Exposed to the Flu?

What you need to know.

The incubation period is generally 1 to 2 days after exposure. Meaning once exposed, you would develop symptoms within 1 to 2 days. Young children may be contagious 24 hours before symptoms begin and for as long as 10 days after. What are the main symptoms? The most common are headache, fever, sore throat, cough, chills and body aches. Patients this year have reported headache as their first symptom.

How is the flu spread?

Influenza virus is mainly transmitted through the air and can spread up to 6 feet away by coughing and sneezing. Additionally, a person may get the flu by touching a surface that has flu virus on it and then by touching their nose or mouth, although this is less likely. To prevent the spread of colds and flu, follow these simple precautions:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces at home, including light switches, remote controls, door knobs and handles with Lysol or a similar product with bleach.
• If you are sick with flu–like illness, it is recommended that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

How can you take care of your child?

Because the flu is a virus, the main thing you can do is treat the symptoms. Give your child plenty of clear liquids.

Stuffy nose:

• Have your child sleep in an upright position such as an infant carrier or a car seat.
• Use a saline nasal spray to thin out the nasal secretions then have your child blow or suction with a bulb syringe.
• Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer in your child's room. Be sure and clean often.

Cough:

• If your child is over a year old and not allergic to honey, give ½ tsp to 1 tsp of honey as needed.
• For children over 6, you can give cough drops or hard candy.

Fever:

• Give your child Motrin or acetaminophen to help control fever. Do not use aspirin-containing products.  For dosage information, see our dosage charts.

Does my child need antiviral medicine?

Our physicians do not routinely use antiviral medicines unless there is an underlying medical condition. Antivirals only reduce the symptoms by a day or two and many patients experience side effects as bad as the flu. Antivirals must be started within 24 hours of when the first symptom started to be effective. Runny nose will usually last 7 to 14 days and a cough can last 2 to 3 weeks.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm

It’s Our Birthday!

It's our birthday! POD is turning 13. Just like a teenager, sometimes we think we have things figured out but at other times we need reassurance. We have experienced growing pains and made mistakes through the years. With your help and feedback, we feel we have grown into the practice we want to be. 

From the beginning, our goal has been to put the patient first. It is important to us that our staff treats the needs of your child like their own. To help us continue to grow, please download and complete our survey. You can drop it off, mail or fax it to 469-916-6738.

Download and print the patient survey!

Amanda Bodwell
DNP, RN, CPNP

Amanda Bodwell, DNP, RN, CPNP, was born and raised in Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 2002; her Masters in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2005, and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice Degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2010. She has worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Dallas area since 2005 and as a pediatric nurse since 2002. Previous experience includes working for Children's Medical Center of Dallas in Cardiac Intensive Care and Pre-Surgical Assessment, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, and the Dallas Independent School District.

Away from work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and their three young children Luke, Kate, and Jack.

What is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?

A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is a nurse that holds an advanced degree, usually Master’s of Science in Nursing, to practice as a nurse practitioner. This advanced training allows a nurse practitioner to perform physical examinations, diagnose and medically manage common childhood illnesses, and teach with focus on disease prevention. A PNP holds a nursing license from the State Board of Nurse Examiners with a specialty designation: a PNP receives prescriptive authority and is allowed to prescribe medications to treat childhood illnesses. A PNP works in collaboration with a pediatrician in most settings. Many of the skills of a PNP straddle both the role of a nurse (assessments, histories, diagnosis, and teaching patient/families) and the role of a physician (order diagnostic exams, order medications, treat medical diseases and patient/family education).

Scope of practice of a PNP:

• Serve as health provider for well and sick children from newborn through adolescence.
• Perform wellness and health maintenance examinations.
• Perform developmental screenings.
• Diagnose and treat common childhood illnesses.
• Provide anticipatory guidance regarding common child health concerns.
• Provide childhood immunizations.

The above information is from:

http://www.napnap.org/PNPResources/PatientInformation/WhatIsPNP.aspx

What should one expect when seeing a PNP?

When you schedule a visit with a PNP at Pediatricians of Dallas, the appointment format will be the same as seeing your primary pediatrician. Your child will be weighed and measured with a brief history obtained by the nursing staff. The nurse practitioner will then see you and your child–collect a history, review pertinent data for a well child examination, perform a physical assessment, order any necessary diagnostic examinations/immunizations, discuss important safety and health promotion tips, and treat any illnesses with appropriate medications. If the nurse practitioner feels a second opinion is needed during your visit, there will always be access to a pediatrician with whom the nurse practitioner can collaborate.

When might one see a PNP at Pediatricians of Dallas?

We are privileged to work with two outstanding PNPs. We utilize our PNPs in order to see your child in a timely manner. There may be an occasion when your primary care physician is unavailable and in those instances there is a PNP available to see your child. You may see a PNP for any well child examinations or sick visits.