QA &
Treating ADHD
Q:
How do I know if my child has ADHD? Is medication the only treatment option?
A:
When making a diagnosis of ADHD, physicians will get confirmation from the parents that their child is not doing well, often because he cannot focus on more than three tasks at a time, such as brushing his teeth, cleaning his room and coming downstairs after completing those activities. A child with ADHD may get ‘lost’ after doing just the first task. But there also has to be multiple reports of this kind of behavior before a diagnosis is made. The behavior is likely seen at home, where a parent notices the child’s homework or bookbag is a mess, and there should also be a school report, which may indicate the child has difficulty focusing and concentrating, has to get up a lot and move around or isn’t paying attention when the teacher is talking.
Sravanthi Pajerla, M.D.
Banneraffiliated child and adolescent psychiatrist
The common thinking used to be, especially with younger kids, that the only way to treat ADHD was with medication. But we’re seeing more evidence now that behavior training — such as teaching kids how to problem solve — is really important, too. Kids with ADHD get upset because they can’t learn the way other kids are learning, so when they begin feeling frustrated by school work, they decide they don’t like school anymore and may get labeled as troublemakers. Parents need to encourage their ADHD kids to keep doing things, like homework or even cleaning a room, even though they’re not perfect at it. These kids need to be taught to organize themselves and learn what works for them, like maybe taking frequent breaks during homework to get up and run around. • TK
High temperature
Q: A:
My child has a temperature. When does it merit a trip to the doctor?
John Sarmiento, M.D.
Banner Health The answer depends upon the child’s age, Center but here are some general guidelines: pediatrician • A fever is 100.4 degrees and a “high fever” is 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If a kiddo is three months or younger and has a fever, call a doctor immediately; this will usually merit a visit to the ER. • With a child three months or older, physicians are concerned more with how sick the child appears than the temperature. If symptoms are severe or the child is vomiting, dehydrated or lethargic, see a doctor regardless of the child’s temperature. • An infant or young toddler with a fever but no other symptoms should see a doctor if the fever lasts more than a day or two; he might want to evaluate for a urinary tract infection. • A persistent fever of 104 to 105 degrees would merit an office visit no matter the symptoms. Knowing what to do can be confusing because many benign conditions present with a high fever and many severe conditions present with a mild fever. Just don’t forget that fever is the body’s natural response to infection, so there’s no need to fear it! • TK
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