How to deal with your sick child
It's that time of the year when all children get ill with coughs, colds and other viral infections often accompanied by fevers, vomiting and rashes and they can feel really miserable and distressed. As adults we've all been through these infections and as a result our immune systems now give us resistance, so even if we get ill we usually don't feel so bad. And we can understand and know we'll feel better in a few days but a young child doesn't know this.
When we see a sick child with a high fever it can be extremely worrying for a parent to know if it is part of a more serious illness and what should be done to make your child better.
The NHS 111 service has produced a very useful booklet to help:
When should I worry?
Signs of potentially more serious illness:
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 and more than the usual aches and pains in the limbs that accompany many viral infections
Unusual skin colour (pale, blue or dusky around lips, especially if mottled)
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
Signs which can be related to meningitis:
- Unusually severe headache
- A stiff neck (difficulty putting chin to chest)
- Dislike of bright lights
- A rash that does not fade with pressure
In summary:
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 4 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 2 weeks later. This does not mean that they need treatment.
Only children with signs of more serious illness as indicated above generally need to be seen by a doctor or nurse.
For advice on where to turn for help Out of Hours, see our previous blog on the subject.
When we see a sick child with a high fever it can be extremely worrying for a parent to know if it is part of a more serious illness and what should be done to make your child better.
The NHS 111 service has produced a very useful booklet to help:
When should I worry?
Signs of potentially more serious illness:
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 and more than the usual aches and pains in the limbs that accompany many viral infections
Unusual skin colour (pale, blue or dusky around lips, especially if mottled)
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
Signs which can be related to meningitis:
- Unusually severe headache
- A stiff neck (difficulty putting chin to chest)
- Dislike of bright lights
- A rash that does not fade with pressure
In summary:
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 4 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 2 weeks later. This does not mean that they need treatment.
Only children with signs of more serious illness as indicated above generally need to be seen by a doctor or nurse.
For advice on where to turn for help Out of Hours, see our previous blog on the subject.
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