Pediatric Advice

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for our Patients and Families

Dekalb Pediatric Center 404-508-1177

Text Box: Fever is a symptom of illness that can make your child cranky or fussy, but does not in itself harm your child. It is important to look at what else is happening with your child to try to figure out what is causing the fever. If your child is under 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 or greater, call us immediately. For all other age groups read more details about fever, how to asses your child and decide what you can do at home, when to call us, and when to seek immediate care.

Some children have wheezed many times, and may have asthma. For others, especially those under 2 years, a virus in the bronchial tubes often causes cough and wheezing. Wheezing is a sound from the chest, like a whistle or horn, heard when the child is breathing out. It is important to see how comfortably your child is breathing, how they are acting, and how they are feeding to decide if they need more medical attention. Learn more about bronchiolitis and how to asses your child. If your child has had recurrent wheezing, breathing treatments, Albuterol, or steroids in the past learn more about asthma. Croup is a viral illness that causes a barky, seal like cough, almost always worse at night. Croup can sound scary, but again it is important to asses how comfortably your child is breathing, and see if some home care remedies help. Learn more about croup.

Kids are active and often have more than their share of bumps, bruise, cuts, scrapes, burns, falls, and bumps to the head. Fortunately children are pretty sturdy and most injuries can be managed at home. Sometimes an injury will require more intervention. Learn how to tell if your child’s injury needs medical attention, what you can do at home, and safety tips.

The most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in young children is a stomach virus, which will go away on its own in a few days. The goal of treatment is to balance giving enough liquids to avoid dehydration, without too much to make the symptoms worse and the child uncomfortable. Learn more about symptomatic treatment and how to assess for dehydration. Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, vomiting alone, or diarrhea alone can have other causes. Learn more about vomiting and diarrhea.

Text Box: Kids have 4-8 colds per year, and youngsters in daycare sometimes seem to always have a cold. Colds are almost always caused by viruses that will go away without any treatment. Cough happens more at night because of drainage when lying down. There are a few things you can do to make your child comfortable and a few situations that may need more medical attention, like a phone call or office visit. Learn more about symptoms and medications here.

FEVER

VOMITING and DIARRHEA

MINOR INJURIES

WHEEZING and CROUP

COLDS, CONGESTION, and COUGH

Common Pediatric Conditions

Tylenol and Motrin (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen)Dosing Guide for all ages and weights

Learn about some of the most common illnesses, what you can do for your child, and when to seek medical attention.

COMMON QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

Here you will find a list of the most commonly asked questions about acute pediatric conditions. Of course, the answers are general but it is a good place to start to see if what we describe matches your child’s symptoms. Subjects include: Eye infections (red, pink, swollen, draining), rashes, diaper rash, allergic reactions, insect bites, sore throat, earache, and constipation.

POISON CONTROL

404-616-9000

Helpful links to common conditions with advice:

KidsHealth

UpToDate