PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - In the conflict against fever, parents are uncovering themselves without a superior weapon.
Two of the superior fever fighters for children are hard to find.
We've been watching the unthinkable hold times astatine children's hospitals. Well, that's conscionable the extremity of the iceberg. There's a immense bug conflict going connected astatine home, too, and to enactment it precise simply, excessively galore sick children, and not capable medicine.
A sick kid tin acceptable the temper for the full family, and erstwhile you've got 1 connected your hands, you conscionable privation them to consciousness better.
"When they've gone to the drugstore, astatine the market store, it seems similar the shelves are beauteous bare," said Dr. Michael Petrosky, an Allegheny Health Network pediatrician.
It's classical proviso and demand. Caregivers request the meds.
"But more, we're seeing a batch of illnesses going astir now. I said, 'You know, influenza started aboriginal this year,' we're seeing a batch of RSV, which we spot each twelvemonth but usually, it doesn't commencement until the extremity of December oregon into January. We started seeing it successful October."
And fevers are a earthy portion of viral illnesses.
"A batch of radical are astir apt utilizing Tylenol oregon Motrin much than they person successful the past 2 years, I would say."
Dr. Petrosky said don't usage aspirin for children, you tin usage big Motrin and Tylenol, but it has to beryllium dosed down for your child.
Is Dr. Petrosky suggesting that the children's medications are being overused?
Actually, yes.
He said immoderate radical are giving them arsenic a preventive, which helium doesn't recommend, and helium said they are being utilized for things they are not effectual to help.
You don't person to fto your kid suffer, but you request to beryllium cautious what you use. We conscionable privation to marque them consciousness better, truthful erstwhile fevers rise, we scope for help.
"If [fevers] are a small high, I don't needfully request to tally to dainty with Tylenol oregon Motrin, and if they're miserable oregon complaining of pain, past yeah, let's spell for it," Dr. Petrosky said.
Dr. Petrosky said to hold until astatine slightest the fever is 100.4 degrees.
"We cognize the coughing, congestion, [but] Tylenol and Motrin don't bash thing for that," said Dr. Petrosky.
Dr. Petrosky besides said to debar reverting to aspirin for children.
"Asprin is associated with Reye's syndrome successful kids, truthful we counsel children, young children, adjacent teenagers not to instrumentality aspirin," the doc added.
What you tin bash is usage big Tylenol and Motrin but speech to your superior attraction supplier to get a bully dosage based connected the child's property and weight.
That is incredibly important. Don't usage it successful afloat dosage, decently downsize the dosage.
"If they're having fevers oregon complaints oregon filled receptor pain, yes, that tin help," Dr. Petrosky said.
And of course, it's not going to beryllium saccharine oregon liquid similar the children's medicine.
"It's a batch of pills. You could crush it, mixing it with applesauce and things similar that arsenic well, too. I've seen cocoa syrup, pudding, and crystal cream, immoderate your kid likes."
Dr. Petrosky said you tin besides usage peanut butter, but immoderate you use, support it successful a tiny magnitude truthful they'll devour it each and get each the medicine.
What happens if a kid takes a afloat big dosage?
If it happens once, Dr. Petrosky isn't earnestly concerned, but a repetition could make toxicity issues.
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- Child Care
John Shumway joined KDKA successful October 1988 arsenic a General Assignment Reporter. During his years astatine KDKA, helium has anchored the greeting and play quality and is presently a featured General Assignment Reporter connected the station's 4, 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.
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