Instructions

• Instructions for new users

Call 911 Now If:

• Not moving or very weak

Call Your Doctor Now If:

• Your child looks or acts very sick
• Signs of dehydration, such as:
  • Has not urinated in > 8 hours
  • Crying produces no tears
  • Very dry mouth (rather than moist)
  • Sunken soft spot
  • Excessively sleepy child
• Too weak to suck or drink
• Refuses to drink anything for > 12 hours (8 hours if < 12 months)
• Could have swallowed a foreign body
• Wheezing or stridor with breathing
• Difficulty breathing not better after you clean out the nose

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:

• You think your child needs to be seen
• Unexplained difficulty drinking and also has fever
• Poor drinking present > 3 days

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):

Increase Fluid Intake

Give your child unlimited amounts of her favorite liquid (e.g. chocolate milk, fruit drinks, Kool-Aid, soft drinks, water). The type doesn't matter, as it does with diarrhea or vomiting.

Solid Foods

Don't worry about solid food intake. It's normal for the appetite to fall off during illness. Preventing dehydration is the only important issue.

For Sore Mouth

If the mouth is sore, give cold drinks. Avoid citrus juices. For infants, offer fluids in a cup, spoon or syringe rather than a bottle. (Reason: The nipple may increase pain).

Older child can use 1 teaspoon of an antacid solution as a mouth wash 4 times per day after meals. Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.

For a Blocked Nose

Suction it out using lots of warm water or saline nosedrops. Make saline nosedrops by adding ½ teaspoon of table salt to 1 cup (8 oz) of warm water.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Difficulty swallowing becomes worse
• Signs of dehydration
• Poor drinking present > 3 days
• Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms