My Child is Ill – What Should I Do?

Top tips for looking after an unwell child

• If your child has a fever or is in discomfort, always consider paracetamol and ibuprofen (Calpol and Nurofen / Calprofen) – unless your child has an allergy to these or has been told not to use them because of an underlying medical condition. Calpol and Nurofen can be used together and are really useful for keeping fevers down. (Note – in Chicken Pox, we would recommend paracetamol / Calpol only. Some children with asthma can be sensitive to ibuprofen).
• Always keep an eye on your child’s fluid intake. Keeping hydrated is really important. If they are drinking less, having drier nappies / passing less urine or have other signs of dehydration (see below), then they should be reviewed by a doctor. Keep offering fluids little and often. There is no correct fluid to give to your child – you can try rehydration salts from the pharmacy (Dioralyte) but sometimes children prefer drinks they are familiar with.
• Keep an eye on your child’s breathing. Look out for your child using extra (accessory) muscles to breathe and be alert for your child getting tired if they have been working hard to breathe. See the video below.
• Familiarise yourself with how long common illnesses should last and if your child’s symptoms are lasting longer than this, seek medical advice. See below.
• Remember that you can always ask your pharmacist for advice about over-the-counter medicines for children over 2, if you are not too concerned but would like some support.
• Be on the look out for the worrying symptoms that we talk about below.
• Trust your instincts – you know your child better than anyone – if you are worried, book a doctor’s appointment.

Unwell Child

It is always worrying when your child is unwell. Having some knowledge of what to look out for and when to seek help is really important.  At Kent Family Medical, we offer a range of appointments throughout the week that can be booked on the day, for children of all ages.  As parents ourselves, we understand how important it is to have access to the right help at the right time.  If you cannot find an available appointment online then please do call us – we will always try to be as flexible as possible.  In the meantime, here is some information about common childhood illnesses, how long we would expect them to last, worrying symptoms to look out for and when to seek help.

If your child is known to have a weakened immune system due to an underlying medical condition, or treatment that they are receiving, then it is important to seek help quickly if they become unwell. 

How long do common viral illnesses last?  When should I be worried?

Especially during the autumn and winter months, viral infections in children are very common. Most coughs, colds and sore throats will be caused by viruses and so won’t need antibiotics (antibiotics treat bacterial infections). It is important to monitor children who have viruses to ensure that they are not struggling with their breathing, becoming too lethargic / tired or becoming dehydrated. If they are, then they may need supportive treatments until they feel better.

It is also important to make sure that common illnesses are not lasting longer than we may expect – if they are, then we would always recommend a review by a doctor, to ensure there is nothing else going on and to see if we need to give a specific treatment.

Below is a list of common conditions / symptoms, how long they should last and when to seek help. If your child has any of the below symptoms that are lasting longer than we would expect, or if they have any worrying symptoms, they should see a doctor.  They should also see a doctor if you are particularly concerned – no one knows your child better than you do – always trust your instincts.

Useful Resource

The NHS has produced some very useful information sheets for parents whose children have a cough or respiratory symptoms.  Here are two examples below:

My child seems to be getting sick a lot – should I worry about their immune system?

This is something that parents often ask.  It is quite normal for a child to get 8 or more coughs and cold a year – especially if they attend nursery or have older siblings at school or nursery.  As long as your child is well in between these episodes, growing normally and has plenty of energy, it is very unlikely that there is anything to worry about.  If you are concerned, however, do book an appointment with a doctor to talk things through.

I have heard about the ‘glass test’ – how do I do this and what does it mean?

The glass test is a test to look for, what doctors call, a ‘petechial rash’.  This is a rash that doesn’t go away when you press it, because it is caused by small collections of blood under the skin. Rashes are very common when children are unwell, but a rash that doesn’t go away when you press it, can be a sign of meningococcal septicaemia (blood infection in meningitis) or other serious illnesses.  These are normally present in children who are very unwell.  We advise that you use a glass to identify this rash so you can press on the rash and see it at the same time.  

You can perform a glass test as below:

• Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin
• Spots/rash may fade at first
• Keep checking
• Fever with spots/rash that do not fade under pressure is a medical emergency
• Do not wait for a rash. If someone is ill and getting worse, seek medical attention immediately.

You can read more about the glass test at:
– www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-exaplained/signs-and-symptoms/glass-test/