Every child gets ill occasionally and every parent experiences feelings of anxiety as they see their normally cheerful child looking sad and listless.

Most bouts of illness pass quickly and leave children better able to resist the next attack. But sometimes, if the illness or accident is serious, immediate (and possibly long-term) help is needed.

This section deals with common childhood illnesses and accidents, the best ways to prevent them, and the action to take if faced with an emergency.

Knowing when your child is ill

Sometimes there's no doubt. However, often its difficult to tell whether a child is ill or not. Children may be listless, hot and miserable one minute, and running around quite happily the next.

Signs to watch out for:

• Physical symptoms such as vomiting, high temperature, cough, runny nose or runny eyes.
  
• Unusual behaviour such as excessive crying, irritability, refusing food and drink, being listless or drowsy.

Possible signs of illness are always more worrying if affecting a baby or small child.

If your child is older and you're not sure whether or not to see the doctor, you might want to carry on normally for a while and see whether the signs of illness or pain continue. It might be best not to let your child see you watching. Most children can put on an act, especially if they see you're worried.

Above all, trust your feelings. You know better than anyone what your child is like day-to-day, so you'll know what's unusual or worrying. If you're worried, contact your doctor. Even if it turns out that nothing is wrong, after all, that is exactly what you need to know.

If you have seen your GP or health visitor and your baby isn't getting better or is getting worse, contact your GP again the same day. If you become worried and you cant get hold of your GP or he/she cant come to you quickly enough, then take your baby straight to the Accident and Emergency department of the nearest hospital, one with a children's ward if possible. Its worth finding out in advance where this is, in case you ever need it.

If you're seriously worried and/or know your child needs urgent attention, phone your GP at any time of the day or night. There may be a different number for when the surgery is closed. If you cant contact a GP, go directly to the nearest Accident and Emergency department.

Using Your GP

Most GP practices are very supportive towards parents with small children. Many will fit babies into surgeries without an appointment, or see them at the beginning of surgery hours. Many doctors will give advice over the phone. Others will feel that it is essential to see your child.

Some GPs are less helpful and it's not always easy to phone or to get to the surgery. Even so, if you're worried about a particular problem that won't go away, it's right to persist. 

Your health visitor and/or clinic doctor can give you advice and help you decide whether your child is really unwell or not. But it's only your family doctor (your GP) who can treat your child and prescribe medicines. If you think your child is ill, it's best to see your GP.

If you're unsure whether to go to the surgery or ask for a home visit, phone and talk to the receptionist or to your GP. Explain how your child is and what's worrying you. Often it doesnt do a child (or anyone else) any harm to be taken to the surgery, and you're likely to get attention more quickly this way. Explain if it's difficult for you to get there. Wrapping a sick child up and going by car is one thing; going on the bus might be impossible.

Symptoms and signs that are always urgent:

• A fit (convulsion), if your baby turns blue or very pale (in a dark-skinned baby check the palms of the hands) or seems floppy.
  
• A very high temperature (over 39C), especially if theres a rash.
  
• Difficult, fast or grunting breathing.
  
• Unusually drowsy, hard to wake or doesnt seem to know you.
  
• A temperature, but the skin of the hands and feet feels cold and clammy.
  
• A purple-red rash anywhere on the body this could be a sign of meningitis.

Sick babies always contact your doctor if:

You think your baby's ill, even if you can't make out what's wrong.

Your baby has one or more of the problems listed above.

Using Medicines

Medicine isn't always necessary when your child is ill. Some illnesses simply get better by themselves and make your child stronger and better able to resist similar illness in the future. If you're offered a prescription, talk with your GP about why its needed, how it will help, and whether there are any alternatives.

When a medicine is prescribed, ask about any possible side effects. Could it, for example, make your child sleepy or irritable?

Make sure you know how much and how often to give a medicine. Write it down if need be. If in doubt, check with your pharmacist or GP.

Always finish a prescribed course of medicine. A course of antibiotics, for example, usually lasts at least five days. This is to make sure all the bacteria are killed off. Your child may seem better after two or three days, but the illness is more likely to return if you don't finish all the medicine.

If you think your child is reacting badly to a medicine, for example if your child has developed a rash or diarrhoea, stop giving it and tell your GP. Keep a note of the name of the medicine so you can tell your GP in the future.

If you buy medicines at the pharmacist, always say its for a young child. Give your child's age. Some medicines are for adults only. Always follow the instructions on the label or ask the pharmacist if you're unsure.

Ask for sugar-free medicines if they are available.

Look for the date stamp. Don't use out-of-date medicines. Take them back to the pharmacy to be destroyed.

Only give your child medicine given by your GP or pharmacist. Never use medicines prescribed for anyone else.

Keep all medicines out of your child's reach and preferably out of sight. Try to keep them in the kitchen where you can keep an eye on them, rather than the bathroom.

In the past, all medicines for children have been diluted with a liquid solution to the right strength for each child so that you could give it to your child on a 5 ml spoon. Now most medicines prescribed by your GP will no longer be diluted in this way. Instead you'll have to measure the correct dose for your child's age. The instructions will be on the bottle.

Medicines that aren't diluted in liquid may need to be given using a liquid medicine measure, which looks like a syringe. It allows you to give small doses of medicine more accurately.

Always read the manufacturers instructions supplied with the measure, and always give the exact dose stated on the medicine bottle. Some medicines will come with a measure supplied by the manufacturer, in which case that's the right measure to use. If in doubt ask the pharmacist for help.

It doesn't matter if your child doesn't want to stay in bed. Being with you, maybe tucked up in an armchair or on a sofa, might be less lonely. Children are usually sensible about being ill and if they say they're well enough to be out of bed, they probably are.

This information has been sourced from Health Promotion England.

Caring for a sick child

Be careful not to overheat the room your child is in. Keep it airy without being draughty.

Give your child plenty to drink. For the first day or so don't bother about food unless it's wanted. After that, try to tempt your child with a little food.

Try to give your child time for quiet games, stories, company and comfort.

Sick children are often easily tired and need lots of rest. Encourage your child to doze off when he or she needs to, perhaps with a story read by you or on tape.  

Looking after a sick child, even for a couple of days, is exhausting. Make things as easy for yourself as you can.

Get rest and sleep when you can, and try to get somebody else to take over every now and then to give you a break.

Symptoms and signs that are sometimes serious:

• A hoarse cough with noisy breathing.
• Crying for an unusually long time or in an unusual way, seeming to be in a lot of pain or refusing feeds.
• Diarrhoea or vomiting. Particularly both together.
• Unusually hot or cold, listless or more drowsy than norma

Hospital

Hospitals can be strange, frightening places for children. Also being ill or in pain is frightening. There's no parent who isn't anxious to do all they can to help their child.

Prepare your child as best you can. You could play doctors and nurses or operations with teddies and dolls and read story books about being in hospital. Its worth doing this even if you don't know your child is going into hospital. Quite a large number of under fives do have to go into hospital at some stage, many of which go in as emergencies.

Its extremely important for you to be with your child in hospital as much as possible and, with young children especially, to sleep there. Do all you can to arrange this.

All hospital children's departments now have some provision for parents to stay overnight with their children. Talk to hospital staff beforehand and be clear about arrangements. You may then be able to explain at least a part of it to your child.

Explain as much as possible to your child. Even quite young children need to know about what is happening to them. What children imagine is often worse than reality. Be truthful. Don't, for example, say something wont hurt when it will. Some hospitals will arrange visits for children and their families before the child is admitted for a planned treatment or operation.

Talk with hospital staff about anything that will be important for your child. You may need to explain cultural differences. Staff should know, for example, if hospital food is going to seem very strange to your child. Try to discuss ways of getting over problems like this. Also tell staff about any special words your child uses (such as needing to go to the lavatory), any special ways of comforting, and so on.

Make sure something like a favourite teddy bear or comforter goes into hospital with your child.

Be prepared for your child to be upset by the experience, and maybe to show it in one- way or another for some time afterwards. Reassure him/her as much as you can.

You can get a lot of helpful information and advice on how best to cope when your child is in hospital from Action for Sick Children. 

To discuss our Nursery and Pre School provisions in more detail please contact us on:
Tel: 0208 941 7175
Email: fay@thehamptonsdaynursery.co.uk