Caring for a sick child

Parents can take a number of steps to help children who are sick with a cold or influenza.

• Children need to rest when they are sick. Encourage them to stay in bed.
• Give them plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Treat fevers with acetaminophen (Tylenol and Panadol). But do not give your child aspirin because it has been associated with Reye Syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• To prevent spreading the illness to others, wash your hands after being with the sick child.

Call your child's physician for advice when:

• Your child shows signs of dehydration. When a child is dehydrated, the child produces no tears when crying, has a very dry mouth and lips and produces little or no urine. Infants, especially, can become dehydrated very quickly. Keep a close eye on infants and call a doctor right away if you see signs of dehydration.

Choose a diet carefully when your child is ill

Parents must carefully choose a child's diet to control nausea and diarrhea.

You may want to ask your child's physician to suggest a diet while your child is ill. Generally, for a child more than 12 months of age, you may use the following guide:

Begin with clear liquids:

• Weak tea.
• Fat-free broth or bouillon (made with powder or cube).
• Flavored gelatin dessert with nothing added.
• Popsicles.
• Soda.
• Pedialyte.

If the child tolerates clear liquids, add these foods:

• Ripe banana or strained banana.
• Cooked refined cereal with no sugar (cream of wheat or cream of rice).
• Soda crackers or dry white toast with no butter (a small amount of jelly may be used).
• Fat-free (uncreamed) cottage cheese.
• Applesauce.
• Low-fat milk.

If the vomiting and diarrhea seem to be controlled, in a day or two you may add:

• Lean meats without gravy.
• Eggs, not fried.
• Mashed potatoes.
• Cooked vegetables.
• Canned fruit (peach, apricot or pear).
• Plain pudding.

Avoid all other foods, especially dairy products, until all of the symptoms are gone.