General Information

COLDS AND CONGESTION

We all get colds and congestion, even young children. There still is no cure for the common cold, and our medicines to help with the symptoms are also not working very well. Tylenol or Motrin will help with fever and body aches or headaches, but do nothing for congestion. There are many choices of tastes…

CONSTIPATION

Difficulty in passing hard stool is constipation. It is not an emergency if your child has not had a bowel movement for 3-4 days. Each child has their own bowel pattern. Some have a stool with every meal, while others have a stool once every week. The important thing is that the stool is soft…

DIARRHEA

Diarrhea often follows vomiting, but it is seen more frequently with no previous insult. Diarrhea can even be normal at times during the development of a child’s intestinal system. As a young infant, a stool every time the stomach is filled is normal. Eventually we all settle into our own unique bowel pattern, and a…

FEVER

How to take an infant’s temperature: a rectal temperature is the only reliable measurement in infants up to two months old. After that age, rectal temperatures are still the most accurate but ear temperatures are acceptable. What is an elevated temperature?: any temperature at or above 100.5 is elevated. We need to be notified of…

ROUTINE OFFICE VISITS AND IMMUNIZATIONS

We strongly encourage preventative health care. This will be accomplished by education as your child grows, early intervention when needed, and immunizations. Please make all attempts to follow through with scheduled well child visits. The media seems inappropriately filled recently with horror stories and confusing information regarding vaccinations. Please fee free to express your concerns…

Injuries

BROKEN BONES

Any obviously deformed fracture should be gently splinted for comfort, and the child should be taken immediately to the office (or to the Emergency Room if after office hours). Call us first so that we can prepare for your arrival if you have time. Pain in an extremity or joint without swelling or deformity can…

BRUISES

Simple bruises are a part of growing up. Applying ice immediately after the injury will lessen the swelling, but it will not prevent a bruise. If your child becomes more fussy with the application of ice, try a wash cloth soaked with cold water. If your child has many unexplained bruises, or bruises very easily,…

BURNS

Run cold water over burned skin immediately. Make sure that the source of the burn is away from your child to avoid more injury. Small areas of red skin from a burn can be cleaned with soap and water, covered with bacitracin, and covered with a Band-Aid. Larger areas of blistering, black, charred skin should…

CUTS AND SCRAPES

Deep gaping wounds will need to be cleaned out well and sutured. We can repair lacerations in the office. If the accident is after office hours, go to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for sutures. Sutures should be kept clean. Do not soak sutures under water, but getting them wet will not hurt if dried soon…

HEAD INJURIES

Minor bumps on the head are also a normal part of growing up. A child should cry and want to be comforted initially. After this, he may drift off to sleep for a short period, tired from the whole incident. It is fine for them to sleep for 15-20 minutes. After that time, wake him…

INGESTIONS

Contact Poison Control in the event of any accidental ingestion before doing anything else. Not all ingestions need vomiting to be induced, and with some it is actually more harmful if they do vomit. Keep Ipecac available, but use it only upon the advice of poison control. Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) to get more information.…

MOUTH INJURIES

Most mouth injuries are minor and require no therapy. If bleeding lasts longer than 10-15 minutes at a consistent pace, notify us. If the teeth are displaced in any direction, call our office. If a tooth is knocked out, put the tooth in a cup of milk and go to Children’s Hospital (and don’t forget…