Dr. Elias Milgram, M.D.

Colds only require symptomatic relief since there are no specific anti-cold medications to make it go away. We should take what is needed to relieve fever and malaise, usually acetaminophen will do it, Ibuprofen may be used also for fever-headache relief. For nasal congestion saline spray and at 11 years it would be ok to use a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. For the treatment of cough many home remedies will suffice, honey-based drinks or syrups. If a cough is bothersome at night a cough medication based on Dextrometorpohane (DM) can be used.

Your daughter could certainly have an infection of the lower urinary tract, such as cystitis. But much more likely this could be a symptom of irritation by her hands in the genitalia, by chemicals in the swimming pool, by soap, shampoo and bubble bath soap in the tub. See your pediatrician who will examine her and perform a urinalysis to rule out infection, and determine the most likely cause if the reason for the symptom is vulvitis or vulvovaginitis. Meanwhile, her bath should be in the shower, avoid soap in her genitalia, using instead a liquid cleansing lotion in that area.

Elias Milgram, MD

Chickenpox is contagious from two days before the illness manifests up until 5-6 days after it starts. When no new vesicles are appearing and all skin lesions are crusted, it is safe to go back to school and other activities.

You can have a reaction such as hyperactivity from many medications. With the antihistamines, it is much more frequent with first generation meds like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and it is considered a paradoxical reaction since most times the side effect is sedation. With new generation antihistamines, such as Claritidine (Claritin) and Fexofenadine (Allegra) it is much less common, but it certainly can happen. Fortunately it is entirely reversible when the medication is discontinued.