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Caring for a Sick Child at Home
How to Recognize a Sick Child If parents or providers can answer "yes" to any of these questions then the child could be sick and the child’s parents or doctor should be informed. · Is the child complaining of not feeling well? · Does the child appear lethargic (more than usual)? · Does the child have skin rashes, itchy skin, or scalp? · Does the child appear to have a fever? And if so, is their temperature above 98.6 degrees F? · Does the child vomit? · Does the child have an abnormal stool (white or grey bowel movement or diarrhea)? · Does the child have a severe cough? · Is the child not urinating? · Is the child refusing to eat or drink the amount that is normal for the child (especially when offered favorite foods)? · Does the child appear or behave differently than normal? 1. General Recommendations and Cautions 2. 3. It is important to give your child plenty of liquids to reduce body temperature. 4. Water is the best drink to give your child because too much fruit juice can cause your Child to experience diarrhea. 5. Keep your child cool by dressing them in light clothing and covering him or her with a sheet. 6. By sponging or bathing your child in lukewarm water you can help to reduce a high fever. You should not add rubbing alcohol to the bath water as it cause seizures or even coma when breathed in. 7. Always use the dropper or whatever is supplied with the medication and avoid using household measurements. 8. A child with a common cold can have the symptoms of nasal and/ or throat discomfort, a runny nose, sneezing and trouble breathing through the nose. A child with the flu can have similar symptoms of sudden headaches, fever and chills, cough, body aches, sore throat and generally feeling very sick. When to get immediate medical help · If a child is under 4 months has a temperature of 100-101 degrees F or if the child is over 4 months and has a temperature of 105 degrees F or higher. · If the child is under 4 months and vomits forcefully after eating. · If the child has pain or stiffness in their neck or a severe headache. · If the child has a seizure for the first time. · If the child acts unusually confused, very ill, or seems to be getting worse. · If the child has uneven pupils, a blood-red or purple rash (made up of pin-sized spots or bruises), or a rash or hives that rapidly appears. · If the child is breathing so hard or fast that he or she cannot speak, cry, or swallow. · If the child has a severe stomachache that causes them to double up and scream but the child does not experience vomiting or diarrhea. · If the child’s stools are black or bloody. · If the child has not urinated in an 8 hour period and the mouth and tongue appear to be dry. · If the child has a ceaseless flow of clear liquid after the child’s head experienced a hard blow. 1. When a child be excluded from attending daycare 2. 3. A. Children should be included in a special facility if they have symptoms that would require them to be excluded from a regular facility. 4. 5. If children have any of the following symptoms then they should be excluded from the special facility for sick children: 6. Fever with fatigue, a stiff neck, irritability, or constant crying. 7. Diarrhea with signs of dehydration and blood or mucus in the stool 8. Vomiting three or more times 9. Contagious illnesses such as pertussis, measles, mumps, chicken pox, rubella, or diptheria unless the child is isolated from other children having the same illness 10. Untreated tuberculosis or infestation 11. Undiagnosed rash 12. Breathing difficulty 13. Persistent abdominal pain 14. Other conditions determined by the director or health consultant B. Care providers may care for sick children with symptoms that require exclusion if there is licensing authority of written plans which describe the symptoms to be taken care, the reasons for providing care, and the procedures of the daily care. C. The facility should provide equipment and materials that can activate the child's interest and involvement based on the child's level of development and condition of the child's health. Related Publications: American Public Health Association, American Academy of Pediatrics. (1992). Caring For Our Children. National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Edwards Brothers. Related Sites: · American Public Health Association. http://www.apha.org/ · American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/ · National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care. "Health & Safety Tips: Daily Health Checks." University of Colorado. 1997 http://nrc.uchsc.edu/health2.htm (22 Nov. 1998 · St. John’s Well Child Center. "Some Dos and Do Nots for Fever and Medication." · NY Bytes. 1998. http://www.wellchild.org/SJHealthTips.htm (2 Nov. 1998) ____________________________________________________________________ |
