Influenza: What parents should know
Influenza is a viral infection that can be caused by different strains of Influenza virus. Although most people recover without incident, similar to COVID-19, certain groups are higher risk for severe illness (and even death): the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, and young children (under age 5y - and especially those under 2y).
Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen?
Medicine is always evolving. I have no qualms about using these medications in my children when indicated. My advice to you is this: moderation is everything. Use these medications, only when needed, for a minimum length of time. Everything is a balance of risks and benefits.
Fevers: a simple explanation
Increasing the body’s core temperature makes the body’s immune response more effective. Although the fever is not a cause for alarm, it is still true that whatever infection or process is causing the fever could be concerning, so we don’t ignore fevers.
RSV: 5 things to try
Most children have been infected with RSV by the age of 2 years and recover just fine. We worry most about those children who are very young (under 6 months) or have underlying medical issues, such as prematurity, lung or heart disease, or immunosuppression.
My kid has a fever! What now?
A fever is a normal body response to infection. If your child is handling it well, most of the time you can keep take a holistic approach and focus on closely monitoring them (barring a few specific situations, such as when your child is very young or has underlying medical conditions).
Parechovirus: Answers to your questions
Parechovirus is a virus that most often causes symptoms of the common cold. Parechovirus is a known entity that causes illness in children and vulnerable populations. Most often, it causes common cold symptoms, but in more vulnerable populations, such as newborn babies.
Should you give your child meds before shots?
It is fine to treat your child with medication if they seem like they are uncomfortable, or have a fever or pain. But wait and see how they do. And if you can, hold off on giving it until at least 4 hours after the dose.