EARLY
TREATMENT GUIDE
DECONGESTANT: Dimetapp elixir, Actifed, Triaminic
COUGH: Triaminic-DM, Pediacare
PAIN: Aspirin, Tylenol Drops/Elixir, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
RASH: BACTERIAL – Neosporin, Bacitracin
POISONING: Activated Charcoal, Ipecac Syrup
ITCHING: Benadryl elixir or capsules
ALLERGIES: Benadryl, Dimetapp, Actifed
PLEASE STORE
(These medicines are for relief
of symptoms and are not cures.)
(For children under age 3 months –
consult your physician.)
NIGHT/WEEKEND
CALLS
1. Mild – no treatment
2. Moderate or more – Extra liquids
Decongestant: Triaminic, Actifed, Dimetapp
3-6 mo: 1/4 tsp 1-3 yr: 2/3 tsp 7-11 yr: 2 tsp
6-12 mo: 1/2 tsp 4-6 yr: 1 tsp Over 11: 1 tbs
1. Infrequent – no tx (even if deep/congested)
2. Frequent – Triaminic-DM, Pediacare
3-6 mo: 1/4 tsp 1-3 yr: 2/3 tsp 7-11 yr: 2 tsp
6/12 mo: 1/2 tsp 4-6 yr: 1 tsp Over 11: 1 tbs
1. Infrequent – nothing by mouth for 2 hours, then sips of liquids
(with sugar and salts – Pedialyte, Gatorade) often.
2. Persistent for hours and/or severe – call for help/appt.
PAIN/DISCOMFORT (fever by itself need not be treated)
1. Mild – no tx or aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin,
Advil, Pediaprofen).
2. Moderate –
3-12 mo: Tylenol or Motrin Drops 0.8 cc
1 yr: 1 infant aspirin, 1/2 tsp acetaminophen or ibuprofen
2 yr: 2 infant aspirin, 1 tsp acetaminophen or ibuprofen
4 yr: 4 infant aspirin, 2 tsp acetaminophen or ibuprofen
6 yr: 5 infant aspirin, 3 tsp acetaminophen or ibuprofen
10 yr: 2 adult aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen
3. Severe – call for help/appt.
1. Aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen every 4 hours as needed
(you may double the dose once or twice if needed).
(It is nice to have at home a Rx for a codeine-containing liquid
for pain or cough – ask about this.)
2. See MD in AM if not better.
1. Extra liquids (esp. water).
2. Increase fruits/vegetables/bran foods in older kids.
3. Call for information/appointment if persistent.
DIARRHEA (most diarrhea gets better without meds)
1. Mild – extra liquids/some solids (for days).
2. Moderate – extra liquids/some solids (for days).
3. Severe (explosive, with or without blood) – call for appt.
1. Scrub with soap and water 3 – 4x/day for days.
2. Antibiotic cream (e.g., Neosporin, Bacitracin) 3-4x/day.
3. Diaper rashes often respond to soap/water/air/sunlight and cloth
diapers (Mytrex Cream is by Rx for yeast rashes).
4. If persistent – call for appt.
PERSISTENT
FOR DAYS – CALL FOR APPT.
1. Tearing 2. Moist mouth
3. Urinating 2-3x/12 hrs; 2-3x/24 hrs for older children/adol.
1. Small sips of liquids frequently (liquids with some sugar and salts,
e.g., Pedialyte, Gatorade, Jell-O, broth/soups, offered every 1-2 hrs,
every few minutes if severe dehydration).
2. Call for appt. if not better in hours (severe – call right away).
SYRUP*; 6-24 mo: 1 tsp 2-5 yr: 2 tsp
over 5 yr: 1 tbs
(repeat dose in 20 minutes if not effective).
c. CALL
MD/ER/POISON CONTROL.
1. Treatment of pain/discomfort is more important than “bringing down the fever”. Aspirin/ Tylenol may be used every 4 hours; Motrin/Ibuprofen/Advil is given every 6 hours. Symptoms that occur with a fever are usually more important than the fever.
2. Call the office for an appointment if high fevers persist beyond 1-2 days or low fevers are for several days.
3. Remember, fever by itself does not cause convulsions (you need a “scar on the brain” that is “tipped off” by a disease/disorder with or without fever).
4. CAUTION: Aspirin should NOT be given with the chicken pox or the flu (reason – chance of Reye’s Syndrome – brain and liver problem with vomiting and confusion).
WHEN
TO
1. Persistent cough/coughing spells for days.
2. Diarrhea not responding to initial treatment in 3 or 4 days.
3. Persistent vomiting.
4. Persistent fever (high for 1-2 days or low for days).
5. No urination for 12 hours in infants or 24 hours in older kids.
6. Difficulty breathing.
7. Convulsions.
8. Severe or persistent pain.
9. Persistent rashes (for days).
* over the counter
R.L.DUNCAN,
MD
POISON
CONTROL
CHILD
ABUSE
If traveling, you may wish to take with you:
1) unmixed antibiotic
2) Donatussin
3) The office phone number
4)
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