Coughs, colds, or viruses are common among young children and may result in your child experiencing breathing difficulties. Although it can take 2-3 weeks for children to get better, these illnesses can often be treated at home. 

Treat children at home if they are: 

• Taking in more than half of normal feeds, and 
• Making wet nappies, or 
• Their high temperature lasts less than 5 days. 

If symptoms get worse, then it’s time to ask for help. Call 111 as your first point of contact if your child is: 

• Taking in less than half of normal feeds, or 
• Their temperature is higher than 38 ˚C and lasts more than 5 days. 

The Emergency Department is for life-threatening symptoms. Call 999 or go to Accident & Emergency when your child has: 

• Long pauses between breathing, or 
• Severe difficulties or is gasping for breath, or 
• Their tongue or lips go blue on white skin, or grey or white on brown or black skin. 

Children and asthma 

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. 

My Spira App 

Developed for children aged between 6 – 13, the MySpira app includes 8, fun modules, that use augmented reality and gameplay to offer the very best asthma education. 

More information: https://www.myspira.com/  

If you’re worried your child has coronavirus, visit the NHS website for advice: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/

Tummy bugs are very common in children and often cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting. These illnesses can usually be treated at home, with vomiting normally stopping within 1-2 days and diarrhoea within 5-7 days.

Keep your child at home and encourage: 

• Regular small sips of drink 
• Eating when they can 
• Smaller amounts of food more often, using a different feeding position, if needed. 

If symptoms get worse or last longer than expected, then it’s time to ask for help. Call 111 as your first point of contact if your child has: 

• Not passed urine in 12-18 hours, or 
• Blood in their diarrhoea or it lasts 7+ days, or 
• Been vomiting for more than 2 days. 

The Emergency Department is for life-threatening symptoms. Call 999 or go to Accident & Emergency when your child has: 

• Bright yellow, green or brown vomit, or 
• Blood in their vomit, or 
• Swallowed something poisonous, or 
• A stiff neck and pain when looking at a bright light, or 
• A sudden severe headache or stomach pain. 

Children often get fevers when their bodies are fighting infections. If they are not upset, there is no need to worry. 

Treat children at home with paracetamol (following the age recommended dose on the packaging) if: 

• Your child is older than 3 months, and 
• Their high temperature lasts less than 5 days. 

If symptoms get worse, then it’s time to ask for help. Call 111 as your first point of contact if: 

• Your child is less than 3 months old, or 
• Their temperature is higher than 38 ˚C and lasts more than 5 days. 

The Emergency Department is for life-threatening symptoms. Only call 999 or go to Accident & Emergency if your child’s fever also includes: 

• Blue or blotchy skin, or 
• Very fast breathing, or  
• A rash that doesn’t disappear when pressed, or 
• A fit or seizure, or 
• They are very sleepy and difficult to wake up.

Children often bump their heads. Afterwards, it is normal for them to have a slight headache, feel sick for a couple of days, or be a little sleepy. 

Monitor your child at home for 24 hours for any change in symptoms. Treat with: 

• An ice-pack on the injury for short intervals  (e.g. 10 minutes, once an hour) 
• Paracetamol (following the age recommended dose on the packaging) 
• Rest and avoiding rough play and sports. 

If symptoms get worse or last longer than two weeks, then it’s time to ask for help. Call 111 as your first point of contact if your child has: 

• Developed a persistent headache that doesn’t go away (despite being given paracetamol), or 
• Developed a worsening headache. 

The Emergency Department is for life-threatening symptoms. Only call 999 or go to Accident & Emergency if your child: 

• Was knocked unconscious, or 
• Vomits repeatedly, i.e., more than twice (with at least 10 minutes between each vomit) , or 
• Shows a significant change in behaviour, for example, restlessness or memory problems. 

It’s normal for children to sometimes feel low, angry or anxious. As a parent or carer, you’re likely to spot any significant or long-lasting changes in your child’s emotions or behaviour. 

Things to look out for include: 

• Frequent difficulty in sleeping 
• Withdrawal from social situations 
• Avoiding activities that they usually like 
• Self-harm or neglecting themselves 

• Thermometer- to check temperatures
• Child’s paracetamol- for headaches and temperatures
• Antiseptic cream- to keep germs out of cuts
• Plasters- to protect cuts and scratches
• Olive oil- to use as ear drops for earache
• Antihistamines- for hayfever, allergies and insect bites

As well as your home health kit essentials, having a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home will help you treat common children’s illnesses.