When to call the doctor when your child is sick

>>> of pediatrics. good to see you.

>> good morning.

>> i've got a 5-year-old, wakes up in the middle of the night , 104 fever which is fairly high. should i be concerned?

>> not necessarily. i know it's hard to hear, but parents do not need to worry over the number on the thermometer. as long as your child is over 3 months of age, drinking fluids and acting okay, doesn't matter much if it's reading 101 or 104. if they are uncomfortable give them acetominophen or aspirin.

>> what about after 24 hours if it's not resolved?

>> i give you permission to worry if your baby is under 3 months of age or in an older child if the fever is lasting more than four or five days because that can be a sign that something else is going on other than a viral infection and if your child is ever having trouble breathe willing, looking sick or in pain that's another reason to worry and call your doctor.

>> now a cough. should we keep our kids out of school because of a bad cough or what?

>> well, some kids will cough on and off all winter long and it's usually a lingering viral infection , sometimes post-natal drip and they can cough for a few weeks, so if the cough is turning heads, then you may need to keep them home, but if it's a mild cough and otherwise acting objection no feefrks sever, send them to school.

>> what about cough suppressants?

>> don't use them in infants and toddlers, talk to your pediatrician. if necessary, can then them get through the night.

>> runny nose , should i be worried, not for me but my child?

>> kids will have a runny nose , catch a cold, get better and catch another cold. if the runny nose is lasting, you know, more than a couple of weeks, associated pain or high fever or there's trouble breathing or they can't sleep or eat, then you want to call your doctor to check them out, rarely in a little one, especially if the discharge is smelly, may be a small toy we have to retrieve so get that checked out.

>> what about the color or clarity of it, does that have anything to do with it?

>> if it's green does it matter?

>> initially runny noses are clear but viruses can start off with color, clear for a week or more and then colored associated with pain or fever, then i want to know about it.

>> messy, vomiting and diarrhea, either end not fun.

>> not fun. firsthand, when your child throws up all over you or has an exploding diaper, but if they are acting okay and keeping fluids down, don't worry. keep them home.

>> when are you allowed to send them back to school?

>> vomiting and diarrhea.

>> yeah.

>> 24 hours after the symptoms are gone and they are eating and drinking normally, they can go back to school.

>> and the most difficult for the last. a rash. all of a sudden your kid develops a rash.

>> right.

>> and a rash is hard to tell often without looking at it, but my general rule of thumb when my parent calls me, if the rash is not bothering your child, doesn't bother me. but have a fever or uncomfortable, then they need to be seen.

>> good advice. maybe putting us parents at ease a little bit.