Child Health

Illnesses and infections are very common amongst young children because their immune systems are not fully developed, and this means they pick up infectious illnesses very quickly and easily. Once children have got infections, they tend to spread fairly quickly, especially if the children are at school or nursery.

Common childhood illnesses

Children are prone to illness and most illnesses are fairly mild. Common illnesses amongst children include:

• Colds
• Sore throat
• High temperature
• Chicken pox
• Eczema
• Ear infections
• Glue ear (this is a condition which occurs when there is a build-up of sticky fluid in the middle ear)
• Coughs

If your child has a cough or cold, it is a good idea to keep them off school or nursery for a couple of days to prevent the illness spreading to other children. Chickenpox is also highly contagious and you should keep your child out of school until the spots have scabbed over. This usually takes around 7-10 days, after which they will no longer be infectious.

Treating common illnesses

Colds and coughs are often caused by viral infections and there is no cure, however painkillers (always follow the instructions on the label and check with a GP or pharmacist before giving children painkillers) will help to ease the symptoms and you can strip your child off and dab them with a damp cloth to bring their temperature down. If your child has a very high temperature or they have a temperature which cannot be brought down by medication, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. Many infections, such as ear infections, can be treated using antibiotics. If your child is unwell, do not hesitate to take them to your GP.

Meningitis

Sometimes, illnesses can be very serious and it is important that parents and carers are aware of the symptoms associated with life-threatening conditions, including meningitis. Meningitis is a very serious, potentially life-threatening illness, which occurs when the meninges (the membranes surrounding the brain) become inflamed. Symptoms include:

• Fever (a temperature of over 38 degrees in babies under the age of 3 months and 39 degrees for babies over this age)
• Cold hands and feet
• Vomiting
• Blotchy skin
• Bulging fontanelle (in babies)
• Red or purple spots on the skin (if the spots do not fade or turn white when you place a glass on them, call 999)
• Stiff neck
• Drowsiness and floppiness
• High pitched, persistent cry

If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to dial 999 as soon as possible. Meningitis should always be treated as a medical emergency.

Preventing illness

It is almost impossible to prevent children from getting ill, and they will often pick up coughs and colds at school or nursery. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of your child getting ill:

• A healthy diet, rich in fruit and vegetables to boost their immune system
• Plenty of exercise to keep them fit and healthy
• Keep your home warm and clean
• Encourage them to cover their mouth when they sneeze and throw away dirty tissues
• Wrap them up warm when they go outside in the cold
• Keep up to date with vaccinations and health check