As parents, seeing your child unwell can be a very scary experience. We want to help you feel more in control by providing guidance on common infections like coughs, colds, earache, and sore throats.
This information is for parents and older children, specifically dealing with common infections in children who are normally healthy. It is not meant for children who have ongoing health problems such as asthma, heart, or kidney problems. You should not rely on the advice for children who are less than 3 months old.
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What to Know About Common Symptoms
Many common infections will clear up on their own, and for most, antibiotics are not needed.
- Fever (Raised Body Temperature): Fever is a normal response that may even help to fight infections, and it does not harm your child. To make your child more comfortable, you may want to try and lower their temperature using Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen. Take off outer clothing and do not wrap your child up if they have a fever.
- Coughs and Chesty Coughs: When young children catch a cold they often develop a ‘noisy chest’ or a ‘chesty cough. Coughing helps the body fight against infection
- On average, people taking antibiotics for bronchitis (chesty cough) will have a cough for only half a day less than those who don’t.
- One third of children who have seen their GP with a cough will still be coughing two weeks later, and this does not mean that they need treatment.
- Colds: Colds are very common, and normal, healthy children can sometimes have 8 or more colds in a year There is no evidence that antibiotics help with colds.
- Green Phlegm/Snot: Recent research suggests that the colour of nasal discharge (snot) does not give an indication of the type or seriousness of an infection, and green nasal discharge does not need to be treated with antibiotics.
- Sore Throat: A sore throat will get better by itself. After one week, more than three-quarters of those with a sore throat will be better whether they take antibiotics or not.
- Earache: There is normally no need to treat ear infections with antibiotics. Pain control with Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen is all that is normally needed. After one week, more than three-quarters of children will be better whether they take antibiotics or not.
When Should I Seek Further Help?
No guide can be complete. If you are still worried about your child after reading this leaflet, then you should get advice. This could be telephone advice or a consultation with a doctor or nurse.
You should seek urgent medical advice if your child shows any of these signs of possible serious illness:
- They are drowsy or irritable and do not improve after treatment with Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen.
- They have 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).
- They have cold or discoloured hands or feet with a warm body.
- They have an unusual skin colour (pale, blue or dusky around lips).
- They have a fit. If your child has a fit, try to stay calm, roll them on their side (recovery position), and dial 999 immediately for an ambulance unless you are familiar with what to do from previous febrile seizures.
- A temperature of 39C or more in a child aged 3-6 months.
- An infant that is less than 3 months of age should be assessed if they have a temperature of 38C or more.
- An infant who is not feeding or any child that is showing signs of dehydration (such as dry mouth, sunken eyes, no tears).
- Symptoms 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 (use the glass test)
Simple Steps to Help Your Child Get Better
You can help your child fight the infection by making sure they get plenty of rest and offering them healthy food.
- Give your child plenty to drink to help prevent dehydration, loosen phlegm, and lubricate the throat.
- Treat pain and fever with Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen. You can use them together if one alone has not worked, but do not give more than the maximum recommended dose of either.
- Avoid very sugary drinks.
- Make sure no-one smokes around your child.
We are here to help and support you. If you have any concerns, please seek advice.
- In an emergency dial 999.
- You can get general health advice from NHS 24 service on 111