Preparing for an appointment

If you take your child to a doctor, make the most of your time by writing down information the doctor will need before you go, including:

• Any signs and symptoms your child is experiencing
• How long your child has been having signs and symptoms
• Whether your child has been in child care or other environments where the disease might be spread
• Any questions you have

Some questions you might want to ask your doctor include:

• What's the likely cause of the symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes?
• Will my child need to undergo any tests?
• What's the best treatment approach?
• Is there a need to take medicine?
• What can I do at home to make my child more comfortable?

What to expect from your doctor

Some questions the doctor may ask include:

• When did symptoms first begin?
• How severe are the symptoms?
• Has your child recently been exposed to anyone who was sick?
• Have you heard of any illnesses at your child's school or child care?
• Does anything seem to improve the symptoms?
• Does anything appear to worsen the symptoms?

What you can do in the meantime

To help lessen discomfort, doctors often recommend:

• Getting rest.
• Drinking fluids — milk-based fluids may be easier to tolerate than acidic liquids, such as juice or soda.
• If needed, taking over-the-counter pain relievers other than aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) in an age- and weight-appropriate form and dosage. But they're not necessary for low-grade fevers and will do nothing to hasten the resolution of your child's condition.
• Using mouthwash or oral spray to numb pain.