My almost five year old twin girls are sick for the first time this school year. And it's the first time they've ever been sick at the same time. I think it's a cold. They're both started sneezing yesterday and have runny noses. One says her throat hurts and her whole body hurts, the other woke up with a headache today (it was so cute - she's never had a headache before so she woke up and said "Mom, there is something wrong with my head. It feels like someone is stepping on it, right here in the front." I had to explain that was a headache.)
Anyway, their fevers were about 100 last night and they didn't feel well, so I gave them Children's Triaminic Cold and Cough plus some Motrin. This morning their fevers are 101 and 101.5. Does it sound like a cold to you all? Do I just keep it up with the Triaminic and Motrin? Or give nothing and let their bodies fight the germs? I feel clueless! At what point would you call the doctor or schedule an appointment? Our pedi doesn't have an on-call nurse or someone I can call to ask questions, so I either schedule an appointment to go in, or we deal with this at home.
Thanks!
Thanks everyone! I really have been very lucky that my kids have been so healthy, but of course it means that I panic when they do get sick. I skipped the Motrin and Triaminic this morning and the girls are quietly playing with Polly Pockets and their dollhouse. Last night their worst symptom was a really ragged cough - that's actually why I did the medicine, because it was keeping them up (can't believe I forgot to write that this morning). No cough this morning, just fevers and runny noses so they've had some chamomile tea with honey and are drinking lots of water. They've only been to the pedi once for sickness -- three years ago, so I had no idea when you're supposed to call. I agree there's nothing a doctor could do, so we'll just hang out at home and if they're worse in a few days, I'll call the doctor. Thanks again everyone. You helped me relax!
Wow! You are so blessed to have such healthy children. I am careful with cold meds, but the motrin is fine. Some of my kids get hyped with meds and don't seem to get the rest they need. Colds can last from 7-10 days typically. So long as the fever doesn't get too high (102+) you can just treat the symptoms. Honey is nice for the throat.
I don't give anything for fevers under 103. The fever basically triggers immune responses in your body to fight the illness, so it's a good idea to let it go at 100, 101.5. I'd offer some pain reliever for the headache only if it's too bad, but otherwise I'd do a cold compress on the forehead and some water or fluids as a fever increases the need for fluids and headache could be a sign of dehydration. Good luck, I hope they feel better really quickly.
This is completely something to manage at home.
Well a doctor can do nothing for a cold so the only reason I would call the doc is if you suspect something that could be cured with antibiotics. So if one develops strep, bronchitis, ear infection etc..
For any fever under 104 I don't give anything. 1. To let their bodies fight even more (they still will fight with meds). 2. So they feel sick and take it easy. They should want to sleep and lay around.
If for some reason my kids would be up all night due to congestion or coughing, I may consider cold medicine, but the stuff only actually works for a few minutes anyway. I have never given them cold meds as they can always sleep when sick.
If you are going to give meds for combined symptoms make sure you don't give them stuff they don't need. You did not mention a cough, yet you gave cold and cough medicine. :)
Hope they feel better soon.
I have a three day rule with my daughter. If she does not show improvement within three days I will take her to the doctor. My daughter usually gets over stuff by the third day. I would just make sure they are resting, check the fevers and make sure they are not going too high. The doctors can't do much for colds and viruses except to tell you that they need to run their course.
If the headaches get worse or there are other symptoms that are not normal for a cold (like neck pain) then call the doctor asap.
According to my pediatrician you need to treat any fever over 100.7. I would give Motrin every 4 hours.
I might be wrong but the Triaminic Cough and Cold probably has the sudafed PE which is totally useless. For sneezing, runny nose, etc I give Children's Benadryl. That will often help alleviate the sore throat as well.
I would try the Benadryl and Motrin and if they are still feeling this way tomorrow I would schedule an appointment with the pediatrician.
Sounds like you did the right thing. I am like you, I was very fortunate to have a very healthy child and we only saw the Dr for well child checks until she was upwards of 5. Never any antibiotics,until late preschool age. SO, when the occasional fever did hit, I had no clue what to do.
My target # was 103 for fever meds. I pushed a lot of liquid and tried to let her get through it unless she did have sore throat, pulling at ears or something like that.
Keep your eyes on them, maybe they can fight it off on their own. Good luck.
With the sore throat I would get them into the doctor RIGHT away. Strep throat is going around right now. My daughter has had it twice and my son once as well as my hubby and I. Their school has it going around and it's very contagious so I would bring them in to get a culture just to make sure. If it is strep your doc might not know but Ammoxicillan has a high failure rate in treating strep and doctors are just finding this out in the last year or so. I was told that at the pediatric urgent care I took my daughter too. So if it is strep i would tell them you want either Augmentin or Zithromax but not Ammoxicillan. Hope this helps! Good luck, it's no fun with sick kiddos, especially two!
I'd continue with Motrin until they are comfortable. Fevers are the bodies way of fighting off infections, so sometimes, I won't give any Motrin until my son's fever is 102..Or if he is uncomfortable. As far as the stuffy nose/sneezing, I just do a humidifier in the room, steam, and lots of blowing of the nose. If they don't have a cough, I would not give them any cough suppressant medication, and for cold, sometimes those meds make them feel worse. Stick with lots of fluids, and vitamin C, as well as honey.
