Children's Health

🔍 Symptoms

Runny or blocked nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild fever, cough, reduced appetite. Flu typically causes a higher fever, headache, and body aches.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Keep your child well hydrated with plenty of fluids
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen (age-appropriate) for fever and discomfort
• Saline nasal drops can help relieve congestion in babies
• Ensure plenty of rest in a warm, comfortable environment
• Do not give aspirin to children under 16

⚠️ Seek Help If

• Fever persists for more than 5 days
• Child is unusually drowsy or difficult to rouse
• Breathing is rapid or laboured
• Infant under 3 months develops any fever
• Symptoms worsen after initial improvement (may indicate secondary infection)

🔍 What is a Fever?

A temperature of 38°C or above is considered a fever in children. It is the body's natural response to fighting infection and is very common.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Give paracetamol or ibuprofen (see dosing guide below)
• Dress the child in light clothing — do not over-bundle
• Offer regular cool fluids to prevent dehydration
• Sponging with tepid (not cold) water if distressed
• Never use both paracetamol and ibuprofen simultaneously without GP advice

⚠️ Seek Emergency Help

• Under 3 months: any fever ≥38°C — call 999/A&E
• 3–6 months: temperature ≥39°C — call 111/GP
• Fever with non-blanching rash — call 999
• Seizure (febrile convulsion) — call 999
• Child looks very unwell, is limp, or cannot be woken

🔍 Symptoms

Ear pain, pulling or tugging at ear (in babies), difficulty hearing, discharge from the ear, irritability, and sometimes fever.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Age-appropriate paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief
• A warm (not hot) flannel held over the ear can soothe pain
• Keep the ear dry — avoid swimming
• Most ear infections clear on their own within 3 days
• Antibiotics are only needed if infection is bacterial and severe

⚠️ See Your GP If

• No improvement after 3 days
• Discharge (fluid) from the ear
• Child under 2 with ear pain on both sides
• Hearing loss that persists after infection clears
• Swelling, redness or tenderness behind the ear

🔍 Symptoms

Itchy, fluid-filled blisters that first appear on the chest, back and face before spreading. Mild fever and feeling unwell usually precede the rash by 1–2 days.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Use paracetamol only for fever — never ibuprofen or aspirin with chickenpox
• Cool baths with bicarbonate of soda to relieve itching
• Calamine lotion or antihistamine cream on spots
• Cut fingernails short to prevent scratching and infection
• Keep child away from school until all spots have crusted over
• Avoid contact with pregnant women, newborns, or immunocompromised people

⚠️ Seek Help If

• Spots become very red, hot, swollen, or weep pus (secondary infection)
• Child is unusually drowsy or confused
• Breathing becomes difficult
• Rash spreads to eyes
• Newborn or immunocompromised child exposed to chickenpox

🔍 Symptoms

A distinctive barking cough (like a seal), harsh rasping breath when inhaling (stridor), hoarse voice, and mild fever. Symptoms are often worse at night.

🏠 Home Treatment (Mild Croup)

• Stay calm and comfort your child — crying makes symptoms worse
• Sit child upright in your arms
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever and discomfort
• Cool night air or cool mist (opening a window) may help breathing
• Note: Steam inhalation is no longer recommended by NHS

🚨 Call 999 If

• Child is struggling to breathe
• Skin is pulling in at the neck or chest with each breath
• Child is turning blue or very pale
• Extremely distressed and hard to settle
• Cannot swallow, is drooling, or refuses to drink

🔍 Symptoms

Sudden diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, and sometimes mild fever. Usually caused by a virus (e.g. norovirus) and clears within 5–7 days.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Most important: prevent dehydration — offer small sips of fluid frequently
• Use oral rehydration solutions (e.g. Dioralyte) for babies and young children
• Breastfed babies: continue breastfeeding throughout
• Older children: offer bland foods (toast, rice, bananas) when hungry
• Good hand hygiene — wash hands thoroughly after every nappy change or toilet use
• Keep child off nursery/school for 48 hours after last episode

⚠️ Signs of Dehydration — Seek Help

• Sunken eyes or dry mouth
• No wet nappy for 8+ hours (babies)
• Dark yellow urine or not urinating
• Sunken fontanelle (soft spot on baby's head)
• Child is unusually drowsy, limp, or unresponsive
• Blood in stools or vomit

🔍 Symptoms

Sore mouth with ulcers, rash on palms of hands and soles of feet (sometimes buttocks), fever and reduced appetite. Usually mild and clears in 7–10 days.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain and fever
• Offer cold drinks, ice lollies, or yoghurt to soothe mouth ulcers
• Avoid acidic or salty foods that irritate the mouth
• Good hand hygiene to prevent spread
• Child can return to school when they feel well enough (no exclusion period required)

⚠️ Seek Help If

• Child cannot drink and shows signs of dehydration
• Symptoms are very severe or persistent
• Pregnant women exposed — consult midwife
• Immunocompromised household member exposed

🔍 Symptoms

Red, sore, and sometimes swollen skin in the nappy area. The skin may look sore and feel hot to the touch. Can be caused by prolonged contact with wet or dirty nappies.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Change nappies frequently — as soon as soiled
• Gently clean skin with water and pat dry (avoid wipes with fragrance)
• Apply a barrier cream at every nappy change (zinc oxide or petroleum jelly)
• Allow nappy-free time every day to let skin air
• Use a mild, fragrance-free soap for washing

⚠️ Seek Pharmacist / GP Help If

• Rash does not improve after a few days of home treatment
• Spots, blisters, or pus appear (may indicate thrush or bacterial infection)
• Rash spreads beyond the nappy area
• Baby develops a fever alongside the rash

Note: Candidal nappy rash (thrush) typically has a bright red appearance with satellite spots and needs antifungal treatment — ask your pharmacist.

🔍 Symptoms

Red, sore, itchy eyes with yellow or green discharge causing the eyelids to stick together, particularly on waking. May affect one or both eyes.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Bathe the eye with cooled boiled water and clean cotton wool
• Wipe from the inner corner outward using a fresh piece for each wipe
• Wash hands thoroughly before and after
• Avoid sharing towels or pillowcases
• Most cases clear on their own in 1–2 weeks without antibiotics

⚠️ Seek Help If

• Newborn with any eye discharge — see GP same day
• Severe pain in or around the eye
• Vision is blurred or affected
• Eyelids very swollen
• No improvement after 2 weeks

🔍 Symptoms

Itching of the scalp (may take weeks to develop), tiny insects visible in the hair, white eggs (nits) attached to the hair shaft close to the scalp, particularly behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.

🏠 Treatment

• Wet combing: Use a fine-toothed detection comb on conditioned hair, every 4 days for 2 weeks
• Medicated lotions: Available from pharmacies — dimeticone (Hedrin) or permethrin (Lyclear) are most effective
• Check and treat all household members who have lice
• No need to keep children off school

⚠️ When to See a Pharmacist / GP

• Over-the-counter treatments have not worked after two applications
• Skin on the scalp becomes infected or very sore
• Child has a skin condition that requires specific product advice

Head lice do not jump or fly — they are spread by direct head-to-head contact. They are not a sign of poor hygiene.