Having a sick child can be stressful and upsetting. Your child may struggle to feel comfortable and deal with the pain while you are confused about when to call the doctor. If you have a sick child in your home, there are several things you can do to ensure that your child is comfortable and is slowly recovering.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Comforting Sick Children
Step 1. Provide emotional support
Pain is uncomfortable and your child may be anxious or sad because of the pain. Giving your child extra care and attention can help. For example, you can:
- Sit with him.
- Read him a story.
- Sing for him.
- Holding his hand.
- Hold her close.
Step 2. Elevate the child's headrest
Coughing can get worse if the child's head is in line with his back. To keep your child's head up, place a book or towel under the headboard or under the foot of the headboard.
You can also provide extra pillows or use a bolster to keep the child's head up
Step 3. Turn on the humidifier
Dry air can make a cough or sore throat worse. Use a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer to keep your child's room moist. It can reduce coughing, congestion, and discomfort.
- Make sure you change the humidifier water frequently.
- Clean the humidifier according to the manufacturer's guidelines to avoid mold growth.
Step 4. Provide a quiet environment
Keep your home as quiet and serene as possible to make it easier for your child to rest. Stimulation from the television or computer prevents sleep and your child needs as much rest as possible, so you should consider removing electronic devices from the child's room or at least limiting your child's use of electronic devices.
Step 5. Keep your home a comfortable temperature
Your child may feel hot or cold depending on the illness he or she has, so your child may feel more comfortable if you adjust the room temperature at home. It's a good idea to set the room temperature between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius, but you can also adjust the temperature if your child is feeling cold or too hot.
For example, if your child complains of being cold, you can raise the temperature. If your child complains of overheating, you can turn on the air conditioner or fan
Part 2 of 4: Feeding Sick Children
Step 1. Give the child plenty of water
Dehydration can make a child's condition worse when he or she is sick. Prevent dehydration by making sure that your child drinks often. Offer the child:
- Mineral water
- Popsicle
- Ginger juice
- watery juice
- Electrolyte rich drink
Step 2. Provide easy-to-digest foods
Give the child nutritious food that does not make his stomach hurt. The choice of food depends on the symptoms of the child's illness. Good choices include:
- Salty Biscuits
- Banana
- Apple porridge
- Toast
- Cooked cereal
- Mashed potato
Step 3. Give the child chicken soup
While it won't make your child feel better, warm chicken soup can help relieve fever and cold symptoms by making the mucus thinner and acting as an anti-inflammatory. There are a variety of recipes for making your own chicken soup, although you can also buy ready-made chicken soup.
Part 3 of 4: Caring for Sick Children at Home
Step 1. Give your child plenty of rest
Encourage your child to sleep as often as he wants. Read a story to your child or let your child listen to an audiobook to make it easier for him to fall asleep. Your child needs as much rest as possible.
Step 2. Use over-the-counter medications wisely
If you decide to give medication, try to give only one product, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, instead of giving several drugs at the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which medicine is right for your child.
- Do not give ibuprofen to children under six months of age.
- Do not give cough and cold medicine to children under the age of four and preferably not until the age of eight. Such drugs have the potential to cause life-threatening side effects and have also proven to be ineffective.
- Do not give acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) to infants, children, or adolescents because it can cause a rare and severe disease called Reye's syndrome.
Step 3. Encourage your child to gargle with warm salt water
Add teaspoon of salt to 250 ml of warm water. Tell your child to rinse his mouth with it, and throw it away when he's done. Gargling with salt water can help relieve a sore throat.
For younger children or nasal congestion, you can also use saline-based nasal drops or sprays. You can make it yourself or buy it at a pharmacy. For babies, you can use an injection (bulb syringe) to suck the mucus after using nasal drops
Step 4. Keep your home free of irritants
Avoid smoking around children and avoid using strong perfumes. Postpone activities such as painting or cleaning. Smoke can irritate a child's throat and lungs and make the disease worse.
Step 5. Air the nursery
Periodically, open the child's bedroom window to let fresh air in. Do it when the child is in the bathroom so that he does not get cold. Give the child an extra blanket if needed.
Part 4 of 4: Go to the Doctor
Step 1. Determine if your child has the flu
Do not underestimate the influenza virus infection. It's a potentially dangerous disease that often develops suddenly. Call your pediatrician if you think your child has the flu, especially if your child is under 2 years of age or has a medical problem such as asthma. Flu symptoms include:
- High fever and/or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Body or muscle pain
- Dizzy
- Tired or weak
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting
Step 2. Take the child's body temperature
Check if your child has a fever, has a fever, sweats, or is warm to the touch if you don't have a thermometer.
Step 3. Ask the child if he feels sick
Ask the child how sick he is and where it hurts. You can also gently massage the affected area to find out how severe the pain is.
Step 4. Watch for signs of severe illness
Watch for symptoms that indicate that your child should be taken to the doctor or hospital immediately. These symptoms include:
- Fever in children under three months old
- Severe headache or neck tension
- Changes in breathing rhythm, especially difficulty breathing
- Changes in skin color, such as turning pale, reddish, or bluish
- Child refuses to drink or stops urinating
- Don't shed tears when you cry
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Child has difficulty getting up or is unresponsive
- The child is not usually quiet or inactive
- Symptoms of extreme pain or irritation
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden or prolonged dizziness
- Confusion
- Influenza-like symptoms usually improve, but then get worse
Step 5. Visit a local pharmacist
Talk to a local pharmacist if you are unsure whether your child should go to the doctor. He or she can help determine whether your child's symptoms require medical attention or not and offer advice on what medications your child should take if needed.
