Pediatric CT

• Please notify the Imaging Center where your child is to have the exam if he or she is allergic to x-ray contrast dye, or if the child has other allergies or asthma. A child can have an allergic reaction to the contrast, just as people may react to bee stings or medicines. We are prepared for this, with the expertise and medicines to treat such reactions. However, if the child has a known allergy to the contrast, treatment can be given on the day before the exam to prevent the reaction.
• Please notify the Imaging Center where your child is to have the exam if he or she may need sedation. This may be needed for children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. If the child is to receive sedation, he or she must not eat or drink anything (except medications with a small amount of water) for 4 to 6 hours prior to the exam.
• The exam itself will vary slightly based on which part of the body your child is having imaged. The different preparations are detailed below: 
  
  Head, neck, or spine: Call the Imaging Center at which your child is having the exam to see if he or she is to receive contrast dye in the veins. If yes, then the child is not to eat or drink anything for 4 hours prior to the exam. He or she may take medications with a small amount of water. No other preparation is necessary.
  Chest, abdomen or pelvis: Call the Imaging Center at which your child is having the exam to see if he or she is to receive contrast dye in the veins and/or contrast dye to drink. If your child is only having the dye in the veins, then the child is not eat or drink anything for 4 hours prior to the exam. If your child is also having contrast to drink, he or she should have nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the exam (except the dye as directed). In either case, your child may take his or her medications with a small amount of water. You can pick up the contrast drink at the Imaging Center the child is having the exam up until the day before the exam. Follow the directions that come with the dye on the day of the exam. Alternatively, you can arrive 90 minutes prior to the exam on the day of the exam and take the dye then.
  Arms, legs, or bones: Call the Imaging Center at which your child is having the exam to see if he or she is to receive contrast dye in the veins. If yes, then the child is not to eat or drink anything for 4 hours prior to the exam. He or she may take medications with a small amount of water. No other preparation is necessary.