EARLY TREATMENT GUIDE

For

COMMON PED/ADOL PROBLEMS

NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES

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 ALL MEDICINES IN A LOCKED CABINET.

(These medicines are for relief of symptoms and are not cures.)

(For children under age 3 months – consult your physician.)

NIGHT/WEEKEND CALLS ARE FOR VERY IMPORTANT PROBLEMS/EMERGENCIES ONLY.

EARLY TREATMENT GUIDE

RUNNY NOSE and/or NASAL CONGESTION

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

COUGH

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

VOMITING

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.

EAR ACHE

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.

CONSTIPATON

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.

RASHES

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.

IF SYMPTOMS ARE SEVERE OR

PERSISTENT FOR DAYS – CALL FOR APPT.

SIGNS OF HYDRATION

1. Tearing 2. Moist mouth

3. Urinating 2-3x/12 hrs; 2-3x/24 hrs for older children/adol.

TREATMENT OF DEHYDRATION

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).

DRUG OD/POISON INGESTION

1. NON-GAS/OIL LIQUIDS/SOLIDS

a. ACTIVATED CHARCOAL* (dose on label).

b. If not available, you may induce vomiting by IPECAC

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.

2. OIL/GAS – DON’T INDUCE VOMITING – CALL MD/ER.

a. Give Sctivated Charcoal.

b. CALL MD/ER/POISON CONTROL.

FEVER/PAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

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 SEE THE DOCTOR

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

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

R.L.DUNCAN, MD 649-3323

NAPLES COMM HOSP/ER 262-3131 / 436-5000

NORTH COLL HOSP/ER 591-1417 / 591-7709

POISON CONTROL 1-800-282-3171

CHILD ABUSE 1-800-342-9152

IF TRAVELING…

If traveling, you may wish to take with you:

1) unmixed antibiotic

2) Actifed-C (generic)

3) The office phone number (649-3323)

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Naples Medical Center - Dr. Duncan - Early Treatment Guide