Self-care and additional advice
SELF-CARE AND ADDITIONAL ADVICE2
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Self-care advice
Self-care advice
- DO
-
- Give them plenty of fluids
- Look out for signs of dehydration
- Give them food if they want it
- Check on a child regularly at night
- Keep them at home
- Give them ibuprofen or paracetamol if they are distressed or unwell
- Get medical advice if they are concerned about their child
- DON'T
-
- Undress the child or sponge them down to cool them - a high temperature is a natural and healthy response to infection
- Cover them up in too many clothes or bedclothes
- Combine ibuprofen and paracetamol, unless recommended by a GP
- Give paracetamol to a child under 2 months
- Give ibuprofen to a child under 3 months or 5kg
- Give ibuprofen to a child with chicken pox unless recommended by a GP15
- Give ibuprofen to children with asthma
Call 111 or GP surgery if a child has any of these symptoms
Call 111 or GP surgery if a child has any of these symptoms
- Child under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher
- Child 3-6 months with a temperature of 39°C or higher
- Other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
- A high temperature that has lasted for 5 days or more
- Doesn't want to eat, or is not their usual self and you're worried
- A high temperature that does not come down with ibuprofen or paracetamol
- Signs of dehydration - nappies that are not very wet, sunken eyes and no tears when they are crying
Call 999 if a child has any of these symptoms
Call 999 if a child has any of these symptoms
- A stiff neck
- A rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
- Is bothered by light
- Has a fit (febrile seizure) for the first time
- Unusually cold hands and feet
- Pale, blotchy, blue or grey skin
- A weak, high-pitched cry that's not like their normal cry
- Is drowsy and hard to wake
- Is extremely agitated (does not stop crying) or is confused
- Is finding it hard to breathe and sucks their stomach in under their ribs
- Not responding like they normally do, or is not interested in feeding or normal activities