Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control.
Useful downloads
‘When should I worry?’ will help you to deal with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
‘Childhood illnesses: your guide’ will help you with what to do, what to look for and where to go for help.
NHS Child Health app – available for all smartphones providing NHS medical advice and reassurance at the fingertips of parents with children under 5. Download from Google Play or App Store.
Medicine cabinet
Below is a list of useful medicines and dressings for all the family. They are inexpensive and worth stocking at home.
Remember: Keep all medicines locked-up and out of the reach of children.
- Paracetamol/Ibuprofen – for adults or children over 12. Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises.
- Paracetamol mixture/Ibuprofen syrup – for relief of pain or fever in young children.
- Cough linctus (non sedative) – for dry or painful coughs, but not coughs caused by common colds.
- Menthol crystals – add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.
- Vapour rub – again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.
- Antihistamine (cetirizine) – for hay fever, allergies etc
- Rehydration powders – to restore fluids and body salts lost during stomach upsets/ diarrhoea
- Antiseptic solution – one teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.
- Antiseptic cream – for treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes.
- Calamine lotion – for dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites and stings and sunburn.
- Factor 50 sunblock – especially for children.
- Dressing strips – for minor cuts.
- 3″ wide crepe bandage – to keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.
- Gauze squares – for cleaning cuts and grazes.
- Thermometer – for fevers.
When to seek professional medical help
For urgent medical help or advice dial NHS 111 and in an emergency dial 999, but remember:
- most common infections do not get better quicker with antibiotics
- most children with a cold, cough, sore throat or earache, who see their GP, will still be ill four days later. This does not mean that they need treatment or need to be seen again
- one third of children who have seen their GP with a cough will still be coughing two weeks later. This does not mean that they need treatment.
Only children with signs of more serious illness generally need to be seen by a doctor or nurse. These signs include:
- excessive drowsiness
- difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- cold or discoloured hands and/or feet with warm body
- abnormal pains in arms and/or legs
- abnormal colour (pale or blue).
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