How to know if your child is ill?
As parents and carers, ensuring the well-being of our child is a top priority. Knowing when to seek medical attention can be confusing, especially when symptoms may seem unclear. The below information aims to help you identify when a child might be seriously ill and requires immediate medical attention.
Prevention and Monitoring
Vaccinations: Ensure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to prevent serious illnesses.
Regular Health Checks: Attend routine health check-ups and follow professional advice.
Trust Your Instincts: As a parent, you know your child best. If something doesn’t feel right, seek advice.
Mid Yorkshire teaching NHS trust has put together a guide in order to help parents decide where best to seek help if they are concerned their child is unwell.
Key signs of illness
| Breathing Difficulties | Struggling to breathe, with noticeable chest retractions (sucking in under ribs or around the neck). | Breathing much faster than usual or grunting sounds with each breath. | Pauses in breathing or turning blue (cyanosis) around lips or skin. |
| High Fever or Temperature | A fever over 39°C (102.2°F), especially if the child is under three months old. | Cold hands and feet, shivering, or unusual skin colour, such as mottled or very pale | A fever that doesn’t respond to medication like paracetamol or ibuprofen. |
| Severe Pain | Unrelenting pain that doesn’t ease with pain relief. | The child is persistently crying without improvement. | |
| Seizures or Fits | Seizures (shaking or twitching movements) lasting more than a few minutes. | Loss of consciousness or drowsiness that doesn’t improve after the seizure ends. | |
| Lethargy or Unresponsiveness | Difficulty waking the child, or if they’re floppy and unresponsive. | Persistent drowsiness or confusion, even after rest. | |
| Vomiting and Dehydration | Repeated vomiting combined with a refusal to drink or eat. | Dry mouth, no tears when crying, or significantly fewer wet nappies than usual. | |
| Rashes That Don’t Fade | A rash that doesn’t fade when pressed with a glass (a sign of meningitis). |
When should you seek medical help
Call 999 or Visit A&E Immediately If:
• Your child is struggling to breathe or has stopped breathing.
• They are unresponsive or difficult to wake.
• There are signs of a serious allergic reaction (swelling, difficulty breathing, or rash).
• A seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or another seizure starts immediately after.
Contact Your GP or NHS 111 If:
• Symptoms are concerning but not life-threatening.
• Your child’s condition worsens, even after treatment.
Any child requiring paediatric review on CAU should be discussed with the Paediatric Consultant on call by phoning 01924 542892. If you require non urgent advice there is also the option to e consult and receive a reply from a Paediatric consultant within 24 hours.