Dr. Shelley C. Springer, MD

If your newborn has a temperature above 100.4 or you have other concerns you should see your pediatrician immediately.


Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP
Pediatrician/Neonatologist
Casper Children's Center, LLC

scspringer@mindspring.com

All babies spit up. If your baby is growing, developing and gaining weight normally, then it's likely just normal baby spit. See your pediatrician.

There could be many reasons why your toddler spits up during the night. Schedule an appt with your pediatrician to learn more.

I am not aware of any "natural" antihistamines. Avoiding allergens, washing your hands, not touching your face, etc. will help.

Take him to see his pediatrician.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP
Pediatrician/Neonatologist
Casper Children's Center, LLC

Alt email: scspringer@mindspring.com

Yes. make an appointment with your doctor for evaluation and treatment.

Unlikely. the first signs of teething are usually drooling and chewing on things, which typically starts around 4 mos of age for an infant born at term.

"Cough syrups" are not approved for use in children under 2 yrs old. As a general rule, a cough syrup doesn't TREAT the cough, it merely makes the child unable to cough, which can worsen the underlying reason WHY the child is coughing.

It's unlikely that your 3 month old is teething -- teething pain typically doesn't appear until at least 4-5 mos of age for babies born at term. Regardless, "teething gel" is no longer recommended as it was determined to be unsafe for babies. Same with the frozen or cold teething rings -- they can cause frostbite on the gums. Ibuprofen orally can help with generalized pain or discomfort -- hard teething rings and such are good also. Homeopathic teething remedies that contain clove oil can be helpful.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP
Pediatrician/Neonatologist
Casper Children's Center, LLC

Food poisoning is much less likely than a stomach virus, although the two can look similar. Fever is a reliable indicator of a stomach virus. If your daughter was in a group where common food was consumed and multiple individuals became ill, then it may be food poisoning but it's very unlikely. Regardless of the cause, the treatment for vomiting is COMPLETE bowel rest for at least 4-6 hours after the last episode of vomiting, followed by a very very slow introduction of non-irritating liquids and foods.

You need to see your pediatrician in person for an evaluation.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP
Pediatrician/Neonatologist
Casper Children's Center, LLC

Benadryl is a safe and effective medication to relieve the itching from hives in a 2 yr old, not associated with a life-threatening allergic reaction. Knowing what has caused the hives is an important piece of information and can help direct treatment in the future.

"Bronchitis" is just the medical term for cough. the suffix "it is" just means "inflammation of..." the "Bronchi" is the upper airways. With very rare exception, a cough is caused by inflammation of the upper airways, hence...BRONCHITIS. There is nothing in that term that suggests what is the CAUSE of the inflammation, which is the key to appropriate treatment. ONLY BACTERIAL infections, which are extremely rare, especially in children, can be treated with prescription antibiotics. The typical medical pronouncement, "Your child has bronchitis, here is a prescription for antibiotics" is usually not only useless, but is what contributes to antibiotic overuse, both in individual patients as well as in our population at large.

Potentially. Pneumonia is diagnosed by chest radiograph and it's possible that the fever resolves before pneumonia does.

Babies start teething with drooling that begins around 4 months of age. Tooth eruption follows, usually starting around 6 mos of age and will continue intermittently through the next years, with the incisors, then 1 yr molars, 2 yr molars, and 4 yr molars. Usually, only the first 2 years of life are problematic with pain and other symptoms not unusual.

Teething can be stressful on an infant's body, which can result in increasing sleep. Teething can be painful, which can disturb sleep and result in fussiness and fits of crying. Fever is not uncommon, as is diarrhea, a diaper rash, and pulling on the ears. Only physical examination by a pediatrician can distinguish "teething syndrome" from a bacterial ear infection or other acute illness.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP

Children this age typically get 1-2 upper respiratory/viral infections per MONTH, and each one lasts 10-14 days. Therefore, it seems like your child has been sick for weeks when actually, they are sick, get well for 1-2 days and then come down with something else. Fever is > 100.4 under the arm or in the mouth. Many think that a temp of 99 is a fever, but it's not. Fever itself is not dangerous -- it's a natural body response and helps to heal. However, finding the CAUSE of the fever can be important. There are many different viral infections that are currently going around. The tests that have been done tell you what your children do NOT have, not what they DO have. Antibiotics are indicated for BACTERIAL infections and
are not only worthless but potentially harmful when taken with a viral infection. And from a public health perspective, the inappropriate and widespread use of antibiotics is contributing to antibiotic resistance as well as other harms. "Cough medicine" merely suppresses the child's urge to cough, which is bad. Coughing is how the body expels mucus and other foreign substances in the lungs and respiratory tract. To prevent that keeps all that stuff in there to get worse, not better.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP

Infants under the age of 12 mos should not drink "milk" -- meaning typical cows' milk OR any of the newer non-dairy alternatives such as soy, almond, coconut, cashew, rice, oat, etc.
6 mo old infants should only drink infant formula or breastmilk. Based on recommendations from the pediatrician, they may be ready for introduction of solid foods. No other beverages are recommended. Teething can be painful, and the most discomfort occurs BEFORE the tooth buds are visible penetrating the gum ridges. The bottom central teeth are usually the first to appear. Infant pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin) can be helpful. Chewing on hard, but not cold, teething toys may relieve some discomfort. Numbing agents such as "oragel" have been removed from the market, as have teething rings that go in the freezer or refrigerator. For caregivers who use essential oils, a single drop of clove oil, added to 1-2 tsp of a carrier oil such as olive, coconut, etc., can be rubbed on the gum and some relief may be achieved.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP

Yes. "Herpes" is the Herpes simplex virus, or HSV, and is the virus that causes the common "cold sore" -- appearing especially at the corners of the mouth. Like most viruses (and bacteria/fungi as well), sexual transmission is only one of many ways that these infections can be transmitted. A common method of transmission to infants and children is a kiss from a
relative with a cold sore on his/her lip.

"Cold sores" are caused by the Herpes simplex virus (HSV). Once an individual becomes infected with the virus, it stays in your body for life, living in the nerve region where the first outbreak appeared. Outbreaks can reoccur at any time -- often brought out by stress, sunburn, other illnesses, etc. You catch HSV by exposure of sensitive areas, called "mucosal surfaces," to the body fluids of another infected person. Mucosal surfaces are places like the inside of your mouth, nose, vagina, rectum. Oral or genital sex is the most common way that HSV, as well as other viruses, are spread. Oral sex very likely may have been the way in which you first acquired HSV, and you can transmit it to others through oral sex.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP