Infant & Child

Being the parent of an infant or child who’s feeling unwell can be challenging. They can’t always tell you what they’re experiencing or what they need, and working out what that is can be overwhelming. … Read More See less

Ultimately, you just want your children to be safe and happy. But at what point are you worrying too much or not taking something seriously enough? It’s a fine line, and you can’t be expected to get everything right.

So, we’ve put together this guide to common illnesses in infants and children, to help you get the information you need right when you need it.

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Common conditions in infants

In their first few weeks or months, it can be really difficult to tell if your baby is unwell.¹ Here are some common health issues affecting infants:^1–7

Jaundice – yellowing skin on the face and upper body and sometime the whites of the eyes. This usually occurs when the baby is 2–3 days’ old. You should speak to your midwife if you think your baby is jaundiced
Teething – when babies start teething is around six months old. For some, the signs of teething include a red, sore gum, one flushed cheek, and difficulty sleeping. To help manage their discomfort, you can try paracetamol, a teething ring, anbesol teething gel or teething powder
Oral thrush – a white coating on their tongue that may look like cottage cheese and cannot be rubbed off. If you think your baby has oral thrush, you should speak to a GP
Nappy rash – red or raw patches on your baby’s bottom that are hot to touch, itchy and painful. Nappy rash can be caused by not changing a nappy often enough or by a fungal infection (fungal nappy rash). To prevent nappy rash, change wet or dirty nappies as soon as possible and avoid using fragranced baby wipes or wet wipes. If their nappy rash doesn’t go away, speak to a pharmacist who may recommend the best nappy rash cream and rash ointment cream, bepanthen cream
Dehydration – when babies don’t get enough milk, they can become dehydrated. If their soft spot (fontanelles) is sunken, their mouth and lips are dry and their wee is very dark, you should speak to your GP, call 111 or go to A&E
Constipation – your baby might be constipated if they are grunting and straining but there is no poo in their nappy. If things don’t improve, you should speak to your GP
Diarrhoea – if your baby’s nappies are more watery than usual, you should make sure they have regular fluids to prevent dehydration. If they’re not getting better or refusing milk, speak to your GP or midwife
Ear infections – if your baby is rubbing or pulling their ear, they may have an ear infection. You can treat the pain with paracetamol or ibuprofen. If they have lots of ear infections, they may develop ‘glue ear’, which is a build-up of sticky fluid in the ear. You should speak to your GP if this happens
Cow's Milk Protein allergy (CMPA)– some babies are born with an allergy to cow’s milk. This mainly affects baby formula-fed babies (e.g. kendamil or aptamil) but can affect the baby milk of breastfeeding mothers if they eat a lot of dairy products. If you are concerned your baby has CMPA, you should see a GP
Colic – if your baby cries for more than three hours a day, and they’re difficult to settle, they may have colic. Colic usually resolves by the time they’re three to four months old. Your health visitor will be able to provide advice to help soothe them
Colds and blocked noses – if your baby’s nose is blocked, you shouldn’t use cough and cold medicine, as most aren’t suitable for infants. Instead, try using saline nasal sprays, a nasal aspirator or steam to ease their congestion. However, if they’re struggling to breathe, call your GP or 111
Bronchiolitis – an infection of the smallest airway in the lungs. Bronchiolitis usually clears up on its own within two weeks without treatment. However, you should make sure your baby gets enough fluid. You can also give them paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring their temperature down
Reflux – when a baby brings up milk, or is sick, during or after feeding. Reflux usually starts before they are eight weeks old and resolves by the time they turn one. You can speak to your health visitor for advice. However, if their reflux isn’t better after two weeks or trying to ease it, you should speak to a GP

Common childhood conditions

As babies and children grow and explore the world more independently, they can develop common childhood illnesses like:^5,8–20

Asthma – when a child’s airways are more sensitive than they should be, resulting in coughing when they encounter triggers like dust and pollen. You should speak to your GP if you think your child has asthma
Chickenpox – if your child develops red, itchy spots all over their body, they likely have chickenpox. To soothe the itching, you can try cooling creams or gels or bathing your child in cool water. You should not give your child ibuprofen, as this can lead to skin infections
Coughs and colds – if your child is over one year old and has a cough or cold, you can give them a drink made of hot lemon and honey to try and soothe their congestion. You can also give them paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce a temperature. If your child’s cough or cold has lasted for longer than three weeks, you should see a GP
Croup – affects children between six months and six years old, usually in their second year. Croup causes a barking cough that sounds like a seal. It usually gets better on its own within 48 hours, but if your child is getting worse you should see your GP
Diarrhoea and vomiting – if your child has diarrhoea and vomiting, you should give them lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. You can also give them paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down a temperature
Fever – a fever is a high temperature (38°C or over) caused by another illness. Fever often clears up without treatment, but you should contact your GP if your child has a temperature over 38°C and is under three months old, or if they’re between three and six months old and have a temperature over 39°C
Hand, foot and mouth disease – if your child has a sore throat, a fever, mouth ulcers and a raised rash, they may have hand, foot and mouth disease. The disease usually gets better on its own within seven to 10 days, but if your child does not improve in this time, you should see your GP
Head lice – if you find head lice in your child’s hair, you should treat them using a nit comb on wet, conditioned hair. They do not need see a GP or take time off school
Kawasaki disease – a rare condition that mainly affects children under five years old. It causes a rash, swollen neck glands, red eyes, cracked lips, and redness and swelling in their fingers and toes. If you think your child has Kawasaki disease, you should see a GP
Measles – causes cold-like symptoms before a rash develops. If you think your child has measles, you should see your GP as soon as possible
Meningitis – causes a fever, a headache, a rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it, a stiff neck and a dislike of bright lights. You should go to A&E immediately if you think your child has meningitis
Mumps – causes painful swellings at the side of the face under the ears which can lead to difficulty swallowing. Mumps should clear on its own, but in rare cases it can lead to meningitis
Roseola – typically affects babies and toddlers. Reseola causes a fever, cold-like symptoms, loss of appetite and swollen glands. The infection should pass on its own within a week, but you should keep your child home from school or nursery as it’s contagious
Rubella – causes a red, pink skin rash, swollen glands, a fever and cold-like symptoms. You should contact your GP if you think your child has rubella
Slapped cheek syndrome – if your child feels unwell and then develops a rash on one or both cheeks, they may have slapped cheek syndrome. You do not normally need to see a GP for slapped cheek syndrome, but you should make sure your child has plenty of fluids
Strep A – strep A is a type of bacteria that causes conditions like impetigo (scabs and sores), scarlet fever (a rough rash), tonsillitis (sore throat) and cellulitis (pain and swelling). You should see your GP if you think your child has a strep A infection, as most can be treated with antibiotics
Whooping cough – an intense cough that may bring up mucus and vomit, alongside flu-like symptoms. You should see your GP if you think your child has whooping cough. If you child has difficulty breathing, you should take them to A&E
Threadworms – these worms look like small pieces of white thread in your child’s poo or around their bottom. They can cause itching and irritability, especially at night. Your child and you should wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet or changing their nappies. You can get medicine to treat threadworms
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) – UTIs are common in children. They need to be treated with antibiotics, but usually clear up within 24 to 48 hours

Signs of serious illness in infants and children

Here are some warning signs to look out for that your child may be seriously ill and require medical help:²¹

A very high temperature that does not come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen
Rapid breathing, panting or finding it hard to breathe
Blue, pale, blotchy, or greyish skin (this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet on brown or black skin)
They are hard to wake up and disoriented
They are crying constantly and cannot be consoled, or their cry does not sound like their normal cry
Their vomit is green
They’re off their food
Their nappies are drier than usual (due to dehydration)

When to call an ambulance

You should call an ambulance if your child:²¹

Stops breathing
Will not wake up
Has the symptoms of sepsis, such as a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
Is under eight weeks old and you’re very worried about them
Has a seizure for the first time, even if they seem to recover
Has the symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as a swollen tongue, difficulty breathing and feeling confused
Is seriously injured