Sick Guides Archive - Orange County Children's Medical Group

Parent’s Guide: Breastfeeding Support & Questions

Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t mean it is always easy. It is a learned skill for both you and your baby. This guide answers the most common questions about supply, pain, and baby’s health.

Parent’s Guide: Breathing Trouble

It is scary to hear your child struggle to breathe. This guide will help you distinguish between a simple stuffy nose (which is noisy but safe) and "Respiratory Distress" (which requires medical help).

Parent’s Guide: Bronchiolitis & RSV

Diagnosis: Bronchiolitis is an infection of the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). Cause: It is usually caused by a virus called RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). Who gets it: It is most common in children under 2 years old (peak age is 6 months).

Parent’s Guide: Chest Pain in Children

First, take a deep breath. When adults feel chest pain, we immediately worry about heart attacks. In children, heart disease is almost never the cause.
Most chest pain in kids is caused by muscles, ribs, acid reflux, or anxiety. This guide will help you figure out what is happening and when to call the doctor.

Parent’s Guide: Colic (Excessive Crying)

Colic is defined as frequent, intense crying in an otherwise healthy and well-fed infant. It usually starts around 2 weeks of age, peaks at 6 weeks, and resolves by 3 to 4 months. While incredibly stressful for parents, colic is temporary and does not mean something is medically wrong with your baby.

Parent’s Guide: Constipation

Constipation is one of the most common problems in pediatrics. It usually isn't caused by a disease, but rather by diet, holding stool in, or a transition (like potty training).
This guide will help you get things moving again and know when to call the doctor.

Parent’s Guide: Cough in Babies (0–12 Months)

The Big Picture: A cough is a reflex. It is your baby's way of protecting their lungs and clearing out germs or mucus. While the sound is heartbreaking, most coughs are caused by normal viruses and help the body heal.
Important Rule: Do not give over-the-counter cough or cold medicines to babies. They are not safe for this age group and can cause serious side effects.

Parent’s Guide: Cough in Children

The Big Picture: A cough is not the enemy. It is a reflex that protects the lungs by clearing out germs and mucus. Most coughs are caused by viruses (like the common cold), meaning antibiotics will not help.

Parent’s Guide: Depression in Children & Teens

Sadness is a normal part of life, but when it doesn't go away and starts affecting daily life, it may be depression. This guide will help you distinguish between normal grief, mild depression, and a mental health crisis.

Parent’s Guide: Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is extremely common in children from birth to 3 years old. While it looks painful, most rashes can be treated at home with a few changes to your changing routine.

Parent’s Guide: Diarrhea in Children

Diarrhea is the body's way of expelling germs. While usually caused by a virus (like Rotavirus) and harmless, the main danger is dehydration.

Parent’s Guide: Earache & Ear Infections

Earaches are the most common reason for pediatric doctor visits. While painful, they are often caused by viruses that heal on their own, or bacteria that may require antibiotics. The main goal at home is managing the pain until you can see a doctor.

Parent’s Guide: Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

Eczema is a chronic skin condition, common in children, that causes dry, sensitive skin and recurrent itchy rashes. While there is no "cure," you can manage it effectively to keep your child comfortable.

Parent’s Guide: Eyelid Swelling

Eyelid swelling can look scary because the skin around the eye is loose and swells very easily. However, if there is no injury and the white part of the eye is not red, it is often treatable at home.

Parent’s Guide: Fever in Children

A fever is your child's body fighting off an infection. While it can be scary to see the temperature rise, fever itself is usually not harmful. This guide will help you manage it safely.

Parent’s Guide: Food Allergies

Food allergies are common, affecting about 5% of children. Reactions can range from mild itching to life-threatening emergencies.

Parent’s Guide: Formula Feeding (Basics & Questions)

Whether you are exclusively bottle-feeding or supplementing, questions about amounts, water safety, and schedules are normal. This guide helps you navigate the practical side of formula feeding.

Parent’s Guide: Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

HFMD is a viral infection common in children under age 4. It is famous for causing a distinct rash and painful mouth sores. While uncomfortable, it typically resolves on its own without complications.

Parent’s Guide: Head Injuries

Head injuries are very common in children, especially toddlers learning to walk. Because the scalp has a rich blood supply, even minor cuts bleed heavily and bumps can swell into large "goose eggs" quickly. This guide will help you decide if it is a simple scalp injury or something more serious.

Parent’s Guide: Headaches in Children

Headaches are very common in children. While they can be painful, they are rarely a sign of a serious brain problem. Most often, they are caused by a virus, hunger, or stress.

Parent’s Guide: Influenza (The Flu)

Influenza is a common viral infection that hits hard in the fall and winter. It is generally more severe than a common cold, but most healthy children recover at home without special medicine.

Parent’s Guide: Is My Child Sick with COVID-19?

If your child is feeling unwell, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a common cold, the flu, or COVID-19. Use this guide to help identify the symptoms, assess the risk, and know when to seek help.

Parent’s Guide: Is My Child Sick with Croup?

Croup is a common viral infection of the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). It causes swelling that changes the sound of your child's voice and cough.

Parent’s Guide: Managing an Asthma Attack

⚠️ Important: Use this guide only if a doctor has already diagnosed your child with asthma. If your child has never been diagnosed but is struggling to breathe, seek medical help immediately.

Parent’s Guide: Neck Pain & Stiffness

Neck pain in children is usually caused by muscle strain from sleeping wrong or looking down at screens ("Text Neck"). However, because the neck protects the spinal cord, injuries and certain infections must be ruled out first.

Parent’s Guide: Newborn Circumcision Care

It can be stressful to care for a surgical wound on a newborn, but circumcisions generally heal quickly and without issues. The area will look "worse" before it looks better.
Here is how to tell the difference between normal healing and a problem.

Parent’s Guide: Panic & Anxiety Attacks

A panic attack is a sudden, intense surge of fear that triggers a physical "Red Alert" in the body. While it feels terrifying—often like the child is dying or losing control—it is physically harmless and usually passes within 20 to 30 minutes.

Parent’s Guide: Penis & Scrotum Symptoms (Child & Teen)

Genital symptoms can be alarming for parents and teens, but many causes are easily treated skin irritations. However, sudden pain or swelling requires immediate attention to rule out surgical emergencies.

Parent’s Guide: Reflux (Spitting Up)

Spitting up is a messy but usually harmless part of infancy. It happens because the valve at the top of the stomach isn't strong enough to keep milk down yet.

Parent’s Guide: Skin Rashes (Localized & Widespread)

Rashes are very common in children. The key to treatment is deciding if the rash is Localized (one spot, usually from contact) or Widespread (all over, usually from a virus).

Parent’s Guide: Sore Throat

Sore throats are a common childhood complaint. While painful, the vast majority are caused by viruses (part of a cold) and heal on their own. However, parents need to know how to spot bacterial infections like Strep Throat which require antibiotics.

Parent’s Guide: Stomach Pain in Boys (Children & Teens)

Stomach pain is a common complaint in childhood. While it is usually caused by something minor (like gas or a virus), it can sometimes signal a more specific medical issue.
This guide focuses on pain located between the bottom of the rib cage and the groin.

Parent’s Guide: Stomach Pain in Girls (Children & Teens)

Seeing your child in pain is stressful. The good news is that most stomach pain is mild and goes away on its own. However, knowing how to spot serious symptoms is key.

This guide focuses on pain located between the bottom of the rib cage and the groin.

Parent’s Guide: Suicide Concerns & Crisis

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in teens, and risk can begin as early as age 10. All threats, plans, or attempts must be taken seriously. Never dismiss a child's comments about wanting to die as "just looking for attention."

Parent’s Guide: Swallowed Foreign Object

Young children explore the world with their mouths, and swallowing non-food items is very common. While terrifying for parents, the vast majority of small, smooth objects pass through the digestive system without causing harm. However, certain items (batteries, magnets) are dangerous and require immediate action.

Parent’s Guide: Teething

Teething is the normal process of new teeth working their way through the gums. It typically occurs between 6 and 24 months of age. While it can be uncomfortable, many symptoms parents attribute to teething (like fevers) are actually caused by other illnesses.

Parent’s Guide: The Common Cold (Runny Nose & Congestion)

The Reality Check: Healthy children get between 6-12 colds a year. It is their body's way of building immunity.
The Cause: Colds are caused by viruses. This means antibiotics will not work. They only treat bacteria.

Parent’s Guide: Treating Burns

Burns are frightening, but most childhood burns are "scalds" from hot liquids and can be treated at home. However, quick action is needed to stop the heat from damaging deeper skin layers.

Parent’s Guide: Umbilical Cord Care & Symptoms

The umbilical cord stump typically falls off between 1 and 3 weeks after birth. While it often looks a bit messy as it dries up (changing from yellow to brown/gray), it rarely requires medical treatment. However, parents must be vigilant for signs of infection (Omphalitis), which is a serious emergency.

Parent’s Guide: Unexplained Crying (3 Months to 2 Years)

Once a child passes the "colic" stage (usually after 3 months), crying is usually a sign of a specific need, pain, or frustration. Because they cannot talk yet, they use crying to communicate.

Parent’s Guide: Urination Pain (Male & Female)

Pain, stinging, or burning while urinating is a common complaint in children. While it often signals a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), in young children, it is frequently caused by simple skin irritation from bubble baths or soaps.

Parent’s Guide: Vaccine Reactions

It is stressful to see your child uncomfortable after shots, but remember: reactions are usually a sign that the vaccine is working. Your child's body is building antibodies to protect them from serious disease.

Parent’s Guide: Vomiting & Diarrhea

Vomiting is the body's forceful way of ejecting stomach contents to protect the gut. While messy and distressing, most cases are caused by a "Stomach Flu" (Viral Gastritis) and resolve within 24 hours. The primary goal of home care is preventing dehydration.

Parent’s Guide: Wheezing (Undiagnosed/First Time)

If the child is breathing comfortably enough to drink and has pink lips, you can support them at home until you see the doctor. Timeline: The child can return to childcare/school once the wheezing and fever have been gone for 24 hours.

Parent’s Guide: Why is My Baby Crying? (0-3 Months)

It is stressful when a young baby cries, especially if you don't know why. Use this checklist to troubleshoot the problem, understand "Colic," and know when to call the doctor.