Frequently Asked Questions
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Questions answered on this page are listed below.
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Why won’t doctors prescribe antibiotics for vomiting and diarrhea?
Usually vomiting and diarrhea are caused by viruses and there are no anti-viral medicines to treat this.
When vomiting and diarrhea are caused by bacteria, symptoms are much more severe (high fever and severe cramping, watery, frequent diarrhea that is often bloody). It is very important to culture the stool to know exactly what bacteria is causing the illness. Even when a bacteria is causing diarrhea, it can be dangerous to treat with antibiotics.
Using antibiotics to treat a child with symptoms due to E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria (the bacteria acquired in "bad" hamburger, raw milk or some fresh fruits and vegetables which had been washed in contaminated water) can actually increase the risk of Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome, a very serious illness that affects the kidneys and has caused death in young children.
Using antibiotics to treat Salmonella can actually prolong the Carrier state (the time in which a person has recovered from the disease symptoms but can still spread the infection to others). Antibiotics are still used for Salmonella in certain cases.
Click here for more information on vomiting and diarrhea.
Why won’t doctors prescribe anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea medications for vomiting and diarrhea?
Usually vomiting and diarrhea are caused by viruses and are short-lived (8-24 hours). Vomiting and diarrhea is the body’s way of getting rid of the virus. Anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea medications can actually prolong and/or worsen your child’s symptoms. Refer to instructions under "Sick Child - Vomiting and Diarrhea"
When vomiting has continued too long and/or has led to dehydration, then a doctor may prescribe anti-nausea medications – but this decision is made on each individual case.
When diarrhea continues even though your child seems to "have gotten over the flu" - his/her energy level and appetite have returned, no fever, no vomiting - then you may use Pepto-Bismol as directed on the bottle. Often the diarrhea is prolonged because your child’s diet has been advanced too quickly to regular foods. Refer to instruction under "Sick Child - Vomiting and Diarrhea"
What natural remedies can we use to treat constipation while traveling?
Constipation while traveling is difficult to treat. Planning ahead to prevent it is the best approach.
Constipation while traveling is caused by a number of reasons:
- the anxiety associated with travel and the use of public restrooms and unfamiliar restrooms .
- the hectic schedule often associated with travel which does not allow enough time to relax.
- eating out which usually means a decrease in fiber intake
- drinking less water and fluids
Prevention of constipation would include thinking about these causes and how to deal with them.
Some suggestions:
- Setting a schedule which allows time for bowel movements.
- Eating enough fiber: bran muffins or cereal for breakfast, packing high fiber snacks such as fresh fruit (an apple a day) and vegetables (carrot and celery sticks), or raisins.
- Pack water bottles and use them - even if it means more frequent restroom stops!
My child is too afraid to try swallowing pills. What can I do?
Practice on candy. Start with Red Hots, then move up to M&Ms, and finally graduate to Good & Plenty candies. Red Hots are the same size as 10 mg Claritin tablets, M&Ms are about the size of adults Tylenol, and Good & Plenty candies are the size of most oral antibiotics.
Another idea is to have your child take a small bit of banana and chew it slightly, then place the pill in the middle of the chewed banana and swallow. The banana adds just the right bulk and consistency to hide a pill.
My 2-year old bruised her eyelid by falling against the coffee table but refused to keep a cold compress on it to keep the swelling down. Any ideas?
Ketchup pouches from fast food restaurants kept in the refrigerator are very cold, soft and a comfortable size and shape for an eye compress. You might need to trim the rough edges of the foil. Kids like the idea of "Let’s put some ketchup on it."
Another comfortable and effective "ice pack" for sprains or bruises is a bag of frozen peas or corn.
Why does my toddler have so many colds from fall to spring, even when he's been on antibiotics?
Every parent of a baby, toddler, or preschooler knows that the "joys" of parenthood include sharing repeated colds and flus. Whether the parents themselves get sick, or just "sick and tired" of caring for sick children, the cold and flu season can be exhausting and seemingly endless.
It is "normal" for the average preschooler to get 6-8 colds each year. These tend to occur mostly in the fall-winter-spring months, which means that during these months, your child may get about one cold per month. A cold can take 7-14 days to "run its course", while respiratory flus can take up to 3 weeks. Viral infections can also weaken a child's ability to fight the next cold, so it is also not uncommon for a child to have a series of 2-3 "colds" or runny noses, in a row.
A baby or toddler with a cold is a miserable creature. S/he can't tell you exactly what's wrong, but the symptoms of colds: achiness, headaches, stuffy &/or runny nose, scratchy sore throat and annoying coughs; make your child uncomfortable and thus fussy, unable to sleep well, and not as hungry as usual. The postnasal drip of mucus from a runny or stuffy nose will make your child cough and often gag and vomit. It decreases the appetite and can cause loose bowel movements or stools. When a baby can't breathe adequately through his or her nose alone, it can be hard to take a bottle or even sleep.
There is no cure for colds because they are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Antibiotics are used only if a secondary infection occurs, such as an ear or sinus infection, or pneumonia. If your child is on an antibiotic, s/he can still catch a new cold or flu.
One might think that at least an antibiotic will prevent a secondary infection. However, taking antibiotics when they are not needed can be harmful. Each time someone takes antibiotics, they are more likely to carry resistant germs in their noses and throats. These resistant germs cannot be killed by common antibiotics and then one may need more expensive antibiotics, or antibiotics given by a shot, or may even need to be put in the hospital for IV antibiotics.
Cold medicines sold OTC (over the counter) only help relieve symptoms a little bit. They do not cure or prevent a cold from "running its course". They only help a person with a cold feel a little better or they may relieve a runny or stuffy nose and cough for a little while so that a person might rest a little better. But all medicines have side effects, and it is better not to use cold medicines unless your child is unable to rest otherwise.
The best remedies for colds are still the time honored ones of getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding excessively dry air (use a cool mist humidifier and don't overheat your house), and avoiding tobacco smoke.
Please click on colds, fever, or sick newborns for more information and what to look for in case your child is developing a secondary infection or has a more severe illness than "just a cold".
My child has had a cold for 3 days and his mucus is already green, does he need antibiotics?
Green mucus from the nose does not necessarily mean your child has a sinus infection. When germs that cause colds (viruses) first infect the nose and sinuses, the nose makes clear mucus. This helps wash the germs from the nose and sinuses. After two or three days, the body's immune cells fight back, changing the mucus to a white or yellow color. As the bacteria that live in the nose grow back, they may also be found in the mucus, which changes the mucus to a greenish color. This is normal and does not mean your child needs an antibiotic. Often, the mucus may be thick and green in the mornings or after a nap, but then runs clear or cloudy the rest of the time.
Sinus infections can complicate viral URIs (colds), but they are not common. They usually do not start before 5-7 days after the viral URI started. Symptoms of a sinus infection are: facial pain, postnasal drip, bad breath, and constantly thick green mucus. Fever may or may not be present. If you suspect your child has a sinus infection, your child will need an appointment with a pediatrician.
For more information: Colds, Why does my toddler have so many colds from fall to spring, even when he's been on antibiotics?
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