Top 6 Things to Remember about Fevers and Colds This Winter

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Dr. Tricia Cooperrider (crop)Today we are honored to hear from local mom and pediatrician, Dr. Tricia Cooperrider, as she gives us the top 6 things for moms to remember about fevers and colds this winter. 

1. Fevers are good (over the age of 2 months).

Too many people are frightened by a fever. How long is too long? Simply put, fevers are the body’s way of recognizing there is something to fight. They are actually a good thing! It’s obvious proof that our immune systems are working as they should. Lengths of fevers can be frustrating. It’s not unusual for a viral fever to last 3-5 days. If there are no other symptoms and your child is acting fine, you are safe to wait things out. Symptoms such as ear pain, throat pain, or pain with urination should prompt a doctor’s visit. Also, if the fever lasts longer than 3 days, it’s time to bring them in to see the doctor. Your child should be seen immediately if the fever is associated with the following:

    • Age under 2 months
    • Extreme fussiness, as if in pain
    • Fever higher than 105° which does NOT respond to medication
    • Stiff neck
    • Purple rash or spots on the skin
    • Difficulty breathing (other than a stuffy nose)
    • Any other signs that worry you

How high is too high? The fact of the matter is that there is no specific temperature that is “dangerous” unless your child has underlying medical issues (“Fever.” Medical Encyclopedia 20 Feb 08. Medline Plus National Institutes of Health. 12 Mar 08.). It’s more important to look at the child than the thermometer. I’m always going to be more worried about the lethargic child with a fever of 101 degrees than the child who is running around my office measuring 105 degrees. A common misconception is that anything over 104 degrees can cause brain damage. This is simply not true. In my world, 100-102 is considered a low fever, 103-104 is moderate (crazy, huh?), and 105+ is high.sick boy - fever

I know, I know. If you see 105 degrees on a thermometer, you’re probably going to flip out. I don’t blame you. I’ve been there. My son’s record is 106.9 degrees. Don’t worry… I flipped out, too. Which brings me to my next point….

2. The majority of high fevers are caused by viruses.

In actuality, bacterial fevers tend to be lower than viral fevers. How frustrating since you’ve all heard us say the dreadful words, “It’s a virus, you’ll just have to wait it out.”

Typical viral illnesses have fevers for 3-5 days. Fevers can be somewhat high – usually around 103-104 degrees. Quite often, there are no other symptoms besides the fever.

3. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are NOT required.

The purpose of acetaminophen and ibuprofen are to keep your child comfortable. They will not shorten the duration of the fever; in fact, there has been some research to indicate that letting a fever run its course without constant medication may be beneficial and/or shorten the course of the illness (Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children). Either way, keep your child as comfortable as you can with the correct dose of medicine. Giving your child just a “half-dose” does no good. You might as well be giving them a teaspoon of sugar.

4. Honey and humidifiers for cough and congestion.

Cough medicines are not recommended for children under the age of 4. In general, I don’t recommend them at all because I don’t really think that they work. There has been research on honey and its benefits with colds and coughs (William T. Basco. Honey as a Cough Suppressant in Children: Does It Work? Medscape. Jan 18, 2013.).

mommy cuddles sick boyHumidifiers work to moisten the surrounding air and loosen secretions, thereby helping with congestion. I have also found some benefits with essential oils in my personal life, but my professional verdict is still out.

5. Typical upper respiratory infections (i.e. colds) last 7-14 days.

A normal course for a cold might look like this: clear runny nose and a cough for the first few days, fever may or may not be present; around day 3-5, the drainage usually turns yellow or green; for the next week, your child has slow improvement of the drainage; their cough persists throughout and may last for a week or two beyond resolution of the runny nose. This is all normal. An average child has 10-15 upper respiratory infections over the course of a year.

If a fever was present in the beginning but then resolved and now has returned again, your child needs to be seen. They may have an ear infection or sinus infection (for older children), causing the return of the fever.

6. Above all, you know your child best. If you are worried, then you should call your doctor or have them seen.

Never ever feel that any question or concern is too trivial for a quick phone call to your doctor. That’s why we are here—to answer your questions. It’s much simpler to ask the question and have peace of mind than it is to worry about the “what ifs.” I would rather you bring your child in for an exam at your first worry so that I get to reassure you that he/she is going to be fine, rather than wait too long and have to send you to the ER.


Meet Guest Blogger Dr. Tricia Cooperrider

Dr. Tricia CooperriderHello! My name is Tricia Cooperrider, and I’m a local pediatrician in Waukee with UnityPoint Clinic.

I grew up in southern Minnesota on a farm. I went to college in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota. After graduation, I worked for one year doing Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy with children with autism. I then moved to Des Moines for medical school and pediatric residency at Blank Children’s Hospital. Following completion of my residency in 2011, I was able to find my dream job with the UnityPoint Clinic Pediatric location in Waukee. It’s been wonderful to grow my practice and develop relationships with my patients over these last few years. I look forward to watching these children grow up into amazing people.

I am not only a full-time pediatrician, but also a full-time mom and wife. I am constantly working to find the balance between work and home. I’m married to my husband of five years, Jeff, and we live in Waukee. I have a very energetic 3-year-old, Liam, and I gave birth to our second son, Noah, this past August.

I love my job taking care of children but struggle to be everything to everyone – home, work, family – it’s overwhelming! Despite the craziness, I’m in love with my life and my work. I hope to be able to offer you a little perspective from the world of pediatrics while keeping it real… because, let’s face it—textbook advice does not always line up with reality!

Here are a few things about me:

1. I like TV too much. Favorites include Grey’s Anatomy, Glee, How I Met Your Mother, and Parenthood.

2. I love to organize and clean – it’s a big stress reliever for me. I have even considered doing this as a side job.

3. I was a manager at McDonald’s in high school. Unfortunately, I have to admit that I still love the food.

4. My husband and I enjoy playing board games with friends. We like strategy and a few of our favorites include Settlers of Catan, Agricola, Dominion, Citadels, Ticket to Ride, and Alhambra.

5. I grew up on a farm with pigs and fields of corn, beans, and peas.

6. I have a brother who is 5 years older than me.

7. My father passed away in a farm accident when I was 13 years old. I miss him every day, especially with my two boys growing up, but I know that his eternal home in Heaven is far greater than this temporary world.

8. I’m very scared of snakes – to the point that I cannot see them or watch them on television.

9. I’m also not fond of worms. They look too much like snakes.

10. I played Sandra Dee in our high school musical.

11. I am a follower of Christ.

12. I was a football cheerleader and played basketball.

13. I was depressed after I had my first son. I should’ve gotten more help.

14. I took piano lessons for 13 years and also played the oboe in my high school band.

15. I traveled to Europe for 3 weeks on a music tour, where I sang in the choir and played oboe in the band.

16. As a child, I wanted to be either a doctor or a hairdresser.

17. I love shopping at Once Upon A Child.

18. I go to church at Valley Evangelical Free Church.

19. You can find me at The Coop Scoop. It’s a work in progress.

20. Give me chocolate and a Pepsi and the day has improved dramatically.

I’m excited to be able to contribute to Des Moines Moms Blog. I look forward to providing a unique perspective that combines both medicine and mommy-hood!

 

6 COMMENTS

  1. I also did aba for two years before my daughter was born. Very cool. Can you explain why a half dose of medication isn’t helpful? Thanks!

    • All medication dosages in the pediatric world are based upon weight. Antibiotics, antipyretics (tylenol/motrin), anti-reflux meds, etc.

      If I gave your 10 year old a dose of amoxicillin that was based upon a 1 year old’s weight, it wouldn’t be therapeutic. In the same regard, you don’t give a 1 year old the 10 year old’s dose either… its not safe.

      I have many families that come to me and wonder why the tylenol/ibuprofen isn’t bringing the fever down or lasting long enough… usually inappropriate dosing is the culprit. It’s not that it won’t help…but what’s the point if it’s not fully doing the job you want? Appropriate dosages have been researched and found therapeutic and safe to use.

  2. So glad to see this post. I was commenting in a post yesterday – trying to get moms to not get overly concerned about bringing a fever down – love seeing this from a professional – I am just a mom of 5. However, I haven’t lost or killed one yet. ( I say that in a fun jokey manner, not to be read with any ill will at all, if you are offended by sarcasm, just move along) 🙂

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