Caring for a sick child

Parents can take a number of steps to help children who are sick with a cold or influenza.

• Children need to rest when they are sick. Encourage them to stay in bed.
• Give them plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Treat fevers with acetaminophen (Tylenol and Panadol). But do not give your child aspirin because it has been associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• To prevent spreading the illness to others, wash your hands after being with the sick child.

Call your child's physician for advice when your child shows signs of dehydration. When a child is dehydrated, the child produces no tears when crying, has a very dry mouth and lips and produces little or no urine. Infants, especially, can become dehydrated very quickly. Keep a close eye on infants and call a doctor right away if you see signs of dehydration.