Winter 2016-2017
Second to hand washing is to avoid people who
are sick. If you’re getting together with a friend or
family member who has an ill child, it’s a good idea
to reschedule your visit to a time when everyone is
well. Also, making sure your child is up to date on
vaccinations goes a long way toward keeping many
illnesses at bay.
Finally, make sure you child gets plenty of sleep. Being
worn down weakens the immune system they do have,
causing them to be less able to fight off what comes
their way.
In the event that your child does get sick, there are
some red flags that signal the need for you to contact
your child’s primary care provider. These include:
• Any intestinal illness that lasts more than three days
• Blood in the vomit or stool
• Repeated vomiting for more than four hours
• Diarrhea more than once an hour for 24 hours
• Not being able to keep any food or water down for
more than 24 hours, or a child who won’t eat or
drink
• Excessive sleepiness, fussiness or pain
• For kids over two, a fever that won’t come down
after three days; under two, 24 hours; under a year
old, any fever warrants a visit as soon as possible
“If in doubt, call your child’s doctor for guidance but
if you don’t get a quick call back, it’s a good idea
with any of these symptoms to head to a children’s
emergency room,” recommended Dr. Tyson.
Wolfson Children’s Hospital has four 24/7 children’s
emergency centers in the Jacksonville area. To find
the one closest to you, visit wolfsonchildrens.org/ER.
What can you do to help them
recover?
• Offer plenty of liquids.
• Make sure your child gets lots of rest.
• If they are not eating much, supplement
with a natural multivitamin that’s specific
to your child’s age (Gummy vitamins are
not recommended because of their sugar
content).
• Probiotics, which come in pill or drink form,
can help by promoting the growth of good
bacteria in the gut that reduces infection,
and eases diarrhea.
• A baby or child who has difficulty breathing
Cub Club Quarterly
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