Parent Advice Line - Topics Related to Sick Children

The Children’s Hospital’s Parent Advice Line provides you with the quick tips you need on over 275 topics related to the health of your infant, child or teenager. These free and confidential messages have been developed by Dr. Bart Schmitt, a pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital.

  1. Find the topic you are interested in below.
  2. Dial 720-777-6543 or 800-613-4130.
  3. Enter the 4 digit code associated with the topic you are interested in to hear the recorded message.

Allergies
Bone, Joint and Muscle
Brain and Nervous System Problems
Digestive Problems
Ear Problems
Eye Problems
Fever
First Aid for Emergencies

Home Care Tips for Illnesses
Injuries
Medicines
Mouth and Throat Problems
Nose Problems
Other Problems
Respiratory and Breathing Problems
Skin Problems
Urinary Problems

Allergies

  • Asthma: How to use inhalers x8324
  • Asthma: Treatment x8325
  • Eye allergies x8326
  • Food allergies x8327
  • Hay fever x8328
  • Hives x8329
  • Preventing allergies x8330

Return to Top

Bone, Joint and Muscle

  • Growing pains x8430
  • Leg cramps x8431

 Return to Top

Brain and Nervous System Problems

  • Migraine headaches x8440
  • Tension headaches x8441

 Return to Top

Digestive Problems

  • Anal fissure x8400
  • Constipation: Children x8401
  • Constipation: Infants x8402
  • Diarrhea: Treatment for bottle-fed infants x8403
  • Diarrhea: Treatment for breast-fed infants x8404
  • Diarrhea: Treatment for children over 1 year of age x8405
  • Excessive gas x8406
  • Stomachaches from worrying x8407
  • Vomiting: Treatment for bottle-fed infants x8408
  • Vomiting: Treatment for breast-fed infants x8409
  • Vomiting: Treatment for children over 1 year of age x8410

Return to Top

Ear Problems

  • Ear congestion x8350
  • Ear infections: How to tell x8351
  • Ear infections: Prevention x8352
  • Ear infections: Treatment x8353
  • Ear tubes: Who needs them x8354
  • Ear tubes: Swimming and bathing x8355
  • Ear wax problems x8356
  • Pierced ear infections x8357
  • Pulling at ears x8358
  • Swimmer’s ear x8359

Return to Top

Eye Problems

  • Dark circles under the eyes x8340
  • Red or pink eyes x8341
  • Something in the eye x8342

Return to Top

Fever

  • Fever: Definition x8450
  • Fever: Phobia and fever myths x8451
  • Fever: Infants and toddlers x8452
  • Fever: Treatment x8453

Return to Top

First Aid for Emergencies

  • Burns x8500
  • Choking: The Heimlich x8501
  • Seizures with fever x8502
  • Seizures without fever (Epilepsy) x8503

Return to Top

Home Care Tips for Illnesses

  • Bedrest x8465
  • Calling your child’s healthcare provider x8466
  • Getting your sick child back to sleep x8467
  • How infections are spread x8468
  • Judging the severity of your infant’s illness x8470
  • Preventing infections x8471
  • Subtle emergencies not to miss x8472
  • Symptoms that last too long x8473
  • When to keep your child home from school or day care x8474
  • When to send your child back to school or day care x8475

Return to Top

Injuries

  • Bone and muscle injuries x8489
  • Cuts and scrapes x8490
  • Finger injuries x8491
  • Head injuries x8492
  • Mouth injuries x8493
  • Puncture wounds x8494

Return to Top

Medicines

  • Acetaminophen dosage x8480
  • Allergies: Benadryl® dosage x8481
  • Ibuprofen dosage x8482
  • Medicines: Helping children swallow pills x8483
  • Medicines that taste bad: What to do x8484
  • Overuse of medicines x8486
  • Safe use of medicines x8487
  • When antibiotics are not the answer x8488

Return to Top

Mouth and Throat Problems

  • Canker sores (Mouth ulcers) x8380
  • Sore throats x8382
  • Strep throat x8383
  • Toothache x8384

Return to Top

Nose Problems

  • Blocked-up nose: Infants x8370
  • Colds: One cold after another x8371
  • Colds: The facts x8372
  • Colds: Treatment x8373
  • Colds: When to worry x8374
  • Nosebleeds x8375
  • Sinus congestion x8376
  • Sinus infections x8377

Return to Top

Other Problems

  • Altitude or mountain sickness x8460
  • Fatigue x8461
  • Menstrual cramps x8462
  • Motion sickness x8463

Return to Top

Respiratory and Breathing Problems

  • Breathholding spells x8390
  • Coughs x8391
  • Croup x8392
  • Influenza x8393
  • Noisy breathing: Why? x8394

Return to Top

Skin Problems

  • Acne 8300 Athlete’s foot x8301
  • Bee stings x8302
  • Bug bites x8303
  • Chicken pox x8304
  • Dandruff x8305
  • Fifth disease x8306
  • Frostbite x8307
  • Hand, foot and mouth disease x8308
  • Lice x8309
  • Lyme disease x8310
  • Poison ivy or oak x8311
  • Ringworm x8312
  • Small, localized rash x8313
  • Spider bites x8314
  • Sunburn: Treatment x8315
  • Ticks: How to remove them x8316
  • Warts x8317
  • Wound infections: Prevention x8318

Return to Top

Urinary Problems

  • Frequent urination x8420
  • Urinary tract infections: Prevention x8421
  • Urinary tract infections: Treatment x8422

Return to Top

Is Your Child Sick?

Pediatric HouseCalls Online is a guide for treating your child at home, calling your child's doctor or seeking immediate medical attention. Developed by Dr. Barton Schmitt, MD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician on staff at The Children’s Hospital. Dr. Schmitt has developed health tools for parents, including Pediatric HouseCalls Online, the Parent Advice Line and his 3rd edition of Your Child’s Health, which is available in bookstores.

A Parent's Guide to Healthy, Happy Kids! Subscribe to have our quarterly newsletter mailed to your home.

The Children's Hospital Family Health Library

Ask Kate the librarian for the health information you need!