WCC RESOURCE CENTER

Frequent Questions & Answers








Bug Bites

  • Insect bites cause itchy, red bumps; some bites may be painful
  • Mosquitoes breed in water. Eliminate standing water near your home
  • Many bugs and mosquitoes are prevalent in woods and grassy areas

Home Care

  • Avoid scented soaps, perfume and hair spray (these attract insects)
  • Wear light colored clothing covering most of the body
  • Keep children indoors from dusk to dawn, which is when mosquitoes bite
  • Insect repellent containing a concentration of 10% to 30% DEET appears to be safe for children over the age of 2 months. Insect repellant is not recommended for children under the age of 2 months
  • Apply DEET sparingly to exposed skin and NOT under clothing
  • Always wash DEET off skin with soap and water when returning indoors and wash treated clothing
  • If the bite is itchy apply calamine lotion; If bit is very itchy apply 1% hydrocortisone

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has an infected looking bite
  • Has a bite that becomes very tender
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Chicken Pox

  • Acute viral illness that is very contagious; exposure approximately 2 weeks ago to someone with chicken pox
  • Can have a mild fever
  • Generalized rash begins on the chest, back, underarms, neck, and face
  • Rash begins as red bumps and develop a fluid filled center, blister, breaks open and small brown scab forms
  • Rash will continue to develop over the next 4-5 days in crops
  • When all sores have crusted over child is no longer contagious; generally takes 5-7 days

Home Care

  • Itching- baking soda baths (add ¼ cup of baking soda to the tub) or an oatmeal bath
  • Benadryl
  • Acetaminophen
  • DO NOT GIVE IBUPROFEN or ASPIRIN
  • Trim nails short to prevent infecting sores
  • Offer soft foods, encourage fluids

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has chicken pox sores that look infected
  • Develops a speckled, red rash
  • Is acting very sick
  • Complains of eye pain
  • Has Fever >105 or fever returns after going away for 24 hours
  • Is < one month of age
  • Has any new chicken pox after day 6
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Colds

  • A viral infection of the nose and throat
  • Most common symptoms include runny or congested nose, sore throat and cough
  • Nasal drainage (even if viral) can vary in color from clear, to cloudy, yellow or green
  • Typically the first symptom noted is a sore throat
  • Healthy children average 6 colds a year

Home Care

  • Increase humidity in child's room if the air is dry (cool mist humidifier) or have child sit in steamy bathroom with shower running for 10-15 minutes
  • For infants use bulb syringe to help remove nasal secretions from nose
  • May use saline drops in nose to help with congestion at any age
  • Encourage extra fluids
  • Elevate head of bed or have child sleep with head on more pillows (avoid laying flat in bed)
  • Multi-symptom cold medications not recommended
  • No cold medication recommended under age 4 years
  • May give fever reducers for fever as needed -- Over the Counter Dosage Information

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has a fever that persists for more than 3 days or if > 105 F
  • Pulling at ears/or complains of ear pain
  • Has symptoms for 10–14 days
  • Is not taking fluids well
  • Is not sleeping well
  • Is wheezing
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Cough

  • The sound made when the cough reflex expels air and secretions from the lungs
  • A cough spasm is more than 5 minutes of continuous coughing

Home Care

  • Increase humidity in childs room if the air is dry (cool mist humidifier) or have child sit in a steamy bathroom with shower running for 10-15 minutes
  • Elevate head of bed
    • or have child sleep with head on pillows (avoid laying flat)
  • Encourage fluid intake
  • Warm fluids like apple juice may help
  • Cough medication is not recommended for children under 4 years of age

Call the Office if Child:

  • Sounding congested in the chest
  • Is wheezing
  • Seems to be working hard to breath
  • Has a fever lasting for more than 3 days
  • Has a cough lasting more than 2 weeks
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Croup

  • The narrowing of the air passage through the larynx (voice box) and the trachea (windpipe)
  • Is most often caused by a virus
  • Symptoms can occur suddenly, often at night
  • Symptoms may come and go for 5-6 days getting better during the day and worse at night
  • Harsh barky cough
  • Retractions ("pulling in" of the chest or hollow of the neck with breathing)

Home Care

  • Run shower to steam up the bathroom, sit with your child 15-20 minutes to breathe in the warm moist air
  • In cold weather wrap child up warmly and take outside to breath in cold air for about 10 minutes, or open the freezer door and have child breathe in cold air
  • Cool mist humidifier in childs room at night may help

Call the Office if Child:

  • Is breathing in cold air or steam for 10-15 minutes and it does not help
  • Child is having retractions ("pulling in" of the chest or hollow of the neck with breathing)
  • Is refusing to drink
  • Is drooling
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Diarrhea

  • Noted to be a sudden increase in the number and looseness of stools (bowel movements)
  • Typically caused by a virus
  • Can last 5-14 days with the most severe diarrhea on days 1-2
  • Can be isolated or can also occur with vomiting

Home Care

  • Encourage to breast feed or give formula to infants as tolerated; avoid plain water
  • Avoid fruit juices and other drinks high in sugar as these will make diarrhea worse
  • If diarrhea is frequent and watery, pedialyte or another oral rehydration solution may be offered to help prevent dehydration (no longer than 12-24 hours)
  • Encourage more starchy food--bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, noodles, crackers, etc.
  • Yogurt can be helpful in restoring healthy bacteria into the stomach, offer plain or vanilla yogurt as tolerated

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has signs of dehydration: no urine output noted for more than 8 hours, no tears with crying, very dry mouth, and increased drowsiness
  • Has blood or mucous in stools
  • Has fever persisting more than 3 days or if > 105 F
  • Is having more than 8-10 episodes in a day
  • Has severe stomach cramps that don't go away with the passage of the diarrhea stool
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Earache/Ear Pain

  • Pain or discomfort in or around the ear
  • Usually due to an ear infection
  • Ear infections peak at age 6 months to 2 years
  • Onset of ear infections peak on day 3 of a cold
  • Only way to know if ear infection present is to have ear examined

Home Care

  • May give fever/pain reducers as needed -- Over the Counter Dosage Information
  • May apply either cold washcloth or local heat (warm washcloth, heating pad on low setting, hot water bottle) to outer ear for 20 minutes to reduce pain
  • Ear drops not recommended until ear pain evaluated

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has a fever that persists for more than 3 days or if >105 F
  • Ear pain gets severe
  • Drainage noted from ear
  • Is not taking fluids well
  • Is not sleeping well
  • Pulling or tugging at ear
  • Fussy or irritable
  • Has some loss of hearing
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Eye Discharge

  • Yellow or green discharge from eye

Home Care

  • Place a wet warm wash cloth on the eye as needed
  • Avoid wearing contact lenses

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has continuous discharge from eye
  • Has redness or puffiness around eye
  • Has a fever or cold symptoms
  • Is complaining of ear pain
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Fever

  • Is a symptom and not a disease
  • Is the body's normal response to infections and plays a role in fighting them
  • Fever is present if:
    • Rectal temp is > 100.4 F
    • Oral temp is > 99.5 F
    • Axillary temp is > 99.0 F
  • The height of the fever does not relate to the seriousness of the illness, the behavior of your child is the best indicator of the severity of the illness
  • Fever causes no permanent harm until it reaches 107 F

Home Care

  • Encourage extra fluids
  • Keep clothing to a minimum, do not bundle up
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin) may be given following the guidelines in Over the Counter Dosage Information
  • AVOID aspirin in ALL children under the age of 21 years

Call the Office if Child:

  • Is under 3 months of age and has a temp > 100.4 F rectally
  • Has a fever > 105 F
  • Is very irritable and unable to console
  • Complains of stiff neck with a headache
  • Has a fever persisting over 3 days
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Hay Fever

  • An allergic reaction of the nose and sinuses to an inhaled substance, usually pollen
  • Clear nasal drainage with sneezing, sniffing and nasal itching
  • Eyes may also itch and water or look pink
  • No fever
  • Noted to have had similar symptoms during same time of the previous year
  • Most common pollens are grass, trees and ragweed
  • Can also be caused by allergens from cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and other animals

Home Care

  • Give antihistamine continuously during the pollen season
  • May use warm water or salt water nose drops to wash pollen out of the nose – put 2-3 drops in each nostril and then blow nose
  • Shower and wash hair every night before bed
  • Stay away from pollen and other things that may cause symptoms to develop or worsen
  • Keep windows closed in the house and car
  • Avoid playing outdoors on a windy days
  • Wash eyes to clean away any pollen
  • May apply cold washcloth to eyes/eyelids for 10 minutes

Call the Office if Child:

  • Develops a fever
  • Develops sinus pain or pressure
  • Has congested sounding cough in chest
  • Continues to have symptoms with no improvement noted after taking antihistamine continuously for >2 days
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Poison Ivy

  • A very itchy blistering rash caused by contact with the poison ivy plant
  • Rash is shaped like streaks or lines
  • Leaves, stems, roots and berries of these plants cause the rash
  • More than 50% of people are sensitive to the oil of the poison ivy plant
  • Onset 1-2 days after being in a forest or field; usually last two weeks
  • Poison Ivy is not contagious to others but may be carried by pets

Home Care

  • If you think your child has come in contact with a poison ivy plant, wash the skin with soap and water as soon as possible
  • The oil from the plant may be on pet"s fur or on shoes or clothes. Wash it off pets or clothes with soap and water
  • Soak the involved area in cold water or massage with an ice cube for 20 minutes as often as necessary
  • Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream 4 times a day to reduce itching
  • If itching persists give Benadryl orally

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has rash lasting longer than 3 weeks
  • Looks infected
  • Has severe itching
  • Poison ivy on face, eyes, lips or genitals
  • Rash covers more than ¼ of the body
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Sore Throat

  • Most sore throats are caused by viruses and are part of a cold (usually noted at the beginning of a cold)
  • About 10% of sore throats are due to strep bacteria
  • A rapid strep test or throat culture is the only way to distinguish strep throat from a viral sore throat
  • Children that sleep with their mouth open often awaken with a dry mouth and a sore throat

Home Care

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin) may be used for severe discomfort or fever
  • Over 1 year of age: sip warm chicken broth or apple juice
  • Over 4 years of age: suck on hard candy or lollipops
  • Over 6 years of age: gargle with warm salt water (Mix ¼ tsp of salt per 8oz glass of water)
  • Encourage extra fluids
  • Offer a soft diet; easy to swallow foods

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has a Fever lasting more than 3 days
  • Has a sore throat lasts more than 2 days
  • Seems dehydrated
  • Is drooling
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Stye

  • An infection of the hair follicle of the eyelash
  • Will look like a red bump at the base of the eyelash,(either upper or lower eyelid)
  • Usually comes to a head and forms a pimple in 2-3 days
  • Will usually drain in about 6 days but may last up to several weeks
  • Will feel tender to touch

Home Care

  • Apply warm packs to the eye for 10 minutes 4 times a day
  • Keep hands away from eye, as rubbing may cause more styes
  • Do not try to open the stye yourself

Call the Office if Child:

  • Eye lid becomes red and swollen
  • Has a fever
  • Stye comes to a head and has not drained after 3 days or has not completely healed by 10 days
  • Stye comes back
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Sunburn

  • Burning, redness, or blistering of the skin caused by sun overexposure
  • Can happen within 15 minutes of being in the sun
  • Minor sunburn is a first degree burn which turns skin pink or red
  • Prolonged sun exposure can cause blistering and a second degree burn
  • Sunburn never causes a third degree burn or scarring
  • Pain and swelling start at 4 hours, peaks at 24 hours, and improves after 48 hours

Home Care

  • Give child Ibuprofen
  • Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream 3 times a day to sunburn
  • Apply cool compresses to area several times a day
  • Encourage child to drink extra water
  • Leave closed blisters alone
  • For broken blisters, trim skin with a fine scissors cleaned with rubbing alcohol
  • For open blisters, apply over the counter antibiotic ointment

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has a sunburn covering a large part of the body
  • Is extremely painful or if blisters have formed
  • Has a fever
  • Feels faint or confused
  • Has signs of dehydration
  • Has symptoms of infection
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Swimmer's Ear

  • Infection or irritation of the skin that lines the ear canal
  • Associated with swimming/water activities
  • Ear canals can be itchy and somewhat painful; ear feels plugged
  • Discomfort noted when earlobe is moved up and down
  • Can have a slight amount of clear drainage from the ear

Home Care

  • May give pain reducers as needed -- Over the Counter Dosage Information
  • May apply local heat (warm washcloth, heating pad on low setting, hot water bottle) to outer ear for 20 minutes to help with pain and drainage
  • Reduce/avoid swimming until symptoms are improved

Call the Office if Child:

  • Pain gets severe and / or symptoms last more than 3 days
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Swimmer's Itch

  • Skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain parasites that normally live on water fowl and freshwater snails
  • Occurs typically in calm freshwater lakes and ponds
  • Parasites burrow into the skin causing symptoms of burning, tingling or itching
  • Parasites are unable to live off humans so they soon die
  • Usually only affects exposed skin (skin not covered by swimsuits, waders, wetsuits)
  • Rash may appear up to 48 hours after swimming in infected water and clears up on its own within a few days
  • Swimming or wading frequently in contaminated water can lead to more intense and immediate symptoms
  • Sometimes itching without a rash is the only symptom
  • Itching at rash too much may lead to secondary bacterial infection

Home Care

  • Rinse skin immediately after swimming and then vigorously dry skin with a towel
  • Launder swimsuits after
  • Apply cool compresses to affected areas
  • Soak in a bath with baking soda or oatmeal
  • Stir water into baking soda until it makes a paste and then apply to affected areas
  • Use over the counter antihistamine or anti-itch creams as directed by label on product
  • Avoid swimming in areas where swimmer's itch is a known problem

Call the Office if Child:

  • If itching not relieved by over the counter medications
  • Develops signs of infection due to itching (ie increased redness, fever, drainage at site)
  • If symptoms last more than one week
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern

Vomiting

  • Is the forceful emptying of the stomach contents (throwing up)
  • Spitting up is the effortless regurgitation of one to two mouthfuls of stomach contents
  • Vomiting usually stops in 12 – 24 hours
  • Dehydration (getting dried out) can be dangerous, but is unlikely in the first 12 hours of vomiting

Home Care

  • If no vomiting has occurred for at least ½ hour begin to offer clear liquids (for younger children pedialyte, for older children flat 7-up, Gatorade freeze pops, chicken broth); begin with ½ oz every 15 minutes; if no vomiting after 1 hour begin to double the amount of fluid every other time. If vomiting occurs again wait ½ hour and begin offering ½ oz of clear liquid
  • Once the child is able to drink a normal amount of fluid without vomiting (usually 12-24 hours of clear liquids) ok to begin solid foods ie: toast, crackers, and rice
  • Help your child go to sleep; sleep will often help empty the stomach and relieves the need to vomit

Call the Office if Child:

  • Has signs of dehydration (no urine output for over 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
  • Has blood in the vomited material
  • Starts to act very sick
  • Has abdominal pain lasting over 12 hours
  • Has vomiting over 24 hours
  • Is under 12 weeks of age and has vomited more than 2 times
  • Seems confused or difficult to arouse
  • Has ingested any TOXIC material call the poison center 1-800-222-1222
  • Has any other symptoms that are a concern