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As parents we always worry and have questions. At Coastal Kids Pediatrics, we listen and we care about your concerns. Our Parenting Section is devoted to addressing, educating and informing parents about some of the common issues and topics that we hear about as pediatricians.
Please contact us with questions:
Frequently Asked Questions
Our (FAQ’s) features answers to common questions or concerns we hear most about in our office
Web/Book Resources
Access our list of reputable online resources on topics related to parenting and child health
About Vaccines
An easy to reference online guide to know when your child’s immunizations are due.
Immunization Chart
An easy to reference online guide to know when your child’s immunizations are due.
Nutrition
An online guide on topics that deal with nutrition for infants and children.
On Colds
My child has had a runny nose for a week, how do I know when it is more than a cold?
Most upper respiratory infections (URIs) or colds will last one and two weeks. Oftentimes they are associated with a low grade temperature (100-101) in the beginning of the illness. In general, children should be seen if the cold is associated with difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, high fever (>102), fever that lasts more than 72 hours, or a fever that appears at the end of a cold. Of course, if your child is complaining of earache or sinus pain/pressure, a visit to the doctor would also be advised
My child’s runny nose has been thick and green…..does that mean he/she has a sinus infection?
No. Most colds will go through a purulent phase, when the nasal secretion appears thick and green. This often occurs at the befinning and the end of colds and in the morning when the nasal muscosa tends to be drier. Sinus infections will also produce thick nasal secretions, but are usually associated with sinus pain or pressure.
Will an antibiotic help my child’s cold?
No. A cold is caused by a virus. Antibiotics only help bacteria infections. Sometimes a cold can lead into an ear infection or sinus infection. These infections may be bacterial, and the therefore, may need an antibiotic.
Why not treat all colds with an antibiotics, because my child always gets a sinus or ear infection?
Antibiotics can have many potentially harmful side effects. For many years, doctors over-perscribed antibiotics to treat infections that were not bacterial. This over-perscribing has let to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the commonly-perscribed antibiotics/ The more antibiotics your child is prescribed, the greater the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance. Antibiotics can also kill many good bacteria that live in our intestines and aid with digestion. By killing these bacteria we can harm our digestive tracts and cause diarrhea. Of course if an ear infection were to occur during a cold, the risks of an untreated ear infection would usually outweigh the potential side-effects of the antibiotic.
Would culturing my child’s nasal secretions tell you what is causing their infection?
No. Many bacteria normally live in our noses. Even a completely healthy person will grow some bacteria from their nose.
Websites:
www.aap.org American Academy of Pediatrics
www.cdc.gov Center for Disease and Prevention
www.BooBooBusters.com Babyproof your Home
Books:
Your Baby’s First Years
by the American Academy of Pediatrics
New Mother’s Guide to Breast Feeding
By the American Academy of Pediatrics
Bright Beginnings Book Set
By the American Academy of Pediatrics
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide
By Penny Simkin, Ann Keppler and Janet Whalley
What to Expect the First Year
By Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff and Sandee Hathaway
What to Expect the Toddler Years
By Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway
Secrets of the Baby Whisper: How to Calm, Connect and Communicate with Your Baby
By Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau
General Examination & Immunization Schedule
2 wks General Examination
6 wks General Examination
10 wks General Examination, DTap, Ipol,Prevnar, Hib,Rotateq
4 mos General Examination, DTap, Ipol,Prevnar,Hib,Rotateq
6 mos General Examination, DTap,Prevnar, Rotateq, Hep B
9 mos General Examination, Hep B, Ipol
12 mos General Examination, MMR, Varicella Vaccine, Hepatitis A, Hep B, Lead Test, CBC
15 mos General Examination, DTap, Prevnar, Hib
18 mos General Examination, Hepatitis A, Developmental Screening Test
2 years General Examination, CBC and Cholesterol blood test, Second Hep A, Developmental Screening Test
3 years General Examination, urinalysis
4 years General Examination, Varicella Vaccine, urinalysis, CBC and Cholesterol blood test
5 years General Examination, DTap, Ipol, MMR, urinalysis, hearing, vision test, T.B. test if required by school
6 years General Examination, urinalysis, CBC and Cholesterol blood test
7 years General Examination, urinalysis
8 years General Examination, urinalysis, CBC and Cholesterol blood test
9 years General examination, urinalysis
10 years General Examination, urinalysis, CBC and Cholesterol blood test
11 years General Examination, urinalysis, Adacel, Menactra, Start Gardisil HPV Series
12 years General Examination, urinalysis, CBC and Cholesterol blood test
13 years General Examination, urinalysis
14 years General Examination, urinalysis, CBC and Cholesterol blood test
15 years General Examination, urinalysis
16 years General Examination, urinalysis, CBC and Cholesterol blood test
17 years General Examination, urinalysis
18 years General Examination, urinalysis, CBC and Cholesterol blood test