Unwell Children

Children and colds

There are some benefits, particularly for children, in catching a few coughs and colds. “Children tend to get a lot of colds because the body takes time to build up immunity. Your body learns to fight off a particular kind of virus every time you get an infection, which is why you get fewer colds as you get older.

While most bugs will run their course without doing any real harm, there are certain cases when you or your child should see a GP.

These include:

If you or your child has a chronic condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

• Babies, older and frailer people should get help if they're unwell.
• All babies under three months with a temperature of over 38°C (100.4°F) should be urgently assessed by a doctor, as should babies aged three to six months with a temperature higher than 39°C (102.2°F).
• If you have a very high temperature and feel ill. For example, if you also have an unusually severe headache or abdominal pain.
• If your child is vomiting but does not have diarrhoea, or has a rash in addition to the fever.
• If a child stops drinking and is unusually lethargic.
• If your child’s fever doesn’t respond to paracetamol or ibuprofen.