pediatric medicine services, including treatment of common childhood illnesses. They have two convenient office locations in Pleasanton, and San Ramon, CA, to help your child feel better.

What You Need To Know About Common Childhood Illnesses

If your child has the flu or a cold, you may be able to treat your child at home, with a little TLC. Rest and plenty of fluids can help. Over-the-counter cold and flu remedies for children, including Children’s Tylenol, can help your child feel better. Make sure to keep your child at home until your child feels better. Sometimes what seems like a cold or the flu may be something else. You should bring your child to visit the pediatrician if:

• Your child’s illness isn’t getting better after 2 to 3 days
• Your child’s symptoms are getting more severe
• Your child has developed a fever which has lasted longer than 2 days

If your child is under 2 months old and has a fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, your child needs to see the pediatrician. Older children need to see the pediatrician for a fever of at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A fever could signal an infection, and infections often need to be treated with antibiotics or an antiviral medication. Common infections affecting children include:

• Strep throat
• Ear infections
• Eye infections
• Skin infections

Having a fever isn’t the only sign of an infection. Your child may also have an infection if your child is:

• Having difficulty swallowing
• Experiencing nausea and vomiting
• Experiencing diarrhea and constipation
• Having abdominal pain
• Tugging at the ears
• Rubbing the eyes

When you bring your child to visit the pediatrician, your pediatrician will perform a thorough physical examination and order lab testing or imaging studies. Depending on the diagnosis, your pediatrician may recommend:

• Antibiotics, to kill underlying bacteria
• Antivirals, to eliminate viral symptoms
• Palliative treatments, to help your child feel better

Want To Know More?

To find out more about managing common childhood illnesses and when to visit the pediatrician, talk with the experts. Call the pediatricians at Tri-Valley Pediatrics. You can reach them in the Pleasanton office at (925) 460-8444, or in San Ramon, CA, by calling (925) 380-6230, so call today.