How to Care for a Sick Child

Having a sick child is a stressful and worrying experience for adults. Children often struggle to feel comfortable and deal with the pain, leaving you wondering if it's time to call a doctor. If a child in your family is unwell, here are a few things to consider to help them feel better and recover more quickly.

Boost Their Spirits. Being sick can be uncomfortable, and children may feel anxious or sad about what they are going through. Therefore, it’s essential to offer extra care and attention. For example, you can:

• Sit beside the child
• Read to the child
• Sing to the child
• Hold the child's hand
• Give the child a cuddle

Raise the Child or Their Head. Laying a child flat on a surface can worsen coughing. To keep their head elevated, you can place a book or towel beneath the mattress or the child's feet.

• You may also add a pillow or use a back support mattress to help keep the child raised.

Turn on a Humidifier. Dry air can make coughing and sore throats worse, so try using a humidifier or a cool mist vaporizer to add moisture to the air in the child's room. This can ease coughing, nasal congestion, and general discomfort.

• Ensure that you change the water in the humidifier regularly.
• Clean the humidifier as per the manufacturer's instructions to prevent mold growth inside.

Keep the Child in a Calm Environment. Maintain a quiet space at home to help the child rest better. The noise from TVs and computers can disrupt sleep, and since rest is essential for recovery, consider moving these devices out of the child's room or limiting their use.

Maintain a Comfortable Temperature at Home. Sick children may feel either hot or cold, so adjusting the room temperature can make them more comfortable. It's better to keep the temperature between 18 to 21°C (65 to 70°F). You can also adjust the temperature if the child feels too hot or too cold.

• For example, if the child complains of being too cold, raise the temperature a little. If they say they're too hot, turn on the air conditioning or a fan.

Encourage the Child to Drink Plenty of Water. Dehydration can worsen the child's condition when they're sick. Prevent dehydration by ensuring the child drinks water regularly. You can offer the child:

• Water
• Ice pops
• Ginger ale
• Diluted fruit juice
• Electrolyte-enhanced drinks

Feed the Child Easily Digestible Foods. Serve nutritious foods that won’t upset the child's stomach. Food choices may depend on the child’s symptoms. Some good options include:

• Salty crackers
• Bananas
• Applesauce
• Toast
• Cooked cereal
• Mashed potatoes

Give the Child Chicken Soup. While chicken soup doesn't cure illness, a warm bowl can ease cold and flu symptoms by thinning mucus and acting as an anti-inflammatory. There are numerous recipes to make homemade chicken soup, but even store-bought options can be helpful to some extent.

Ensure the Child Gets Plenty of Rest. Encourage the child to sleep as much as they need. You can read stories or play audiobooks to help them fall asleep more easily. Rest is essential for the child’s recovery, so allow them to rest as much as possible.

Use Over-the-Counter Medications Carefully. If you decide to give your child medication, try to stick with one product, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, instead of alternating between different drugs. Always consult a doctor or pharmacist to determine which medicine is best for your child.

• Avoid giving ibuprofen to children under 6 months old.
• Children under 4 should not use cold or cough medicines, and it is best to avoid these medications until the child is 8 years old. These drugs may cause life-threatening side effects, and their effectiveness is still unproven.
• Never give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to infants, young children, or teenagers, as it can lead to a rare and serious condition called Reye’s syndrome.

Encourage the Child to Gargle with Warm Saltwater. Mix ¼ teaspoon of salt with about 230 ml of warm water. Have the child gargle the solution and spit it out afterward. Saltwater gargles can help relieve a sore throat.

• If the child is very young or has a stuffy nose, you can use saline nasal drops or a nasal spray. You can either make your own saline solution or purchase it at a pharmacy. For infants, you may want to use a nasal aspirator after administering the saline drops.

Keep Your Home Free from Irritants. Avoid smoking around your child, and steer clear of using strong perfumes. Additionally, refrain from activities like painting or heavy cleaning as the fumes can irritate the child’s throat and lungs, potentially worsening their illness.

Ensure Proper Ventilation in the Child’s Room. Open the child’s room windows regularly to let in fresh air. Keep the room door open when the child is in the bathroom to avoid cold drafts. Make sure the child has an extra blanket if needed.

Determine if Your Child Has the Flu. Carefully check for flu-like symptoms, as viral infections can develop suddenly. Contact your child's doctor if you suspect they have the flu, especially if they are under 2 years old or have health conditions like asthma. Common flu symptoms include:

• High fever and/or chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Body aches or muscle pain
• Headache
• Fatigue and/or weakness
• Diarrhea and/or vomiting

Take Your Child's Temperature. If you don't have a thermometer, check for signs like shivering, flushed face, sweating, or feeling excessively hot when you touch them.

Ask Your Child if They Are in Pain. If so, ask them what kind of pain they are feeling and where it hurts. You can gently press on the area where they say it hurts to assess the severity.

Monitor for Severe Symptoms. Watch for signs that suggest your child needs immediate medical attention. These include:

• Fever in babies under 3 months old
• Severe headache or stiff neck
• Changes in breathing, especially difficulty breathing
• Changes in skin color, such as looking pale, reddened, or slightly bluish
• Refusing to drink fluids and not urinating
• No tears when crying
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Difficulty waking up or unresponsiveness
• Unusually quiet or inactive
• Extreme irritability or pain
• Chest or abdominal pain
• Sudden or prolonged dizziness
• Confusion
• Flu symptoms improving but then worsening

Visit a Local Pharmacy. If you're unsure whether your child needs to see a doctor, speak with the pharmacist. They can help you determine whether your child’s symptoms require medical attention and may offer advice on over-the-counter treatments if needed.

• You can also call your doctor's office, as there is usually someone available to help you know what to do and provide guidance for home care.