•        INFORMATION TO HELP YOU CARE FOR YOUR CHILD AT HOME
     
                      Do not hesitate to contact your physician for guidance and recommendations on caring for your ill child at home.

    FEVER
               l.          Keep the child lightly clothed at all times.  Infants and small children need only a diaper; older children, only underpants and undershirts.

           2.         DO NOT use heavy covers, blankets, or quilts to cover the child while in bed.  The most that is needed is a single sheet.

           3.         Keep the child's room cool (no warmer than 70 degrees) and well ventilated.  

           4.         Give lots of cool, clear liquids as often as the child will drink them.  As a rule, clear liquids are anything you can see newspaper through‑‑for example:  water, apple juice, 7‑Up, ginger ale, and orange, lemon, or lime jello.

           5.         Give sponge baths with tepid water.  DO NOT USE ALCOHOL.

                       A child may be seated in a tub and water poured over the front and back for 30 minutes.

           6.         Take the child's temperature and record both time and temperature, noting whether it was taken orally, rectally, temporal, in the ear or in the armpit.

           7.         To reduce fever and relieve aches and pains safely, you may prefer to give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), using the dosage indicated on the bottle or as prescribed by your doctor.  USE OF ASPIRIN IN CHILDREN IS NOT RECOMMENDED as it has been closely associated with the occurrence of Reyes Syndrome.

           8.         MILK SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AS IT TENDS TO UPSET THE STOMACH.

           9.         Fever is a symptom and your family doctor should be notified.  They will want to see a child for assessment of causative illness.


    VOMITING
           l.          Withhold food from the stomach for a period of 3‑6 hours.

           2.         Wait 30 minutes after the child has vomited and give the child ice chips or water in small amounts.  If the child retains this, you may give then give clear liquids in small amounts (tea, jello, ginger ale, 7‑UP, or Gatorade).

           3.         After 6 hours without recurrent vomiting, you may introduce the child to clear soups, broths, or soft foods.

           4.         If your child has persistent vomiting, you should contact your family doctor.


    DIARRHEA
           l.          As with vomiting, treatment for diarrhea must involve resting the GI tract, so follow the same instructions.

           2.         If diarrhea is severe, you should contact your family doctor.