My kids are sick. Advice please!

Leanne - posted on 03/07/2010

Hi Our little one seemed very congested and started a cough with a slight fever. We did vicks rub onn chest humidifier and when that did not work called her ped and was told to give 1/2 a tsp of triaminic she has cleared up within 3 days.

Gulsum - posted on 02/26/2010

My 11 month old son showed the same syptoms and we already visited the doctor when he did not improve after 10 days. We were lucky to catch an ear infection at the begining, so will need to use antibiotics for a short while. I recommend that you check whether she is rubbing her ears, since ear infection comes after long flu. You can also elevate her bed a little bit where she lays her head, that might help breathing. A humidifier is also helpful during the night. Hope they both get better soon!

Marlynn - posted on 02/25/2010

Strep throat is going around lately. My 10mo old had it which I assume he got from his preschool attending brother who had it 2 weeks ago. He was on ammox. for a week and is doing fine now. They say to use a vaporizer for the nasal yuck. Go with your gut, if you think its strep then get it checked better to be safe then sorry.
Some children who get strep will have a rash (strep rash) usually on the face chest or belly area. But like I said go with your gut.

Lisa - posted on 02/25/2010

Go to any health food store (not gnc or vitamin store) and get a childrens probiotic like flora bears and animal parade Kid Zinc! I wouldn't take to the dr.s just yet =)

Celia - posted on 02/24/2010

My daughter was born on the exact same day and has the exact same symptoms - for the second time in a few weeks. So now I know for her anyway what it is - ear infection. At first I didn't think so, since she was mostly fine, just a little fussy, not eating great, and crying when I put her down to sleep - but I thought she just didn't want to go to bed yet. But she had a nasty double ear infection, and the same has happened each time she got a runny nose.

You know your kids best. If you think they're off, bring them in to the doctor. SHe's much better already after 2 days on antibiotics. Good luck!

Jeanette - posted on 02/24/2010

I would say take them to the Dr. my daughter had almost the exact symptoms and I took her in and she had an ear infections I never would have know that if I didnt take her in.. She has been having a runny nose for a while now and the Dr. said she could have 1/2 tsp of zertic once a day and it helps a lil.. It works better when she dont have a cold.. hope this helps a lil..

Rachel - posted on 02/24/2010

My son had an upper respitory illness and it is the running nose, the cough (sounding like he can't breath), the fever. The doctor said this illness is lingering and can last a long time. He had it for a month on and off. It might have been longer then a month. If they have this the doctor made me give him tylenol for 3 to 5 days and it seemed to work. Also, the stomach flu is going around I have that now but I don't have the running nose and crusty eyes. Make sure the crusty eyes isn't pink eye, even if they are not pink they could be a viral pink eye. You may want to take the little one into see the doctor. My son got pink eye w/his viral illness as well. Good Luck!

Sarah - posted on 02/23/2010

Well my daughter had symptoms similar to that and the doctor told me to give her allergy medicine and it worked

Mattie - posted on 02/23/2010

Do you have your kids on probiotics? I step up my normal dose for me & my daughter when we are sick as the 'good bacteria' help push out the bad bacteria - especially if there are loose stools involved. We use Pharmax brand HLC Neonate for my daughter - available at health food stores or online (like Amazon.com). I trust only products that are refrigerated as it ensures the quality. Also, are your kids getting enough Essential fatty acids (fish oil) and Vitamin D? They make a variety of great soft chews for kids now.

And like some of the other suggestions: we use a cool mist humidifier, Vick's Baby rub, Hyland's C Plus Cold tablets (homeopathic) which are so helpful, & saline drops if needed.... Elevating the bed can really help too (with sinus issues); for coughing lying flatter seemed to help when it comes to getting some sleep

Also seeing a Naturopath is super helpful. Ours gave me a 'wet cough syrup' that I could also give a very small dose to my daughter. That really helped us get the gunk out quickly.

Leah - posted on 02/23/2010

Just be careful with the steam - I steamed my oldest son (now 23) when he was little and ended up giving him pneumonia from the fluid in his lungs, he had to be admitted to the hospital and was in an oxygen tent for nearly a week) - steam shouldn't be used for a common cold, only croup - which has to be diagnosed by a professional.

Leah - posted on 02/23/2010

I'm sure this is late - but for future reference, here is what I did - my 3 yo and almost 1 yo had the same symptoms, I put them to soak in a tepid (a little on the warmer side of tepid) vapor bath using a few drops of tea tree oil. It calmed the fever and temporarily broke the congestion, I also mixed some tea tree oil with vasoline to use as a rub for their chest/back. Dehydration is a major issue for kids, so I mixed 1/2 gatorade 2 (it has less sugar) and 1/2 water into 2 separate 2 liter bottles so I could monitor what each was drinking. Baby is still nursing but I don't feel like I really have much milk, She's a fat baby, so I'm sure she's getting something but hard to measure. We ended up having to go to the pediatrician anyway because both developed ear infections and needed antibiotics - but for the cold symptoms, the fluids and vapor baths really did a lot to break it up.

Susan - posted on 02/22/2010

I have 5 kids... All 5 kids were sick my oldest had a bad cough the next two had fever & runny nose.. The twins which are 11 months old had a cough runny nose and fever .. The fever wasn't everyday for the twins .. The twins were like that for a month I took them both to the DR to make sure it wAnt something serious line bronchitist or anything else.. It turned out to be a virus the DR said don't wirry they will be fine .. As a mother if 5 none of my kids ever had a cold lasting over a month.. Sure enough the dr was right the twins no longer have the crusty nose runny nose or fever.. Thank god... My other children the sane thing their fever and cough & cold went away I didn't take them to the DR cuz I waited it out sure enough they had a virus by the third day the fever was gone.. It seems to be that time of yeAr.. I hope this has helped you.. Oh use baby vicks rub it on the chest & back.. I also gave the twins abd the rest if ny other kids Baby Muncemx it say 1yr old but I gave it to the twins anyway abd it has hepled..

Tamika - posted on 02/22/2010

My daught (March 08th, 2009) also have the runny nose and watery eyes and her breath is a little bad but I going to see what the doc say's about it. Because the last time i waited it got really bad and she almost had to stay in the hospital. I think it better to be safe than sorry, take your kids to see the doctor.

Phiri- Mthembu - posted on 02/22/2010

Try rinnex syrup and you need to get them an antibiotics

Suparna - posted on 02/20/2010

my son whose going to turn 1 yr old on 12 th march fell sick ,had runny nose,ear infection & congestion..i took him to doc & she gave him some antibiotics for ear infection & said the runny nose & congestion'll take at least a week or so & it did take abt 10 days but wat rally helped was putting a vaporizer with some vicks in it,the moist air did help his congestion & made him sleep comfortably..dont worry but do visit a doc just to make sure ur kids dont've ear infection as that can be troublsome for them!!

Kate - posted on 02/19/2010

Hi Kassie,

My son(March 5 '09) had a cold for just over a week as well. Here are a couple of things I have done to keep the cold at bay:



1) keep an eye on her temperature. Is your daughter pulling on her ears? If so, that could be an ear infection, in which case take her in to see the Doc for meds. However, if not, then do what you can by giving her/and now him, lots of fluids. I still breastfeed my 11 1/2mos old son 2-3 times a day; so if you breastfeed do so, if not, give a bottle of formula that way she is getting both her solids in, and her fluids.



2) I use a humidifier going in his room all day and night. That helps break up the mucus in his nose/throat, upper chest so he doesn't get bronchial issues.



3) I give him tempra before bed, and I put Prevax creme on his upper lip and nose to make sure it stays moisturized from the dry and crusty "schnoogies" that tend to stick to his nose over night! He still has a bit of a cough left, but its just part of the cold running its coarse. In between all of this, he was teething, and his 6th and 7th tooth are about to pop any day now....so that was fun. He's getting back to his full night sleeps!



4) Try raise her bed on an angle so her upper body is raised slightly above her lower body.



5) If your daughter allows you, try squirting saline drops up her nose. Ryan allowed me the first few times, but after that, there was no way I was able to do it. Not sure how much it helped, but the Pharmacist suggested it, so I gave it a try.



As for the looser poops,...just how loose? Ryan's poops were looser, but not soupy. Although Diarrhea is normal around a cold. Does she still poop on a regular basis? Or is it more than usual? If it persists, I would call the Doc and see what he/she says about the Diarrhea.

Good luck, and I hope they both get well soon.

CINDY - posted on 02/19/2010

i would take them to the dr. I know it is a horrible thought with them running around etc..... I always go in and sit in a quit corner and we read books or play games (that we have taken with us- I wont let my children play with the toys at the dr surgery- sick kids are there playing with them all the time and there has not been one time i have ever seenthem being cleaned , let alone dis infected!!) I think a while 'suffering' in the doctor surgery is better than finding out that something magor could be wrong when it is to late!!

Michaela - posted on 02/13/2010

1.Go to the doctor
2.Elevate thier mattress (put something underit on one side)
3.The Nose Frida is the BEST thing to suction the nose.
4. Use Vicks(Baby Vicks) Vapor Rub- i put it on the bottom of thier feet and put socks on but I've read that you shouldn't do this. But you cn use it on the chest.
5. Use a Vaporizer
6. Use a Humidifier (be careful though b/c it can cause mold on the ceiling if you don't give it a break to make sure the mist doesn't build up on the ceiling)
7.Go in the bathroom, close the door, turn on the hot water full blast and let it steam up the room. The steam helps loosen up mucus.
8. Clean the nose by dropping a few saline drops in and then suctioning it. I do this any time they first wake up and right before I put them to bed.
9. Give them a luke warm bath.
10. I give my 2 1/2 year old Robitussin DM, check the label, one is okay for children 2 and up.
11. I let my son drink as much juice as he wants when he is sick to make sure he gets enough fluids. I usually limit his juice to 4 oz a day but I know he will drink the juice so I give it to him.

I hope this helps.

Sandi - posted on 02/13/2010

Go to your doctor. 1 hour of mayhem is worth the peace of mind. I wouldn't ask a bunch of sleep deprived mothers to diagnose your children on a website :) Plus they might be able to see more symptoms than you have picked up on and described on here... like if they are dehydrated etc.

Best of luck

Denise - posted on 02/13/2010

Your 2y old can have honey for the sore throat .5 -1 tsp (they don't make cough syrup for kid under 6). Humidifier at night in the bedroom will help both, take them into the bathroom and run hot water for the steam. DO NOT use vicks vapor rub!! Apparently it will agitate their throat and nose - just does not work, makes things worse (this is from a nurse) My 2 (10.5 m and 4y) have had runny nose,sore throat and cough (11 days now), fever(recently). Hope they are better soon!!!

Jackie - posted on 02/12/2010

My pediatrician always tells me that if she's been fighting the cold for longer than a week and things don't seem to be improving, then bring her in. I took her in once for a cough that just sounded a bit wierd to me and she was diagnosed with mild croup, which could have been more serious if we hadn't taken her in so early. She got a shot and was better in 2 days! I'd take them in just to be sure.

Brianna - posted on 02/12/2010

Hey there, I am going through quite a bit too! My 5 yr old was very sick last week, temp with bad cough and congestion. she even threw up a couple times. Took her in and she has a virus, but then a few days later the baby born3-10-09 got sick. He had what seemed to be a bad cold first but then I had to pick him up one day from school because he was not feeling well enough to be anywhere and he sounded a little weezy. I picked him up and listened to his lungs though his back and they didn't sound clear, took him in and he had an ear infection then the doctor said he needed a breathing treatment then said he had RSV. Guess when there is an infection in the lungs it causes the ears to become infected. I am thinking what my daughter had could have been the same or could have evolved into this for my son. I would suggest taking them in if they are not getting better. Doctor said RSV is going around in the community at this time. I use a humidifier and an albuterol treatment now. Good luck!!

Michelle - posted on 02/12/2010

Look at her throat - strep throat going around here. The other bug going around is RSV. Usually causes miserable cold symptoms in older kids and can be serious in young babies. No antibiotics unless other infection with it like ear infection but is very contagious.