But Brinkley's non-traditional approach may cost her patients. One health maintenance organization, Healthplan Southeast, labeled Brinkley's care substandard and deleted her from its provider list for prescribing homeopathic remedies. But an investigation by the state Agency for Health Care Administration cleared her. Brinkley has sued the HMO for defamation. In cases of prolonged colds, coughs or high fevers, antibiotics may be necessary, doctors say.
Viruses can lead to bacterial complications that require antibiotics.
Hempel recommends seeing a doctor if a child has a fever that lasts more than three days, if the child becomes listless and does not want to play, if the child has ear pain, or if a cold lasts more than 10 days. Infants with colds should see a doctor immediately. Flu can be treated with an antiviral agent that will shorten the duration and lessen the severity of the illness, Hempel said. The antiviral medication works best if it is taken within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, he said. Hempel also suggests flu shots for everyone.