Articles for KidsMeds

What is Swimmer's Ear? "Swimmer's Ear" refers to an infection of the canal that connects the outside of the ear with the inside of the ear. Normally this passageway is dry and slightly acidic so germs do not grow there. Swimmer's Ear happens when bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) or fungi have a chance to grow in the canal. This causes pain and swelling of the ear. Cleaning the ear and applying ear drops is usually needed to treat Swimmer's Ear.  ...

What are allergies? An allergy is a reaction of the protective immune system of your child's body in response to something that does not usually bother other people. Certain substances, situations, or physical situations can cause this reaction. These irritants can be found indoors or outdoors. An allergy is also called hypersensitivity. Some allergic reactions need immediate attention. What do I look for to see if my child has allergies? Each child can show different ...

With so many different pain and fever medicines in the pharmacy, it can be confusing. There are infant drops, children’s liquid suspensions and chewable tablets. Each one of them contains different medicines and different doses. Learn more about acetaminophen and ibuprofen and when and how to use them.

Dry skin is mostly a problem in the winter time, but it can also be bothersome in early spring when the humidity is low and it is cold and windy out. Learn how to prevent dry, itchy skin.

What are ticks and Tickborne diseases? Prevention and Treatment information.

There are many insect repellents available in the stores. Which one should you pick for your family? Do the different brands matter, or are the main ingredient and its concentration key factors? Who should use repellents? Who should avoid them? Where should they be applied? When should you reapply them? Can sunscreen be used at the same time? These and other questions are answered in this article.

There is a lot of information about the seasonal flu and H1N1 ("Swine flu") available. This article highlights common questions parents and caregivers have about the flu and offers links to websites that contain more information on those topics.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend giving infants and children under 4 years of age any cough or cold medicines. Here are some non-medicine remedies.

This guide is designed to educate parents on the typical items contained in a first-aid kit and special items included when the kit is being taken to camp or sporting events. Keep in mind that each person’s healthcare is slightly different than the next person, so some items that your child might need are not listed here.

What are head lice? Lice are tiny, wingless parasites that live on the moist, warm, clean hair of the scalp of those that are infested. Outbreaks of head lice affect 10 to 12 million Americans annually. These outbreaks are generally seen between August and November after the beginning of school each year. What do head lice look like? Adult lice range in size from 1 to 4 millimeters—about the size of a sesame seed. Head lice lay 4-6 eggs on the hair shaft each day. These eggs, called nits, ...

This article provides step by step directions on how to use nose drops, sprays and inhalers

This article provides useful tips on how to give ear drops to infants and older chidlren.

This article provides a list of instructions that will help you apply topical medications to your child.

This article provides step-by-step instructions for how to properly administer a rectal suppository and other ointments to your child.

This article includes a list of helpful directions for properly giving eye drops to your child (or others).

Have questions about Oral Inhalers? Click here for more information.

When giving your child liquid medicine, always use either an oral syringe, a medicine dropper, a medicine spoon or a medicine cup, one of which sometimes accompanies children's medications. You can also buy any of these tools at your local pharmacy. Do not use a kitchen utensil such as a teaspoon or tablespoon. These do not deliver the correct amount of liquid medicine.

There are several situations that can keep kids from taking their medicine. Maybe your child dislikes the taste or perhaps the particular medicine is only available in pill form, but your child is not able to swallow tablets or capsules, yet!

This article provides tips on how to administer tablets and capsules in older and younger children.

Many children are exposed to poisons each year. Small children are very curious. They may eat or drink poisons or medicines by mistake. In 2005, the top 6 poisons in children less than 5 were cosmetic products, household cleaning products, pain medicines (i.e., Tylenol®, Advil®, etc.), skin products, foreign bodies (i.e., toys), and cough and cold medicines.