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Minor Illnesses and Injuries (cont.)

Vomiting and Diarrhea: There are many reasons that a child may have diarrhea (when stools are watery or much more frequent or both) or may vomit (when stomach contents are regurgitated through the mouth), such as bacterial or viral infections, allergies, food intolerances, reactions to medications, or parasites. If your child vomits or has diarrhea once or twice and seems otherwise normal, you probably don't need to call your child's doctor. To prevent dehydration, feed your child bland clear liquids such as broth, flat soda, water, juice, and gelatin. Your child's doctor may also recommend an oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte.

Call your child's doctor if your child has:

• Persistent and frequent vomiting or diarrhea

• Extreme drowsiness or lethargy

• Fever

• Blood in the vomit or stool

• Persistent abdominal pain

Signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, dry skin or mouth, no tears when crying, or urinating less than usual

Coughing: In children, coughing usually occurs as part of a cold when nasal secretions irritate the throat. Coughs often last longer than other cold symptoms, so don't be surprised if you're still hearing your child cough even when other cold symptoms have disappeared. Since dry air often worsens coughs, use a vaporizer or humidifier in your child's room to keep his or her air passages moist. Offer your child warm liquids to soothe the throat, and avoid exposing your child to tobacco smoke because it worsens coughs. 

• Call your child's doctor if your child:

• Has fast or labored breathing

• Has chest pain

• Vomits after coughing

• Has a cough lasting more than 3 weeks

Abdominal Pain: If your child has abdominal pain, it may be caused by overeating, gas, constipation, appendicitis, stomach infection, or food poisoning. Resting in bed and a diet of clear fluids may help to settle your child's stomach. If your child's abdominal pain is accompanied by fever and has lasted more than an hour, call your child's doctor.

Call your child's doctor or seek immediate treatment if your child:

• Has increasing pain

• Begins to vomit blood or have blood in the stool

• Has difficulty walking

• Has pain in the scrotum or testicle

• Is out of breath

• Is having difficulty urinating

• Has a swollen abdomen

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