We’ve all experienced a fever at some point in our lives; they make us feel groggy and uncomfortable. But do you know how to handle a fever with your child? Are you a new parent that has no idea how a fever can affect your baby? These are questions you should be asking yourself to take the necessary steps in ensuring your child gets the proper care they need. Many of us at DOCS Urgent Care located in Fairfield, and various other locations in Connecticut, have been there too. With all that said, let’s start with the basics.

Fevers 101

People get fevers when their body temperature rises above what it should be (around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The reasoning behind this is usually because the body recognizes a potential virus so it wants to create an unfavorable environment to kill off that bacteria. It’s your body’s way of fighting infection.

Some of the symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Forehead is warm to the touch
• Shivers
• Cold sweats
• Lack of appetite

When Is a Fever a Sign of Something Serious?

If you notice that your child may have a fever, it would be a good idea for you to act. Some of the symptoms for children normally include fussiness, high temperature, sore throat, coughing, vomiting, etc.

Here are some of the more severe signs you should look for:

• Your child under 3 months old has a rectal temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Your child under 2 years old has a fever that lasts over 24 hours
• Your child doesn’t seem like him/herself
• Seizures occur
• Severe vomiting and diarrhea occur

If you notice any of these severe symptoms, call a doctor immediately. If left untreated, these symptoms could get worse and/or they could result in more medical problems down the road. Here is an article to read if you are wondering if your child is too sick for school.

How Can I Help?

Most fevers are easy to treat and won’t require any care from a doctor, unless your child is extremely uncomfortable. There are several ways that you can help treat a simple fever:

• Medicine (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) if the child is over a certain age
• Dress your child in lightweight clothing
• Provide plenty of water to avoid dehydration
• Sleep, sleep, SLEEP

Unfortunately, some children may experience more intense fevers than normal. If this is the case with your child, call your doctor. They will be able to provide the right information and treatment based on your child’s symptoms.

How Can I Prevent Fevers in The Future?

Since fevers occur because of bacteria and viruses, the most effective thing to do would be to look at personal and household hygiene. Simple things such as washing your hands after going to the bathroom and cleaning the counter before and after cooking a meal can go a long way in preventing illness in your family.

Here are more tips on how to prevent fevers:

• Maintain a healthy and balanced diet
• Get the proper amount of sleep (around 8 hours)
• Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing
• Fully clean your house at least once a week
• Make sure your child has had their flu vaccination

No one wants their child to end up in the emergency room because of a fever. Make sure you know and understand the symptoms of a severe fever and seek medical attention ASAP! The last thing we, Fairfield DOCS Urgent Care, want is for you to have to make a visit in the middle of the night to treat the flu.

The winter weather does more than making you wear an absurd amount of layers or letting your kids stay home from school occasionally. The combination of the cold weather and the dry environment do not make hands happy. And as you turn the temperature up indoors your skin starts to dry up weather you know it or not.

Keeping your skin in good condition is important as dry skin can flake and crack causing your skin to bleed. Here are several tips from DOCS Urgent Care of Fairfield, Norwalk, & Bridgeport on how to counteract the cold weather and keep your skin in top condition!

Use moisturizing lotions properly

Contrary to common belief, moisturizing lotions don’t actually make your hands moist. The lotion just provides a protective barrier to seal the moisture on your skin. So applying lotion to dry hands that are covered in dead dried up skin cells won’t do much good.

Instead, use lotion right after taking a shower or washing your hands well in warm water, your hands will be in the best condition to be protected. Feel free to apply lotion after washing dishes, it works miracles!

Wearing the right clothing

Hands and faces tend to be the most exposed body parts outdoors during winter but they have the least amount of skin covering those areas. That’s why it’s common for hands and faces to dry up so quickly during the winter.

Wearing the right gloves can be the best way to avoid skin cracking and flaking. Besides who would want to freeze their fingers off? Make sure to wear dry cloth including your gloves. The chafing from wet socks, gloves or jacket could cause irritation which leads to dried up skin, cracking or even eczema over time.

Ski & snowboard gear are a great choice as they keep you very warm and are water proof/resistant. If you can’t afford to get those, making your coats or leather gloves water proof  is the way to go.

Just as a general back to school health tip make sure to dress your child/children appropriately. Such a simple precautionary step can make a big difference and prevent irritated rashes and children.

Invest in a humidifier

As we mentioned before, the winter weather naturally causes the air to dry up quickly and does not give your skin a way to naturally moisten. That process only speeds up when we keep our homes warm throughout the season.

Humidifiers get more moisture in the air which our skin so desperately needs. Make it a habit to use a humidifier as often as possible. It’s pointless to only use it once in a while when your hands dry up, as dead skin cells will only get in the way of the parts that needs to be cared for.

Having a few small humidifiers throughout your house will keep the amount of moisture in the air consistent. Humidifiers are all around great and are good for your health. They help fight against the cold and the flu keeping a good environment for your house.

Drink water

It seems like this tip always ends up in any type of health article regardless what the issue is. Skin is no different, you need a way for your body to hydrate your skin from the inside out. If you don’t have enough water to sweat, your body will overheat at a rampant rate and you not be able to sweat.

Avoid face masks & facial cleaners

As tempting as it is to pull out those face masks during a cold winter day being indoors all day, it will cause more harm than help for your skin.

All the moisture’s and oils on your face protect the moisture on your face and keep it in place. And as you may have guessed using a face mask will rid your face of the essential oils keeping you from having a dry face.

Reject saunas

So you just finished shoveling or just came back from a freezing commute and the first thing you want to do is jump into a super hot bath or a sauna. As heartbreaking this may be, it is probably the worst thing you could do to your skin.

Your skin will already be dried up at that point and a hot bath or sauna will only further damage your dried skin, drying up the moisture in it even further. Opt for a warm bath which will do good for your skin and moisten it. On the other hand if a sauna is your only option, make sure to spend time in a room with a humidifier.

Choosing the right moisturizer

When looking for a lotion or moisturizer opt for an oil based product as it is more effective than a water based product. Oil based products hold the moisture in the skin better compared to water based lotions. Water based lotions may even dry your hands further overtime as it will only cover dry hands and not retain the moisture well.

If all fails seek a walk in office

Setting up habits and environments to keep your hands moist is important. There will be times where you may not be able to practice these habits because of work and as a result always end up with dry hands.

Leaving dry skin as it is can be dangerous because certain skin diseases can become permanent like eczema and cutaneous candidiasis if not treated immediately. The best option would be to seek an available physician as soon as you can.

Calling us at DOCS Urgent Care and asking a trained professional is sometimes the best course of action. There will be many suggestions we will be able to make so moistening your skin will be simple and become routine. Knowing all of these signs to these symptoms are a good way to steer clear from serious disease.

We all know the horror of food poisoning: what looks like a delicious meal ends up sending you straight to bed for a day. Just the same, shaking the wrong hand can knock you down for a week with a “stomach bug”. But what’s the difference between the two? The answer seems pretty obvious, given their names… but when you’re bedridden and fighting waves of nausea, it can be hard to tell what your body is fighting.

What is a “Stomach Bug”?

“Stomach bug” is actually a nonspecific term we use to refer to any sort of condition involving vomiting or nausea. In reality, the “stomach bug” we’re dealing with is a common infection called Gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis involves the inflammation and irritation of the stomach and intestines, which causes its tell-tale symptoms.

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting or Nausea
• Stomach Pains
• Cramps
• Fever
• Headache

When suffering from a Stomach Bug, it’s common to find yourself dehydrated. As you can guess, this is due to the amount of purging your body is doing to fight the virus. If you experience symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, extreme thirst, lightheadedness, or dry skin, we advise you call a doctor or visit DOCS Urgent Care of Fairfield, Norwalk, or Bridgeport  for immediate attention.

What causes Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis can be caused by:

Contact with someone suffering from Gastroenteritis

Consumption of contaminated food or water

Unwashed hands after using the bathroom, or changing a diaper

There are three viruses known to cause Gastroenteritis, known as adenovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus. Rotavirus is known as the most common cause of Gastroenteritis in children. Infants can be vaccinated to prevent this particular strain.

How is Gastroenteritis treated?

Unfortunately, a viral strain of Gastroenteritis cannot be treated with common antibiotics. In the case of a viral infection, the sickness will typically pass within 10 days without medication. To help your body fight the virus:

Drink lots of fluids. The biggests danger of Gastroenteritis is dehydration. While vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, your body is disposing of fluids more frequently than it can take them in. The most important thing you can do to prevent dehydration is–as the name implies–hydrate. Drinking water is good but, however, will not supply your body the electrolytes it needs. To best hydrate, it is best to drink 

electrolyte solutions (oral rehydration solutions). These can be purchased at your local pharmacy. Pedialyte, Gatorade, or other common sports drinks are cost-effective alternatives.

Avoid acidic drinks and milk. Milk is known to exacerbate stomach problems, and acidic drinks such as orange juice or coffee can cause stomach aches.

Don’t drink too fast. Every hear of the saying “too much of a good thing”? When suffering from Gastroenteritis, drinking too much water can actually induce vomiting, as the body may reject too much liquid at a given time. For children, we recommend a teaspoon of your chosen beverage every 4 to 5 minutes. Or, advise them to take small sips over time.

Introduce food slowly. Once you are able to keep down liquid, you are able to introduce small portions of bland food. Bananas, bread, rice, applesauce, and toast are good options for beginning the introduction to food again. And, once you can keep those foods down, you are able to slowly introduce meats and cooked vegetables–but be sure to keep portions of these small, until you’re certain they will not cause problems

Avoid fatty foods. Foods with too much fat, acid, spice, or fried foods are known to exacerbate symptoms.

Avoid over-the-counter medications. Time is the best medicine. When you or your child are sick, your best bet is to avoid medications. OTC medications, despite what you may believe, are not effective in treating Gastroenteritis and may worsen symptoms. It may be hard or uncomfortable to purge your body during the course of the illness, but it is your body’s way of rejecting the virus, and medication will only impede that process.

Medication has one exception: to combat fever. If your temperature is rising, acetaminophen or ibuprofen are good for bringing it back down. Other than that, avoid medication.

If you suffer from an autoimmune disease and contract Gastroenteritis, or experience any of the following symptoms, please seek immediate medical help:

• Sunken eyes
• Lightheadedness
• Extreme thirst or dry mouth
• Lack of normal skin elasticity
• Fewer tears
• Infrequent or less urination

How do I prevent Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is preventable in infants and children through two early Rotavirus vaccinations. In adults, it’s best to mind our habits to avoid getting ill:

Frequently wash your hands, especially after using the restroom and before handling food. If you are unable to access soap and water, hand sanitizer is a great substitution.

Don’t share utensils, plates, or towels. This one is sort of a no-brainer: if someone in your household is suffering from Gastroenteritis, avoid sharing common items with them. If necessary, wash and disinfect them before usage.

Don’t eat raw or undercooked food. Washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly also plays a part in preventing Gastroenteritis.

When traveling, avoid unbottled water. This includes tap water and ice cubes.

What is Food Poisoning?

While the symptoms may seem identical to Gastroenteritis, the condition itself is different. Food Poisoning is a food-borne disease caused by the ingestion of food containing a toxin, chemical, or infectious agent.

Symptoms of Food Poisoning include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Headaches
• Mild fever

Like Gastroenteritis, sufferers of this disease are prone to dehydration. If you experience symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, extreme thirst, lightheadedness, or dry skin, we advise you call a doctor or visit DOCS Urgent Care for immediate attention.

What causes Food Poisoning?

Unlike Gastroenteritis, Food Poisoning is restricted to the ingestion of contagens. However, it can be caused by a wider range of sources. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are all known to cause Food Poisoning.

• Ingestion of poorly cooked or stored fish (Scombroid or Ciguatera)
• Poorly cooked or raw rice (Bacillus cereus)
• Meat stored in an environment that is too warm (Clostridium perfringens)
• Handling of food without washing hands (Shigella)
• Poorly cooked chicken or eggs (Salmonella)
• Contaminated saltwater shellfish (Vibrio parahaemolyticus)
• Contact during travel (E.coli)
• Contaminated drinking water (Vibrio cholerae)
• Or any number of parasites (Giardiasis, Amoebiasis, Trichinosis, etc.)

Food Poisoning can occur due to the presence of Bacteria, a Parasite, Viruses, Protozoans, or Prions. You are least likely to contract Protozoans or Prions, but they are contagens to be aware of.

How is Food Poisoning treated?

Food Poisoning can usually be treated at home. Most cases will resolve themselves within 24 hours. Much of the treatment for Food Poisoning is the same as Gastroenteritis. The crucial difference, however, comes from when you’re best advised to visit your nearest DOCS Urgent Care or the ER.

If you suffer from an autoimmune disease and contract Food Poisoning, please seek immediate medical attention. Food poisoning can be considered life threatening and requires immediate treatment when:

• Blood in stool or urine
• Fever higher than 101.5°F
• Diarrhea that lasts longer than 72 hours
• Severe dehydration (dry mouth, passing little urine, etc.)
• Difficulty speaking or seeing
• Repeated vomiting preventing replacement of fluids

How do I prevent Food Poisoning?

The simplest answer is to be mindful of what you eat, and how you prepare your food.

Wash your hands often. Wash hands before cooking or cleaning, and always after handling raw meat.

Clean dishes and utensils frequently, especially if they have had contact with raw meat, poultry, fish, or eggs.

Use a thermometer when cooking. It’s good to be mindful of the temperature you are cooking meat at, to avoid under-cooking. If you are using frozen foods, be sure to cook them for the full recommended time on the package.

Beef requires at least 160°F (71°C).

Poultry requires at least 165°F (73.8°C).

Fish requires at least 145°F (62.7°C).

Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours. Keep your fridge set to around 40°F (4.4°C), and your freezer at or below 0°F (-18°C).

Drink treated or chlorinated water. Do not drink water from streams or wells that are untreated.

Do not use foods that are: outdated, have a broken seal, unusual odor, or “bad” taste.

So what’s the difference?

The difference between the two is simple: time. Similar to a cold and flu, the major determining factor in what you’ve contracted lays in how long you have it. Typically, Food Poisoning will resolve itself within the span of 24 hours. Conversely, a “stomach bug” will span about 3 to 5 days.

In short, you’d be taking more time off of work from a stomach bug than food poisoning.

Medical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease in patients. If a patient routinely submits to lab testing, this may allow doctors to respond swiftly with preventative treatment, which could save the patient time, money, and possibly sickness in the future. In other words, lab testing is one of the first lines of defense to protect a patient’s general well-being.

An estimated 60 to 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient’s diagnosis, treatment, hospital admission and discharge are based on laboratory results, and so much of a patient’s experience in the health care industry depends on these tests. In this article, laboratory testing procedure will be made clear to you, so that you may understand one of the most important parts of the health care industry, and why it is important to participate regularly in lab testing.

Lab Technicians

Medical Laboratory scientists, also known as clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists, perform most laboratory tests. These medical professionals analyze test results such as blood and urine tests, and relay them to physicians. They conduct chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic and bacteriological tests which require keen analytical and independent judgement.

The ASCLS, or the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, connects these scientists so that they may be regularly updated on new testing procedures, and techniques. They often hold free seminars and informational discussions regarding new developments in their field, some are even open to public participation. It is crucial to the integrity of the Lab Testing Industry, for these medical professionals to be regularly updated and supported by one another. 

Everyday Functions of a Lab Technician

Medical Laboratory Scientists perform a variety of duties which ensure accurate, timely results which are then relayed to your personal physician or doctor for interpretation. These duties include:

• Make microscopic examination and analysis of blood, body fluids, tissues and cells
• Identify fluids for chemical analytes, such as glucose and cholesterol
• Cross match blood for blood transfusions
• Monitor patient outcomes (how patients respond to treatment)
• Perform cell counts looking for abnormal cells to aid in the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and anemia
• Utilize high-precision laboratory equipment such as microscopes and cell counters
• Write standardized operating procedure, and establish quality assurance programs to monitor and ensure the accuracy of test results

The Life Cycle of a Lab Test

No matter which doctor you see, or which lab is utilized in the testing procedures, the same standardized system is used to test and provide results to the patient and the doctor:

1. Patient goes to the doctor
2.  Doctor orders the lab test
3. Specimen is taken from the patient
4. Specimen is transferred to a nearby clinical laboratory
5. Tests analyze specimen and produce results
6. Clinical lab provides results to doctor
7. Doctor interprets results
8. Doctor informs patient of results and implications
9. Diagnosis and treatment decisions are made by doctor and patient

Types of Lab Testing

Although there are countless kinds of lab tests, such as DNA testing, breast cancer screens, pregnancy testing, drug screens, lab cultures, blood tests and so on, there are only 4 legitimate reasons to order a laboratory test:

• Diagnosis (to rule in or rule out a diagnosis)
• Monitoring (the efficacy of a drug or treatment)
• Screening (to discover active substances/variables)
• Research (to understand the pathophysiology of a particular disease)

In Conclusion

Lab Testing is the premier tool in a doctors toolkit to identifying, preventing and treating sickness and disease. That is why it is important to you, the patient, to understand what it is, who is performing it and why you should want it performed.

The laboratory testing procedure is a massive part of the healthcare industry, yet, because much of it is unseen, and highly complex, it draws little attention from the mainstream. The truth is, our doctors and physicians couldn’t function without these labs up and running. Every single day, doctors and patients deal with these results, and so laboratories across the nation are working constantly to research, monitor, diagnose and screen patients, keeping us healthy and informed. We offer laboratory testing in Bethel and New Milford office. Contact us today to learn more about our diagnostic testing.