Upper Respiratory Infections (URI) (Common Cold) are caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. They enter via the eyes, nose or mouth. They can cause viral conjunctivitis, sore throat, headaches and fever. Most of these symptoms last about 3-5 days. The virus will then work it’s way into the lungs and cause cough. The cough can last from 5-10 days. As these infections are viral, antibiotics are of no use. Symptomatic treatment with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, cough and cold preparations. If fever is greater than 104, lasts greater than 5 days, occurs near the end of the illness, or if your child appears very ill, call for an appointment.

Ear infections or Otitis Media are often secondary to upper respiratory infections. The fluid in the middle ear from the URI can become infected with bacteria. Often the symptoms of this will include ear pain, fever, waking at night and occasionally discharge. If your child has these symptoms, treat liberally with Ibuprofen or acetaminophen and call us for an appointment.

Coxsackie virus is a very common virus that effects the mouth and throat. Often children will present with fever, drooling and pain with swallowing. Younger children will often have blisters on their hands and feet, and small white ulcerations usually on the soft palate of the mouth (the back roof of the mouth). Hence the other name for this disease is Hand, Foot, Mouth disease. It is caused by a virus and antibiotics will do nothing for it. Treatment is symptomatic. Treat pain with ibuprofen or acetaminophen and encourage fluids.

Sinusitis is an infection in the sinuses. Often a cold can mimic some of the symptoms of sinusitis. Symptoms to watch for include face or upper teeth pain, headache behind the eyes and chronic runny nose lasting greater than 10-14 days. Please call for an appointment if you develop these symptoms.

Streptococcal Pharyngitits (Strep Throat) is a bacterial infection of the throat, usually affecting the tonsils. The most common symptoms are high fever, headache, sore throat, and belly ache. Sometimes you may notice white patches or exudates on the tonsils. Initial treatment includes ibuprofen, acetaminophen and fluids. Please call our office to be seen, cultured and placed on antibiotics.

Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye is when the eye is red and has discharge. There are many different causes of pink eyes. Traumatic conjunctivitis is after trauma to the eye and tends to be painful. Allergic conjunctivitis is from pollens or other allergens causing a very itchy eye. Viral conjunctivitis is caused from viruses and tends to give a clear discharge. Viral conjunctivitis can be treated with a warm washcloth. Bacterial conjunctivitis usually gives a yellow green discharge which when wiped away will reaccumulate shortly after being wiped away. Only the bacterial and some traumatic conjunctivitis needs to be treated with a topical antibiotic.

Lyme disease is a bacterial illness caused by the bite of an infected deer tic. If your child is found to have a tic, don’t panic. Reassure your child and calmly remove the tic. The best method is to grab the tic as close to the mouthparts as possible and apply slow and steady pulling. Often the body will break off and leave the mouth parts, that’s OK. If this happens, place some antibiotic ointment on the area and call our office the next day and we would gladly assist you in removing them. If you believe the tic to be a deer tic, then you should monitor your child over the next three weeks for flu like symptoms or a target like rash. If your child does develop these things, call our office during regular office hours and we will make an appointment. We will discuss obtaining labs, and that it is often beneficial to wait and get labs later because the body needs to develop an immune response for the labs to be correct. If necessary, we will start antibiotics at that time. Lyme is very easily treatable with the correct antibiotics. We do not start antibiotics just for a tic bite. This would be inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics and is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Please feel free to contact us for further information.