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Fever & Infections

What to do when your child has a fever, virus, or other illness. Trusted advice for sick days and beyond.

Fever Medicine in Children

Fever Reducers for Kids: Safe Dosing and When to Treat a Fever

Every kid experiences a fever at some point during childhood. My children, in particular, tend to get them at 3 AM, while on vacation, or during holiday events. There’s also the always fun first fever of the school year. Never a dull moment! This guide explains fever reducers, when

Safe Antibiotic Use for Strep Throat and Other Fall Infections

Safe Antibiotic Use for Strep Throat and Other Fall Infections

When the weather turns crisp and kids head back to school, it seems like germs throw their own welcome-back party. Runny noses, sore throats, and coughs start spreading faster than a bag of Halloween candy. One of the most common causes of illness? Strep throat in kids. When parents hear

First Fever of the School Year: Home Care and Red Flags

First Fever of the School Year: Home Care and Red Flags

Parents, you know how it goes. The school year just began, and your child already comes home with flushed cheeks, a hot forehead, and the dreaded thermometer beep confirming a fever. Heck, if you’re really (un)lucky, the school nurse might even call before your morning coffee gets cold!

OTC Cold Medicine Safety and Guidance for Children

OTC Cold Medicine Safety and Guidance for Children

When your little one catches a cold, it’s tempting to rush to the pharmacy and grab any bottle in the kids’ section labeled “cold and flu” because colds in kids are the worst! So many boogers, and it can last for what seems like 100 days. As tempting as

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Kids: Prevention and Treatment Tips from a Pediatric Pharmacist

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Kids: Prevention and Treatment Tips from a Pediatric Pharmacist

If you’ve ever received a daycare email saying “Three children in your child’s class have been diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease,” you know that sinking feeling. Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is one of those miserable childhood illnesses that spreads faster than glitter at the

Pink Eye Treatments: What Actually Works

Pink Eye Treatments: What Actually Works

Pink eye can happen any time of year, but it’s common for it to rear its ugly red head in the winter and summer months. Winter viruses and secondary eye infections go together like peanut butter and jelly. But summer pink eye is also common! The germs that cause

Tylenol vs. Motrin: When to Use Each

Tylenol vs. Motrin: When to Use Each

When your child has a fever, is in pain, or just feels crummy (that's the official medical term for yuckiness in kids), you’re likely reaching for Tylenol® (acetaminophen) or Motrin® (ibuprofen). But what’s the difference? Is one better? Can you alternate them? Do you even need