School is back in session and the fall/winter weather is on it’s way. We need to pay special attention to the children to make sure that they are protected.

Wellness:

· Checkups as deemed by Pediatrician.

· Dentist: every six months for cleaning (or at least once a year).

· Eye exam: as directed by Pediatrician.

· Listen to your child. If he or she says it hurts, it hurts.

· Teach your child not to share combs, brushes, hats, or scarves to prevent from getting lice.

· Teach your child not to share drinks and eating utensils to prevent illness (especially mononucleosis).

Sickness:

· Fever over 104°F is considered a medical emergency. Go to your nearest hospital Emergency Room.

· If your child (over 3 months) has a fever of 101°F or higher, place the child in a warm water bath to bring fever down. Call the Pediatrician to see if they want to see the child based on other symptoms that may be present, such as irritability, lethargy (difficult to wake up), diarrhea, or vomiting.

· Give children pain relief medication as directed.

· If the fever does not come down after the bath and pain reliever, call the Pediatrician.

· Chicken pox: control fever, apply anti-itch medication, and soak in oatmeal bath. The most important thing is to keep your child comfortable. Do not expose other children to your child while the pox areas are still oozing or wet. Apply mittens if necessary to keep your child from scratching. The incubation period of chicken pox is between ten and twenty days.

· Throat pain: if your child has really bad breath, stomach pain and/or fever – OR – if you can see white dots in the back of the throat, call the Pediatrician for an appointment, as this may be a strep infection.

· Ringworm: highly contagious, so do not share clothes, towels, bed sheets, or sports gear.

§ Get treatment for ringworm right away to keep other family members from getting it.

§ If you think you have been exposed to ringworm, wash your clothes in hot water with an anti-fungal soap.

§ Change socks and underwear at least once per day.

§ Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Avoid tight underwear, pants, and panty hose.

§ If the ringworm in on the feet (also known as “athletes foot”), dry your child’s feet last after showering and make sure to be careful when putting on underwear so the feet do not touch the underwear and spread it to the groin. Also wear slippers or sandals in locker rooms, showers, and public bathing areas.

§ Keep skin clean and dry.

§ Try to prevent your child from scratching and spreading the fungi

§ Take your pet to a veterinarian if they have patches of missing hair, which may be a sign of a fungal infection. Household pets can spread fungi that cause ringworm.

· Check medication expiration dates on prescription and over-the-counter medications every six months and before you give the medication to your child.

When all else fails and you are not sure what to do, call the Pediatrician or go to the emergency room. Better to be safe than sorry.