Common illnesses

Asthma is a lung condition that often starts in childhood. There are lots of simple treatments to help keep your child's symptoms under control. 

Read our information about asthma and wheezing.

Read more about asthma.

Bronchiolitis is a common chest infection which is usually caused by a virus. It affects babies and children under 2 and can make it more difficult for them to breathe. It's usually mild and most babies and children get better on their own, but it can be serious.

Read more about bronchiolitis.

Burns are usually caused by heat and often cause damage to the skin. They can be very painful, but not always. 

Read more about burns.

Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It is very itchy and painful and can spread quickly. It usually gets better by itself. 

Read more about chickenpox.

Colic is a common problem in babies and is when they cry a lot for no reason. It usually stops when they are 3 or 4 months old. 

Read more about colic.

Constipation is the most common bowel problem in children. It is the inability to do a poo regularly or to completely empty the bowel. It is common in children of all ages, but especially when a child is being potty trained. 

Read more about constipation. 

Coughs, colds and ear infections are common in children. They can often be treated at home, but they can get worse.

Read more about coughs, colds and ear infections.

Dehydration occurs when your baby or child's body loses more fluid than they take in. Babies and children are at higher risk of becoming dehydrated. 

Read more about dehydration.

Diarrhoea and vomiting are common amongst children and babies. Both of them are often caused by a stomach bug but you should be able to treat it at home. 

Read more about diarrhoea and vomiting.

Earache or ear pain is very common in young children. It can be uncomfortable and painful, but it is not usually a sign of anything serious.

Read more about earache.

Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become itchy and dry. It is more common in children and is often a long-term condition. But, in some cases it does get better. 

Read more about eczema.

Your child’s eyesight will be checked in their first year of school. This is often called ‘vision screening’. This helps to pick up any problems early and make sure that any treatment needed is in place. It is carried out in school by one of our team whilst your child is in school. You will receive a letter about the vision screening.

Sometimes vision problems run in families such as a lazy eye (squint) or short sightedness and it is important to seek advice from a healthcare professional if you have concerns. You should not wait for the vision screening to take place in school if you are worried but should book an appointment with an optician or your GP.

Signs that your child may have a problem with their vision are if your child is:

• complaining of headaches
• rubbing their eyes a lot
• seeming clumsy
• sitting very close to the TV

Read more about vision screenings.

Febrile seizures are fits that can occur when your child has a fever. They are most common in children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. 

Read more about febrile seizures.

Fever is very common in children and is usually caused by a minor viral infection. It can normally be treated at home. A high temperature can be worrying but most children recover very quickly. 

Read more about fevers.

Allergic reactions usually happen very quickly after exposure to an allergen. Most allergic reactions are mild, but sometimes they can be severe and require urgent treatment. 

Read more about food allergies.

Glue ear is when the middle ear (the part behind the eardrum) becomes filled with sticky fluid. 4 out of 5 children will experience glue ear before the age of 10. 

Download the Hear Glue Ear app to help you manage your child's glue ear at home. 

Read more about glue ear.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is an illness which commonly affects children. Some of the symptoms experienced include a sore throat, high temperature and ulcers. Symptoms can be worse in babies and children under 5. 

Read more about hand, foot and mouth disease.

Headaches are common in children. But most headaches normally go away on their own and can be treated at home. 

Read more about headaches.

Children often experience many bangs to the head. This makes it difficult to tell if they are serious or not. Most head injuries are not serous and simply result in a bump or bruise. Occasionally head injuries do require medical attention.

Read more about head injuries.

Head lice are very common in young children. They are picked up by head-to-head contact and can be treated at home. 

Read more about head lice.

Hearing tests are routinely carried out for babies and children. These tests should help identify any problems with their hearing. 

Read more about hearing problems.

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection which anyone can get but is especially common in young children. Impetigo is very contagious but not usually serious. It often gets better 7 to 10 days after starting treatment. 

Read more about impetigo.

Measles is a very infectious viral illness that can cause serious problems in some people. If you suspect someone has measles they should be seen by a GP as soon as possible. Read more about measles.

All children in the UK are offered two doses of the MMR vaccination by the NHS. You can also have your MMR vaccines at an older age if you haven’t had them in the past. If your child has not had their MMR vaccinations, please contact your GP practice for a vaccination appointment. If your child is over the age of 1 year, you can walk in at a pop-up clinic to get their MMR vaccination. Read more about MMR walk-in clinic dates. 

Meningitis is an infection which is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can be very serious if not treated quickly. 

Read more about meningitis.

Nappy rash is where the skin becomes inflamed. It is common in babies and can usually be treated and prevented at home. 

Read more about nappy rash.

Babies and children often get rashes which normally clear up without treatment. Some rashes can be more worrying and need urgent attention. A rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it can be a symptom of a serious illness called meningitis.

Read more about rashes.

Birthmarks are coloured marks which are visible on the skin. They are often present from birth or develop soon afterwards. Some birthmarks, can look like bruises. If your child has a birthmark, it is important that it is documented on their health record and included in their red book (Personal Child Health Record).

Read more about birthmarks.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of coughs and colds. RSV infections usually get better by themselves, but can sometimes be serious for babies and older adults. Read more about about RSV.

The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill. It's recommended during pregnancy and for adults aged 75 to 79. Read more about the RSV vaccine.

There are also local walk-in RSV vaccine clinics for anyone over 28 weeks pregnant. 

Scarlet fever is a contagious infection which mostly affects young children. It causes a rash to appear on the skin and is treated with antibiotics. 

Read more about scarlet fever.

Sepsis is life threatening. It has lots of possible symptoms, which can make it hard to spot. If you think your child has sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.

Read more about sepsis.

Martha's rule is an NHS safety initiative designed to support patients, families and carers to feel listened to and their concerns acted upon if they are worried about conditions relating to their health.

Find out more about Martha's rule

Slapped cheek syndrome, also called fifth disease, is common in children. The symptoms can normally be treated at home.

Read more about slapped cheek syndrome.

Stomach pain in children is a common problem. Most children do not require any treatment and the pain will eventually go by itself. Stomach pain is often caused by constipation, gastroenteritis or urinary tract infections. 

Read our information about gastroenteritis (tummy pain).

Read more about stomach aches.

Strep A is an infection most common in children. Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics. But some are more serious. 

Read more about strep A.

If your child or young person feels a sudden or severe pain in their testicles (balls), seek medical help immediately. There are lots of possible reasons for testicular pain.

Read more about testicle pain (NHS).

Sometimes testicles can twist. This is called testicular torsion. Testicular torsion needs emergency medical care. It happens when the cord carrying blood to the testicle (spermatic cord) becomes twisted. It can range from 180 degrees (half a turn) to 720 degrees (2 full turns). The twisting cuts off the blood supplying causing sudden pain and swelling.

The testicles can twist at any time. There is nothing that a boy did or did not do that resulted in testicular torsion. It can happen during their sleep, during exercise and after an injury to testicle. 

Testicular torsion symptoms:

• Pain in the testis or scrotum. The pain is often severe, often comes on suddenly and may be associated with nausea and/or vomiting. Pain may come and go but tends not to go away.
• Swelling, especially on one side of the scrotum.
• Redness.
• Abdominal pain.
• The testicle may be sitting higher than usual in the scrotum.
• The testicle may be more horizontal than usual.

Read more about testicular torsion in teenagers (Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust).

Toothache has lots of different causes. These can include tooth decay, problems with braces or an infection. Read more about toothache.

It's important to look after your child's teeth. The best way to take care of their teeth is to brush them for 2 minutes, twice a day. Read our information on dental health. You can also read our information on brushing your baby's teeth.

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many infectious diseases. Read more about NHS vaccinations and when your child should have them.

Follow the link below to find out more about booking vaccines in your area.

The Vaccinators

You can check if your child has worms as there poo will contain tiny worms. It is common in children and can spread easily. You can treat them without seeing a GP. 

Read more about worms.