As a parent, dealing with your child’s illnesses can be stressful and challenging. Knowing how to recognize and manage common childhood ailments can help you provide the best care for your little ones and determine when it’s time to seek professional help. At Next Door Urgent Care (NDUC), we’re here to support you through every step of your child’s health journey. Below, we’ve outlined five common childhood illnesses and tips on how to handle them.

1. The Common Cold

Symptoms:Runny nose, sneezing, coughing, mild fever, sore throat, and general fatigue.

How to Handle It:The common cold is caused by viruses and typically resolves on its own within a week. To help your child feel better:

• Ensure they get plenty of rest.

• Keep them hydrated with water, juice, or warm soups.

• Use a cool-mist humidifier to ease nasal congestion.

• Offer over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever and alleviate discomfort. (Avoid giving aspirin to children.)

When to Seek Medical Help:If your child’s symptoms persist beyond 10 days, worsen, or if they develop a high fever (above 100.4°F in infants under 3 months or above 102°F in older children), it’s time to visit urgent care.

2. Ear Infections

Symptoms:Ear pain, tugging at the ear, trouble sleeping, fever, fluid drainage from the ear, and hearing difficulties.

How to Handle It:Ear infections are common in young children and are usually caused by bacteria or viruses. To manage the symptoms:

• Keep your child comfortable with over-the-counter pain relievers.

• Apply a warm compress to the affected ear to relieve pain.

• Encourage rest and hydration.

When to Seek Medical Help:If your child’s symptoms don’t improve after a few days, or if they experience severe pain, high fever, or drainage from the ear, seek medical attention. NDUC can provide a diagnosis and prescribe antibiotics if necessary.

3. Stomach Flu (Gastroenteritis)

Symptoms:Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and sometimes fever.

How to Handle It:Stomach flu is typically caused by viral infections and can be quite uncomfortable. To help your child recover:

• Keep them hydrated with small sips of water, electrolyte solutions, or clear broth.

• Offer bland foods like toast, rice, or bananas once vomiting subsides.

• Encourage rest to help their body fight off the infection.

When to Seek Medical Help:Seek urgent care if your child shows signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears when crying, decreased urine output), if the vomiting or diarrhea is severe, or if they have a high fever or blood in their stool.

4. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Symptoms:Fever, sore throat, painful red spots or sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands, feet, and sometimes buttocks.

How to Handle It:This viral illness is common in children under 5 and usually resolves on its own. To manage the symptoms:

• Keep your child hydrated, offering cold liquids and soft foods to ease mouth pain.

• Use over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce fever and discomfort.

• Keep your child home from daycare or school to prevent spreading the virus.

When to Seek Medical Help:If your child is unable to eat or drink due to painful mouth sores, or if their symptoms worsen, visit NDUC for an evaluation and supportive care.

5. Strep Throat

Symptoms:Severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, fever, and sometimes a rash (scarlet fever).

How to Handle It:Strep throat is a bacterial infection that requires medical treatment. If you suspect your child has strep throat:

• Visit NDUC for a rapid strep test and diagnosis.

• If positive, your child will need a course of antibiotics to clear the infection.

• Ensure your child completes the full course of antibiotics to prevent complications.

When to Seek Medical Help:Seek medical attention if your child has a persistent sore throat, fever, or difficulty swallowing, as untreated strep throat can lead to serious complications.

Keeping Your Child Healthy with NDUC

At Next Door Urgent Care, we’re committed to providing compassionate, expert care for your child when they’re feeling under the weather. Our pediatric services are designed to address a wide range of common childhood illnesses, ensuring your child gets the care they need to recover quickly and safely. If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to visit us—we’re here to help!