Frequently Asked Questions

When does my child need a physical? When does my child need vaccines? Did I hear that there are new vaccine requirements for school entry for the fall of 2009? What is the proper dosing for acetaminophen (Tylenol™ or Feverall™)? What is the proper dosing for ibuprofen (Motrin™ or Advil™)? What is the proper dosing for diphenhydramine (Benadryl™)?

Answers to many of your general pediatric questions can be found at the following online resources: the American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children site and Cook Children's Hospital Kids Health. When does my child need a physical? When does my child need vaccines? The following is the well child visit schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Listed beside each well visit are the vaccinations/screenings routinely offered at that visit. Our well visit schedule and vaccination schedule are in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. The vaccination abbreviations are listed at the bottom of the page. Your physician may also recommend any catch-up vaccinations as needed. Hearing and vision screening are performed for all visits for ages 4 and older. A urinalysis will be performed every one to two years. Newborn- within 72 hours of discharge from hospital, Hep B vaccine (if not already given in the hospital) 2 weeks - newborn screen 2 months – DtaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, Rota 4 months – DtaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, Rota 6 months – DtaP, Hib, PCV, Hep B, Rota 9 months – Hep B, Hemoglobin measurement, lead screening questionnaire 12 months– IPV, MMR, Varicella 15 months – Dtap, Hib, PCV, Hep A 18 months 2 years – HepA 3 years 4 years - DtaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella 5 – 10 years – a yearly visit is recommended; no scheduled vaccines for these visits if all prior vaccinations have been completed. 11 years – MCV4, Tdap [Females only: HPV (series of 3 doses)] 12 – 18 years – a yearly visit is recommended; no scheduled vaccines for these visits if all prior vaccinations have been completed. ________________________________________ DTaP – Diptheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine HepA – Hepatitis A vaccine HepB – Hepatitis B vaccine Hib – Haemophilus influenzae type B conjugate vaccine HPV – Humana papilloma virus vaccine (3 dose series: 2nd dose 2 months after 1st dose, 3rd dose 6 months after 1st dose) IPV – Inactivated poliovirus vaccine MCV4 – Meningococcal vaccine MMR – Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine PCV – Pneumococcal vaccine Rota – Rotavirus vaccine Tdap – Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (for adolescents and adults) Varicella – Varicella (Chickenpox) virus vaccine

Did I hear that there are new vaccine requirements for school entry for the fall of 2009? There are indeed new vaccine requirements for Texas school, effective August 1, 2009. Remember, however that a vaccine which is not required may still be very strongly recommended by your physician. Please consult the AAP guidelines schedule above, and discuss these options with your pediatrician at your annual check-up. The NEW requirements are: For entry to Kindergarten - 2 doses of both the Varicella vaccine and the Hepatitis A vaccine For entry to Seventh grade - 2 doses of Varicella vaccine, a Meningococcal vaccine, and a Tetanus vaccine For more details, please consult the Texas Department of State Health Services vaccine schedule: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/docs/school/6-14Eng.pdf

What is the proper dosing for acetaminophen (Tylenol™ or Feverall™)? Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safe for infants through adults, and is dosed every 4-6 hours, not to exceed 5 doses in 24 hours. (And please be very cautious when giving combination-medicines which may also contain acetaminophen (such as Tylenol Cold), as these should never be combined with acetaminophen. Also, no child under 18 years of age should be given aspirin.) Please consult the following table: Weight: Milligram Dosage Infant Drops 80mg/0.8ml Children's Liquid 160mg/5ml Children's Soft Chews 80mg each Junior Strength Caps or Chews 160mg each 5-8 lbs 40mg 1/2 dropper (0.4ml) 1/4 tsp (1.25ml) ----- ----- 9-10 lbs 60mg 3/4 dropper (0.6ml) 1/3 tsp (1.8ml) ----- ----- 11-16 lbs 80mg 1 dropper (0.8ml) 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) ----- ----- 17-21 lbs 120mg 1 1/2 dropper (1.2ml) 3/4 tsp (3.75ml) ----- ----- 22-26 lbs 160mg 2 droppers (1.6ml) 1 tsp (5ml) 2 tablets 1 tablet 27-32 lbs 200mg 2 1/2 droppers (2ml) 1 1/4 tsp (6.25ml) 2 1/2 tablets 1 tablet 33-37 lbs 240mg 3 droppers (2.4ml) 1 1/2 tsp (7.5ml) 3 tablets 1 1/2 tablet 38-42 lbs 280mg 3 1/2 droppers (2.8ml) 1 3/4 tsp (8.75ml) 3 1/2 tablets 1 1/2 tablet 43-53 lbs 320mg 4 droppers (3.2ml) 2 tsp (10ml) 4 tablets 2 tablets 54-64 lbs 400mg ----- 2 1/2 tsp (12.5ml) 5 tablets 2 1/2 tablets 65-75 lbs 480mg ----- 3 tsp (15ml) 6 tablets 3 tablets 76-86 lbs 560mg ----- 3 1/2 tsp (17.5ml) 7 tablets 3 1/2 tablets 87-95 lbs 640mg ----- 4 tsp (20ml) 8 tablets 4 tablets >95 lbs 650-1000mg ----- ----- ----- -----

What is the proper dosing for ibuprofen (Motrin™ or Advil™)? Ibuprofen is safe for children over 6 months of age through adults. It should be dosed every 6-8 hours, no more than 4 times in 24 hours. (Also, please remember, no child under age 18 years should be given aspirin.) Please consult the following dosing table: Weight: Milligram Dosage Advil/Motrin Drops 50mg/1.25ml Children's Liquid 100mg/5ml Chewable Tablets 50mg each Junior Strength Caps or Chews 100mg each 9-10 lbs 25mg 1/3 dropper (0.625ml) ----- ----- ----- 11-16 lbs 50mg 2/3 dropper (1.25ml) 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) ----- ----- 17-21 lbs 75mg 1 dropper (1.875ml) 3/4 tsp (3.75ml) ----- ----- 22-26 lbs 100mg 1 1/3 dropper (1.875ml + 0.625ml) 1 tsp (5ml) 2 tablets 1 tablet 27-32 lbs 125mg 1 2/3 dropper (1.875ml + 1.25ml) 1 1/4 tsp (6.25ml) 2 1/2 tablets   33-37 lbs 150mg 2 droppers (2 x 1.875ml) 1 1/2 tsp (7.5ml) 3 tablets 1 1/2 tablet 38-42 lbs 175mg 2 1/3 droppers (2 x 1.875ml + 0.625ml) 1 3/4 tsp (7.5ml) 3 1/2 tablets   43-53 lbs 200mg 2 2/3 droppers (2 x 1.875ml + 1.25ml) 2 tsp (10ml) 4 tablets 2 tablets 54-64 lbs 250mg Use liquid or tablets 2 1/2 tsp (12.5ml) 5 tablets 2 1/2 tablets 65-75 lbs 300mg ----- 3 tsp (15ml) 6 tablets 3 tablets 76-86 lbs 350mg ----- 3 1/2 tsp (17.5ml) 7 tablets 3 1/2 tablets 87-95 lbs 400mg ----- 4 tsp (20ml) 8 tablets 4 tablets >95 lbs 400mg ----- ----- ----- -----

What is the proper dosing for diphenhydramine (Benadryl™)? Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, is safe for children over 6 months of age, and is dosed every 6-8 hours. Please consult the following dosing table: Weight: Liquid 12.5mg/5ml Chewable Tablets 12.5mg each Tablets 25mg each 17-21 lbs 3/4 tsp (3.75ml) ----- ----- 22-32 lbs 1 tsp (5ml) 1 tablet ----- 33-42 lbs 1 1/2 tsp (7.5ml) 1 1/2 tablet ----- 43-53 lbs 2 tsp (10ml) 2 tablets 1 tablet 54-64 lbs 2 1/2 tsp (12.5ml) 2 1/2 tablets   65-75 lbs 3 tsp (15ml) 3 tablets   76-86 lbs 3 1/2 tsp (17.5ml) 3 1/2 tablets   >86 lbs 4 tsp (20ml) 4 tablets 2 tablets