“The Snotty Kid” When do we bring a sick kid into the hospital?

Is your kid sick again? Before you start worrying that something is wrong with their immune system, hear this: it’s probably doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. This one is for the parents. We sat down with Dr. Gretchen Karstens, a pediatrician at Aspirus St. Luke’s here in Duluth and the pediatrician for Dylan’s own kids. We like to call her the queen of the snotty kid. Baihly doesn’t have kids and has been known to call her friends’ kids germ factories, so that’s where we started. Why are kids sick so often, what actually helps at home, and when is it time to stop riding it out and bring them in? With flu and RSV season on the way, we wanted you going in prepared. KEY THEMES AND TAKEAWAYS Kids under two average about eight colds a year, and up to fourteen in daycare. That’s a busy immune system, not a broken one. Adults still catch colds because viruses change just enough to slip past our defenses. Think Superman in glasses, or a cold wearing a fake French mustache. The RSV injection for infants works differently from a flu shot. It sends in a premade, trained defense ahead of time. For kids over age one, honey did better than placebo for nighttime cough. Some over the counter cough medicine didn’t. Saline sprays and rinses help clear things out, and newer research suggests saltier hypertonic saline may shorten illness and cut down on spread. Snot color doesn’t tell you much. Wet diapers, nostril flaring, and skin pulling in between the ribs tell you a lot more. Treat the kid, not the number on the thermometer, and know that vaccination status changes the whole picture. OUR FAVORITE QUOTES “This is not a sign that your kid’s immune system isn’t doing well. It’s doing great.” “My doctor bag of tricks is about the same as my mom bag of tricks at this point.” “Treat the kid, not the number.” “You’re not bothering me. You’re giving me more information.” “They’re doing well in the struggle. They’re struggling well.” CHAPTERS 02:35 Why kids are germ factories 06:39 The cold with a fake mustache 08:11 Getting ahead of RSV and flu season 17:17 Honey beats the cough syrup 25:50 When it’s time to go in 38:15 Behind the white coat 49:36 Rapid fire home remedies YOUR TURN Dr. Karstens talked about kids who are struggling well, their bodies doing hard work to get better. Where in your own life are you struggling well right now, and can you give yourself a little credit for it? CONNECT WITH DR. KARSTENS Dr. Gretchen Karstens, MD Pediatrics, Aspirus St. Luke’s https://providers.aspirus.org/gretche... LINKS & MENTIONS If this episode sparked something for you, please follow the show, leave a review, or share it with a friend! MB01QHYDI9IWYRQ