Get Better Faster With Love and Liquids

Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • Sep 24, 2020

We call it Love and Liquids.  It’s what you do when your child is sick, and as the Fall unfolds, we’re pretty sure it’s going to be a very long winter of illness.  So let’s review the drill for how to get better.

At first, you think it might be allergies, but really … you’re just in denial.  It’s a cold.  Another day goes by, and you can’t ignore it.  Congestion, scratchy throat, little bit of cough.  What if it’s COVID-19?  What if it’s a cold?  What if…

We’re living through history, and at Johns Hopkins,  the smartest folks say  it’s going to be a long winter of what if’s, and we are here for you.  Let’s memorize the Get Better Drill now so you’re prepared.  We call it Love and Liquids.  It’s all the stuff you have to do when your child is sick to help her get better.  There’s science behind the advice we call “Supportive Measures.”

When a person gets sick, the immune system is more than ready to destroy the germ causing havoc.  Doesn’t matter if it’s a bacteria (think strep throat) or a virus (think the Barfing Throw-ups or the Coronavirus.)  Colds and COVID19 are actually caused by cousin Coronaviruses so regardless of your child’s germ, you need to understand supportive measures.

Fluids are key.

  • Kids don’t eat normally when they’re sick, and that’s probably OK.
  • The do need to drink, however, and clear liquids are best. (Think Pedialyte, Gatorade, brothy soups, water) Small amounts EVERY hour that the child’s awake is ideal. Depending on the size of the child, you should offer 1-2 ounces for little ones and 6-8 ounces for bigger kids, and you should OFFER but DON’T FORCE … every hour.
  • Set a timer for every hour so you don’t lose track of time and keep a tally of how much fluid your child accepts.
  • Sticker charts are often a good reward reinforcement. We love the Bubbles Calendar to tally intake.

Fever can be good.

  • The immune system is creating a space where germs don’t like to live when the fever spikes.
  • And here’s an important reminder: 104 F doesn’t mean your child is sicker than 101 F.
  • It’s always what goes WITH the fever. (If the child with 101 F. doesn’t recognize her mom, that’s really worrisome!  If the 104 F child is sipping Gatorade and watching PBS, I’m less worried.)

Vomiting again and again is always bad.  Especially when it goes on for more than a day.

  • The body has a reserve of about 24 hours if a child eats or drinks nothing before dehydration is a big worry.
  • If vomiting and diarrhea happen at the same time there’s fever and very little fluid intake, dehydration can happen quickly.
  • Kids OFTEN throw up when they are feverish and if they try to eat or drink.
  • Reduce fever (with Tylenol by mouth or as a suppository) if your child is feverish and vomiting. Then try clear liquids again once the fever comes down by 1-2 degrees.

     Creative Commons License

The DrDownload Blog

How To Talk So Your Kids, Big & Little, Will Listen

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 30 Jan, 2024
It's not what you say... it's how you say it. But sometimes, it IS what you say, and knowing how the experts communicate with children, big and small can often help parents. The post What Mothers Say Matters To Our Kids appeared first on Partners in Pediatrics.

Flu, Vaccines & Chicken Noodle Soup

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 01 Dec, 2023
With an organized roadmap to offer checkups and flu vaccines this fall, I’m proud to say that our practice vaccinated more than seventy five percent of the patients and the parents who come to us. It wasn’t an easy task, and there were some families who probably thought our email reminders were annoying. To you, […] The post Flu, Vaccines & Chicken Noodle Soup appeared first on Partners in Pediatrics.

How to Measure Medicine, Mary Poppins

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 01 Dec, 2020
Five years later.  It’s official. Kids, I’ll no longer be asking you to take a teaspoon of medicine. I’m making the call to action for the pharmacists who prepare prescriptions for my patients to kick back any prescriptions if I forget to write in milliliters. The American Academy of Pediatrics came out with the wise advice (they […] The post How to Measure Medicine, Mary Poppins appeared first on Partners in Pediatrics.

Get To Know Goat

By Gayle Smith • 29 Nov, 2023
FDA Approves Goat's Milk Infant Formula & the AAP agrees it's an excellent option to nourish infants who are not breastfeeding.

Guns? You Gotta Ask

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 10 Jul, 2021
When we ordered a new electronic health record, we picked one build for kids in an effort to improve the quality of the care we provide. One of the things it prompts us to ask about is guns in the home. I’ve always been in the habit of asking about a child’s home setting to […] The post Guns? You Gotta Ask appeared first on Partners in Pediatrics.

A Shot of Hope

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 18 Dec, 2020
The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Richmond this week.  I’m calling it a shot of hope, and I couldn’t be more hopeful and yes, excited to get my vaccine. As a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, I am always careful to say when I’m speaking on their behalf and when I’m […] The post A Shot of Hope appeared first on Partners in Pediatrics.

Did You Know We Need A Real Children’s Hospital?

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 10 Oct, 2020
This week, it’s about our Children’s Hospital… DID YOU KNOW?? Did you know that I have written about and wished for a real Children’s Hospital for Richmond for more than twenty years?  We could split hairs on the definition of a ‘real’ Children’s Hospital, but I’ll wager that you know one when you see one. […] The post Did You Know We Need A Real Children’s Hospital? appeared first on the original DrDownload blog at PartnersInPediatrics.info

Coronavirus Decision Making

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 08 Sep, 2020
I just finished reading an excellent blog post by Emily Oster written to help parents make decisions in CoronaVirus times.  She blogs at CovidExplained.org I’ve grown fond of saying that we are living through history, and in some ways, it softens the daily blows that come with actually having to do that.  This Coronavirus has […] The post Coronavirus Decision Making appeared first on Partners in Pediatrics.

COVID-19 Tests. We Must Proceed With Caution

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 30 Jun, 2020
COVID-19 Testing. It’s a featured topic on 60 Minutes in late June, 2020 and their investigative journalism has some surprising discoveries about how the FDA allowed antibody tests of varied accuracy onto the market. “The wonderful, beautiful immunity.”  That’s how the President described antibody protection in folks who have recovered from COVID-19.  We know that […] The post COVID-19 Tests. We Must Proceed With Caution appeared first on Partners in Pediatrics.

The COVID-19 Testing Facts (Subject To Change)

By Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • 28 May, 2020
COVID-19 Testing. It’s in the news every day. “We don’t have enough tests. We have tests; come get one. The test results are all mixed together making it impossible to interpret them.” Get a test. Don’t get a test. No wonder the average parent is a little confused by it all. The Cheat Sheet for […] The post The COVID-19 Testing Facts (Subject To Change) appeared first on Partners in Pediatrics.
More Posts
Share by: