Common childhood illnesses

Children
Total
General

Kids constantly seem to be catching something.
If it isn’t a cold or a dribbly nose of some sort, they may be complaining of a tummy ache, scratching at something or pulling their ears in pain. If you have a young child, here’s a list of some common childhood illnesses you may (or hopefully, won't!) have to deal with.

Coughs, colds and flu

Your child’s nose is dribbling. They’re coughing and sneezing, have a bit of a sore throat, a temperature and seem unwell. If your child has recently started going to childcare, playgroup or school, this may feel like a never-ending story in your house. The good news is, these regular coughs and colds are helping to build your child’s immune system. Sometimes though, a bad cold can leave your child feeling pretty unwell, achy and uncomfortable for a week or even longer.

You can help your child feel more comfortable by:

Giving your child plenty of fluids to drink
Giving them an over-the-counter pain reliever (check you have the right dose and strength for your child’s age)
Keeping them away from smoke and anyone who smokes
For children over 6 years, over-the-counter cough medicines and throat lozenges may be suitable
Speaking to your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to help

Always encourage your child to practice good hygiene including:

Good hygiene – good hygiene includes washing your hands, covering your coughs
Physical distancing –practise physical distancing

Stay at home if you are sick – if you are unsure if you or your child should stay at home speak with your doctor.

See a GP if you are concerned about your child’s symptoms or if your child:
Is under three months and has a fever above 38°C, or if your child is immunocompromised (has a weakened immune system) due to a medical condition or medical treatment and has a fever above 38°C, even if they have no other symptoms.

For all other children, take them to see a doctor if their temperature is above 38°C and they have any of the following symptoms:

a stiff neck or light is hurting their eyes
vomiting and refusing to drink much
a rash
more sleepy than usual
problems with breathing
pain that doesn't get better with pain relief medication.

Also take your child to a doctor if they:

have a fever above 40°C, but show no other symptoms
have had any fever for more than two days
seem be getting more unwell
have had a febrile convulsion (fit that occurs when they have a fever).

Asthma

Asthma is a common reason children see a doctor. Asthma affects the
airways, making it difficult to breathe and often presents with symptoms such as
wheezing, coughing, breathlessness, and chest tightness. The severity of symptoms is different for each child with asthma.

See your doctor if you think your child may have asthma. Your doctor may carry out some tests and ask about your child's symptoms to make a diagnosis. If your child has a sudden, severe onset of symptoms, seek medical attention. If your child is struggling to breathe, dial 111 immediately.

Bronchitis/bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a common childhood illness due to an infection in the airways which affects babies and children under two years old. Early signs of bronchiolitis may include a mild cough and a runny or blocked nose. As it develops, your child may also have a slight fever, dry and persistent cough, difficulty feeding, and rapid or noisy breathing.

You should see your doctor if you think your baby has bronchiolitis.

If your baby is having breathing difficulties or having trouble feeding, they may need to be admitted to hospital for observation and care. Take your baby to the nearest hospital if they develop symptoms of bronchiolitis and they:

were born prematurely
are younger than 10 weeks old
have chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, chronic neurological conditions orthey are immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system)

At home, you can care for your child by giving them plenty of fluids and keeping an eye on their breathing. If your child has been diagnosed with bronchiolitis, talk to your doctor before giving any medicine (to relieve symptoms).

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a common childhood illness that causes diarrhoea and vomiting in children and is most often caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug. The main symptoms of illness include, watery diarrhoea, feeling sick, vomiting (may be projectile) and mild fever. They may also have a loss of appetite, aching limbs and stomach upset. The vomiting may settle quickly but the diarrhoea can last up to 10 days. You can usually look after your child at home until he or she feels better.

Ways to help care for your child at home, include:

giving them regular drinks or if breastfeeding, continue doing so.
giving them rehydrating solutions available from your pharmacist if they have signs of dehydration, which can come in pre-measured sachets or dispersible tablets that you mix with water
being very careful about hand hygiene to avoid passing along the infection. Use
soap and water and use a clean towel to dry hands very well

You should see your doctor if your child is under six months old (because they are at higher risk of dehydration).

Any child with gastro should see their doctor if they are:

are vomiting and have diarrhoea, and are not drinking
have a lot of diarrhoea (eight to 10 watery poos, or two or three large poos per day)
if the diarrhoea is not improving after 10 days
vomit frequently and seem unable to keep any fluids down
show signs of dehydration e.g. fewer wet nappies or not going to the toilet much, dark yellow or brown wee, feel lightheaded or dizzy, have dry lips and mouth
have a bad stomach pain
have any blood in their poo
have green vomit
are making you worried for any other reason.

Ear infection

If your child is pulling at their ear or complaining of ear pain, listen up–they may have an ear infection. If you think your child may have an ear infection, take them to see your doctor. Ear infections are a common childhood illness in babies and toddlers (particularly after a cold), and most are caused by viruses which cannot be treated with antibiotics. Ear infections may be painful for children, and a child may rub or pull at their ears. Young babies may simply cry and seem irritable as they can’t always tell where the pain is coming from. They may also have a temperature and discharge coming out of their ear.

To help them feel better, check with your doctor whether there are over-the-counter medicines that may help, and don’t forget to give them lots of extra cuddles!

Remember, if you think your child has an ear infection, always take them to see your doctor.

Viral conditions like chickenpox

Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella virus. This common childhood illness is easy to catch, and the main symptom is the rash–red spots that can appear anywhere on the body and fill with fluid before they begin to scab over. Blisters may burst, and some blisters may appear as others are scabbing over. Other symptoms your child may have, include a mild fever, feeling tired and irritable and itchiness. Your child will need to stay away from school or the childcare until all spots have crusted over.

See your doctor if:

they get large, sore, red areas around the rash
they become increasingly unwell, are very drowsy, have a high fever or are not drinking
you are concerned for any reason

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a common eye condition that may affect children. If your child has conjunctivitis, they may have red or pink, itchy eyes that feel gritty; their eyes may water more than usual and might have a discharge which sticks to the lashes. Conjunctivitis that is caused by viral or bacterial infection is highly contagious.

If allergies are behind your child’s conjunctivitis, their eyes may be red and watery, but they won’t be contagious. Children with allergic conjunctivitis may show other signs of hay fever, like an itchy or runny nose and sneezing.

You can help prevent the spread of infection and care for your child while they have conjunctivitis by:

encouraging them to wash their hands frequently with warm soapy water
washing pillows and face cloths in hot water and detergent
asking them to try to avoid rubbing their eyes
not sharing towels or pillows
gently cleaning away crusty discharge with clean cotton wool soaked in warm water (use a clean piece of cotton for each eye, clean in one direction only – outwards from the inside [nose side] of the eye and discard the cotton ball after each clean)

See a doctor if your child’s conjunctivitis isn’t getting better after two days, or if your child has any of the following:

severe pain
problems with their vision/eyesight
increased swelling, redness and tenderness in the eyelids and around the eyes
is generally unwell and has a fever
a persistent white spot in the cornea (the clear ‘window’ at the front of the eye)

Fever

Fever refers to a body temperature above 38^oC. It is a common occurrence in young children and may be accompanied by irritability, sleepiness, nausea/vomiting, shivering, body aches and feeling unwell. The most common cause of fever in children is infections, colds being one of the most common culprits. While it can be worrying when your child has a temperature, the fever itself is not dangerous and may in fact be helping the body to fight off the infection.

In most cases, it is not necessary to treat your child’s fever. For children older than 3 months who have a temperature less than 38.9°C and are acting normally, no treatment for fever is necessary. If your child is experiencing discomfort, you can help make them more comfortable by increasing fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration and encouraging rest as fever can make children feel tired and achy. If the fever is making your child distressed or they have other symptoms such as sore throat, try an over-the-counter fever-relieving medicine like Nurofen for Children.

See a doctor urgently if your child:

is less than 3 months old and has fever above 38°C
is immunocompromised and has fever above 38°C
has a stiff neck or light hurts their eyes
is vomiting, refusing to drink much, or is passing less urine than usual
has a rash
feels more sleepy than usual or is not responding to your voice
has problems breathing
experiences pain that does not get better with pain relief medication
has had fever for more than two days and there is no obvious cause
seems to be getting more unwell
has a seizure caused by fever

RB-M-99231

TAPS-NP18274

First published:

15th July 2021

Last updated:

14th September 2023

Important information

This article is for general information only and not intended as a substitute for medical advice. All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health-related matters, always consult your healthcare professional.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. Incorrect use could be harmful. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional. Do not use if you have a stomach ulcer. Do not give to babies under 3 months of age. Seek medical advice for children under 12 months of age. Reckitt Benckiser, Auckland.