My child is unwell, when should I seek further help?
No guide can be complete. If you are still worried about your child after reading the information on our website then you should get advice.
This could be telephone advice or a consultation with a doctor or nurse at the surgery. Telephone advice is also available from NHS 111.
If you feel that it is an emergency you should dial 999 for an ambulance.
– Your child is drowsy or irritable. Although children with a temperature are often more sleepy, irritable and lacking interest than usual, they usually improve after treatment with paracetamol and / or Ibuprofen. If they do not improve, or if they are very drowsy indeed, they should see a doctor urgently
– Your child has problems breathing – including rapid breathing and being short of breath or ’working hard’ to breath. It sometimes looks as though the tissues between the ribs and below the ribs get sucked in each time they breath. Any child who has a lot of difficulty breathing needs to see a doctor urgently.
– Cold or discoloured hands or feet with a warm body
– Severe arm and/or leg pains (for no obvious reason)
– Unusual skin colour (pale, blue or dusky around lips)
– High temperature (40 C or higher) (not necessarily a sign of serious infection, but if the temperature does not come down with treatment or your child has other features on this list then you should seek help).
– An infant who is not feeding or any child that is showing signs of dehydration
– A cough lasting more than 3 weeks (or sooner if becoming breathless more easily or there is a family history of asthma).
– A fever for 24 hours or more with no other sign of infection (cough, runny nose, earache etc.)
– Your child loses weight and does not re-gain it within two weeks in an under 5 year old, or within four weeks in an older child.
GLASS TEST: A rash that does not fade under pressure will still be visible when the side of a clear glass is pressed firmly against the skin
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
This could be telephone advice or a consultation with a doctor or nurse at the surgery. Telephone advice is also available from NHS 111.
If you feel that it is an emergency you should dial 999 for an ambulance.
– Your child is drowsy or irritable. Although children with a temperature are often more sleepy, irritable and lacking interest than usual, they usually improve after treatment with paracetamol and / or Ibuprofen. If they do not improve, or if they are very drowsy indeed, they should see a doctor urgently
– Your child has problems breathing – including rapid breathing and being short of breath or ’working hard’ to breath. It sometimes looks as though the tissues between the ribs and below the ribs get sucked in each time they breath. Any child who has a lot of difficulty breathing needs to see a doctor urgently.
– Cold or discoloured hands or feet with a warm body
– Severe arm and/or leg pains (for no obvious reason)
– Unusual skin colour (pale, blue or dusky around lips)
– High temperature (40 C or higher) (not necessarily a sign of serious infection, but if the temperature does not come down with treatment or your child has other features on this list then you should seek help).
– An infant who is not feeding or any child that is showing signs of dehydration
– A cough lasting more than 3 weeks (or sooner if becoming breathless more easily or there is a family history of asthma).
– A fever for 24 hours or more with no other sign of infection (cough, runny nose, earache etc.)
– Your child loses weight and does not re-gain it within two weeks in an under 5 year old, or within four weeks in an older child.
GLASS TEST: A rash that does not fade under pressure will still be visible when the side of a clear glass is pressed firmly against the skin
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
What can I do to help if my child is ill?
A child’s immune system is very powerful, and will clear up most common infections by itself.
You can help your child fight the infection by making sure they get plenty of rest and offering them healthy food (like fruit).
Give your child plenty to drink. This will help prevent dehydration, loosen phlegm, and lubricate the throat. Try to avoid very sugary drinks.
Pain and fever are best treated with Paracetamol and / or Ibuprofen.
Pacacetamol and Ibuprofen work differently. They can be used together if one alone has not worked. Just make sure you do not give more than the maximum recommended dose of either of them.
Make sure no-one smokes around your child.
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
You can help your child fight the infection by making sure they get plenty of rest and offering them healthy food (like fruit).
Give your child plenty to drink. This will help prevent dehydration, loosen phlegm, and lubricate the throat. Try to avoid very sugary drinks.
Pain and fever are best treated with Paracetamol and / or Ibuprofen.
Pacacetamol and Ibuprofen work differently. They can be used together if one alone has not worked. Just make sure you do not give more than the maximum recommended dose of either of them.
Make sure no-one smokes around your child.
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
Earache
There is normally no need to treat ear infections with antibiotics. Pain control with Paracetamol and / or Ibuprofen is all that is normally needed.
If your child is having hearing problems, or the ear is draining, they should see a GP.
How long will it last?
An earache typically lasts around 1 week
Do antibiotics help?
After one week, more than three-quarters of children will be better whether they take antibiotics or not. Most (14 out of 15) children who take antibiotics get better just as quickly as if they had not taken them. Children under the age of two with ear infections in both ears, and those with an ear infection that is draining, are more likely to benefit from antibiotics than other children and should be seen by a doctor or nurse.
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
If your child is having hearing problems, or the ear is draining, they should see a GP.
How long will it last?
An earache typically lasts around 1 week
Do antibiotics help?
After one week, more than three-quarters of children will be better whether they take antibiotics or not. Most (14 out of 15) children who take antibiotics get better just as quickly as if they had not taken them. Children under the age of two with ear infections in both ears, and those with an ear infection that is draining, are more likely to benefit from antibiotics than other children and should be seen by a doctor or nurse.
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
Sore Throat
A sore throat does not need any treatment to make it go away. It will get better by itself
If your child seems very unwell or has a sore throat and temperature, but no cough, for more than 3 days, he or she should see a doctor or nurse.
You do not need to look in your child’s throat. If you have, and you are worried about large tonsils, this is not, by itself, something to be concerned about. However, if your child is having difficulty breathing, or seems very unwell, you should consult your doctor urgently.
How long will it last?
A sore throat typically lasts around 1 week
Do antibiotics help?
After one week, more than three-quarters of those with a sore throat will be better whether they take antibiotics or not. Most (13 out of 14) who take antibiotics will get better just as quickly as if they had not taken them.
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
If your child seems very unwell or has a sore throat and temperature, but no cough, for more than 3 days, he or she should see a doctor or nurse.
You do not need to look in your child’s throat. If you have, and you are worried about large tonsils, this is not, by itself, something to be concerned about. However, if your child is having difficulty breathing, or seems very unwell, you should consult your doctor urgently.
How long will it last?
A sore throat typically lasts around 1 week
Do antibiotics help?
After one week, more than three-quarters of those with a sore throat will be better whether they take antibiotics or not. Most (13 out of 14) who take antibiotics will get better just as quickly as if they had not taken them.
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
Common Cold
Colds are very common. Normal, healthy children can sometimes have 8 or more colds in a year!
How long will it last?
A cold typically lasts around 1 week
Do antibiotics help?
There is no evidence that antibiotics help with colds
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
How long will it last?
A cold typically lasts around 1 week
Do antibiotics help?
There is no evidence that antibiotics help with colds
This information comes from the “When should I worry leaflet?”
Cough/Chesty Cough
When young children catch a cold they often develop a ‘noisy chest’ or a ‘chesty cough’. This can be worrying for parents who believe that a chesty cough is a sign of a ‘chest infection’.
Young children often get noisy chests. This is because they have smaller airways and thinner rib cages than adults.
A child with a true chest infection will generally be more ‘unwell’.
How long will it last?
A cough can go on for up to 3 weeks.
What can I do about it?
Coughing helps the body fight against infection and can take a while to go. Cough syrups probably do not help. See section “What can I do?” for suggestions of how to help.
Do antibiotics help?
Most people who take antibiotics do not get better any faster than people who do not take them. Looking at adults and children with bronchitis (chesty cough), on average, people taking antibiotics will have a cough for only half a day less than those who don’t.
Young children often get noisy chests. This is because they have smaller airways and thinner rib cages than adults.
A child with a true chest infection will generally be more ‘unwell’.
How long will it last?
A cough can go on for up to 3 weeks.
What can I do about it?
Coughing helps the body fight against infection and can take a while to go. Cough syrups probably do not help. See section “What can I do?” for suggestions of how to help.
Do antibiotics help?
Most people who take antibiotics do not get better any faster than people who do not take them. Looking at adults and children with bronchitis (chesty cough), on average, people taking antibiotics will have a cough for only half a day less than those who don’t.