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Dr. Leonidas 20 guidelines

1. A child with fever longer than 5 days should be suspected for possible bacterial infections, Kawasaki, and Cat Scratch Diseases. There are other conditions that can cause prolonged fever.

2. A child with fever and rashes that does not blanch (petechiae) should be checked by a physician.

3. A child with fever, headache, vomiting, and neck pain should be seen by a physician.

4. A child with acute belly pain that starts from the navel and goes to the right lower side especially with nausea and vomiting should be considered as having appendicitis until proven otherwise.

5. A child with fever, pain on urination, and back pain should be considered to have a urinary tract infection.

6. The more mucus membranes are involved the more likely that it is viral infection. The mucus membranes are found in the eyes, nose, mouth, lungs, and intestines. So if there is conjunctivitis (red eyes), runny nose, vomiting (stomach), diarrhea (intestines), and fever, a viral infection is more likely the cause of the symptoms. Usually these symptoms will last only for a few days if the cause if viral.

7. Rashes that look like blood (does not blanch) under the skin is called petechiae. It should be checked by a clinician.

8. An irritable child who has fever that last longer than 5 days, with red eye should be considered to have Kawasaki disease until proven otherwise.

9. A child with prolonged night cough, cough after playing or running, who is growing normally without diarrhea most likely has asthma.

10. A baby who is not gaining weight with changes in behavior or convulsion should be investigated for a metabolic disease.

To Be Continued ...

Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP

Copyright 2003 Leo Leonidas

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