If your child aged 1-12 months has a fever, take them to a GP as soon as possible.If your child aged 0-1 month has a fever, take them to the nearest hospital emergency department as soon as possible.Most children with a fever don’t have a serious illness.īut in some cases, a fever can be a sign of a more serious infection: can’t eat or drink anything and is still vomiting after 12 hours (children under 5 years) or 24 hours (children over 5 years).įever: when to be concerned about serious illnessĪ fever is a temperature higher than 38☌.has persistent or severe pain with vomiting.is vomiting blood-stained or green fluid.Go to an emergency department if your child: Vomiting that doesn’t stop can cause dehydration and dangerous imbalances in the body’s chemical system. It can also be a sign of illness, infection or obstruction. Vomiting is a normal way for the body to get rid of something it doesn’t want. If your child isn’t feeding well or has no interest in feeding, this could be an early sign of childhood illness.įrequent or blood-stained or green vomiting It could mean your child has dehydration. crying in a high-pitched, weak or other unusual wayĪn early sign of many serious illnesses is fewer wet nappies than usual – that is, fewer than half the number of wet nappies your child usually has each day.But your child might have a serious illness or be in pain if they are: Irritability or unusual or continuous cryingĪll babies and young children cry. frequent or blood-stained or green vomiting.persistent irritability or unusual or continuous crying.If you notice any of the following signs and symptoms, take your child straight to the nearest emergency department: When to go to a hospital emergency department for childhood illnesses Skin spots or blotches that don’t fade when you press a glass firmly against your child’s skin can be an early sign of a life-threatening meningococcal infection. But occasionally seizures might be a sign of a serious brain infection. Febrile seizures aren’t serious and sometimes happen when children have fevers. If your child is having a seizure, their eyes might roll backwards. They might be unresponsive, shake violently in all limbs for a short time, and have shallow or unusual breathing.Īt this age, a seizure is most likely a febrile seizure. These breathing symptoms might be caused by conditions like a chest infection (pneumonia) or severe asthma.Ĭold hands or feet, or pale, blotchy or blue skinĬold hands or feet or pale, blotchy or blue skin might be caused by poor blood circulation or low levels of oxygen in the body, both of which can happen in serious childhood illnesses like bacterial infections or pneumonia. They might be quiet or make a grunting noise with each breath. In severe cases, your child might look very tired and blue. breathe and the muscles between their ribs pull in.have to breathe much harder to get air into their lungs.If your child is having difficulty breathing, you might notice that they: Unresponsiveness can be a sign of several serious childhood illnesses and conditions, including low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) or a life-threatening brain infection (meningitis).ĭifficulty breathing or unusual breathing If you can’t wake your child even when you try really hard many times, get help immediately. But if your child seems sleepier than usual, this can be a sign of serious childhood illnesses. It’s normal for your child to be sleepy sometimes – for example, after a feed. There’s more information about these signs and symptoms below. a rash that doesn’t fade when you press your child’s skin. cold hands or feet, or pale, blotchy or blue skin.difficulty breathing or unusual breathing. If you notice any of the following signs and symptoms, call 000 and ask for an ambulance: When to call an ambulance for childhood illnesses The quickest way to get immediate medical attention is either to call 000 and ask for an ambulance or to take your child to the emergency department at your nearest hospital. You know your child best, so trust your instincts if your child doesn’t seem well. If you notice any of the problems listed below, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Babies and young children with the signs and symptoms listed in this article are at risk of serious illnesses.
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