Abdominal Pain
Children often have abdominal pain, either as part of a stomach virus or if they are constipated. And often there is no good symptomatic treatment to make your child better. Instead, try to figure out what is causing his symptoms and seek medical attention if the pain persists or is worsening.Ear Ache
If your child has sudden ear pain and has had a cold, then he likely has an ear infection. Older children, especially after age 3-4 years, are usually pretty good at localizing the pain from an ear infection. Pain relief with acetaminophen or ibuprofen is usually all that is necessary, until you can see your doctor, if you suspect that your child has an ear infection.Sore Throat
A sore throat is a nonspecific symptom and while it might be from a throat infection, like strep, it is also often caused by a cold and postnasal drip. If your child has a sore throat and is very congested, a decongestant might be helpful, as can pain relievers. If you suspect strep, see your doctor for a strep test.Head Ache
This symptom is common with many childhood infections, including a cold or the flu, and usually responds to pain relievers. Seek medical attention if your child has a severe headache or if he also has a high fever and persistent vomiting.Mouth Ulcers
Ulcers are common in children with gingivostomatitis, herpangina, and Hand Foot and Mouth disease, who also have blisters on their hands and feet. These are all caused by viruses and don't usually require treatment. Things you can do to make your child feel better is to give lots of fluids, although avoiding orange juice, pain relievers, and a mixture of Benadryl and Maalox to coat the ulcers (use equal parts of each, but don't offer more than the recommend dose of Benadryl for your child's age and weight).Pink Eye
Although eye infections can be caused by a virus, if your child's eye is red and has a lot of green and yellow drainage, then he likely will need topical antibiotic eye drops. Wiping the drainage away with a warm washcloth should help until you are able to see your Pediatrician.If your child's eyes have drainage, but they aren't red, then it may just be reflux of nasal congestion into his eyes and not a real eye infection.
Itchy Rashes
There are many things that can cause your child to have an itchy rash, including insect bites, irritation and contact allergies. An oral antihistamine and a topical steroid cream, in addition to other over-the-counter anti-itch treatments, can be helpful for these types of rashes. Cool compresses also often provide relief.Urinary Pain
Although sometimes just caused by irritation, children who have pain when they urinate usually have a urinary tract infection. Although you will need medical attention, how long you can wait depends on your child's symptoms. If she also has a high fever and is irritable, you should likely seek immediate medical attention. For other children, giving lots of fluids and a pain/fever reducer might be helpful until you can see your Pediatrician.Wheezing
Parents of children with asthma who begin wheezing usually know to give a bronchodilator, reliever, or quick relief medication, like albuterol or Xopenex.If your child has never had asthma before and is wheezing, then it could be the first sign of asthma, or he may have a viral infection, like RSV/bronchiolitis. Seek medical attention if he is wheezing and is having trouble breathing or has a constant cough.
