Children’s Health

When Should I Worry?

Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
 

WHEN SHOULD I WORRY? – Your guide to Coughs, Colds, Earache & Sore Throats

 

Immunizations

Here’s a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK for free on the NHS, and the age at which you should ideally have them.

Childhood Immunisation Schedule – 2022

 
 

Fever

Most symptoms of a fever in young children can be managed at home with infant paracetamol. If the fever is very high, they may have an infection that needs treating with antibiotics.

Head Lice

Head lice are insects that live on the scalp and neck. They may make your head feel itchy. Although head lice may be embarrassing and sometimes uncomfortable, they don’t usually cause illness. However, they won’t clear up on their own and you need to treat them promptly.

Further Guidance:
Bupa – Head Lice
NHS – Head Lice

 

 

Nose Bleeds

Nosebleeds (epistaxis) are a common childhood condition, that are usually self-limiting and one that children normally grow out of by around 11 years of age . They are commonly caused by minor injury to the lining of the nose and this can be caused by picking or banging the nose. They can also occur if your child has had a recent cough/runny nose (viral upper respiratory tract infection), if they have allergic rhinitis, blowing the nose too hard, if the inside of the nose becomes too dry or by a foreign body in their nasal passage. 
Only very rarely can it be due to a bleeding disorder. The bleeding is usually from the front part of the nose and whilst the amount of bleeding may seem like a lot (such as soaking through tissues), it is rare for children to lose so much blood that it causes any problems (such as anaemia). This is only to be likely with frequent, heavy nosebleeds over several weeks or months.