Common childhood illnesses

A friendly library of common childhood illnesses — what they are, how to care for your child at home, and the danger signs that mean you should see a doctor.

🐍 Snakebite emergency?

Don't panic, don't tie or cut the bite — immobilise the limb and rush to a hospital with anti-snake venom (ASV) immediately.

Snakebite first aid

53 conditions

Common Cold

Breathing

A mild viral infection of the nose and throat that is very common in children. Most colds get better on their own within about 1 to 2 weeks.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Runny or blocked noseSneezingCoughSore throatMild feverHoarse voiceIrritability or poor feeding in babies

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Give extra fluids; offer ORS or water if not drinking well
✓Encourage extra rest
✓Saline nose drops and gentle suction for a blocked nose in babies
✓Honey for cough only if over 1 year (never under 12 months)
✓Paracetamol as advised by your doctor if feverish or uncomfortable

🔬 Causes

Caused by viruses (most often rhinoviruses) that spread through coughs, sneezes and contaminated hands or surfaces.

🛡️ Prevention

•Frequent handwashing with soap
•Teach covering coughs and sneezes
•Keep away from people who are unwell
•Avoid exposure to smoke

See a doctor urgently if

•Difficulty or fast breathing, or chest pulling in below the ribs
•Blue or grey lips, tongue or skin
•Fever lasting more than 3 days or returning after settling
•Not drinking, far fewer wet nappies, or unusually drowsy
•Any baby 3 months or younger who becomes unwell
•Ear pain, ear discharge, or symptoms getting worse instead of better

Influenza (Flu)

Breathing

A viral infection of the respiratory tract that tends to come on suddenly and makes children feel more unwell than a common cold. Children under 5, especially under 2, are at higher risk of complications.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Sudden high fever and chillsCough and sore throatBody and muscle achesHeadacheRunny or blocked noseTiredness and feeling very unwellNausea or vomiting (more common in young children)

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Encourage plenty of fluids; offer ORS if not drinking well
✓Plenty of rest
✓Keep the child comfortable and watch breathing and alertness
✓Paracetamol as advised by your doctor for fever or aches
✓Keep the child home to avoid spreading infection

🔬 Causes

Caused by influenza viruses that spread easily through coughs, sneezes and contaminated hands or surfaces.

🛡️ Prevention

•Annual flu vaccination for children 6 months and older as advised
•Frequent handwashing
•Cover coughs and sneezes
•Keep away from people who are unwell

See a doctor urgently if

•Fast or difficult breathing, or ribs pulling in with each breath
•Bluish lips or face
•Chest pain
•Severe muscle pain or refusing to walk
•Not drinking, very few wet nappies, or signs of dehydration
•Drowsiness, confusion, or fever with a non-fading rash

COVID-19

Breathing

A respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most children have mild or no symptoms and recover at home.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

FeverCoughSore throatRunny noseHeadacheTirednessSometimes nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Encourage fluids; offer ORS if not drinking well
✓Rest
✓Monitor breathing, alertness and feeding
✓Paracetamol as advised by your doctor for fever or discomfort
✓Keep the child home and away from others while unwell

🔬 Causes

Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact.

🛡️ Prevention

•Vaccination for eligible children as advised by your doctor
•Frequent handwashing
•Cover coughs and sneezes
•Good ventilation and keeping away from people who are unwell

See a doctor urgently if

•Trouble breathing or fast breathing
•Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
•Pale, grey or blue lips, skin or nail beds
•New confusion, or difficulty waking or staying awake
•Not drinking, very few wet nappies, or signs of dehydration
•Any baby 3 months or younger who becomes unwell

Croup

Breathing

A common viral infection in young children that swells the voice box and windpipe, causing a barking cough and a harsh noisy sound when breathing in. It often starts like a cold and is usually worse at night.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Harsh, barking coughHoarse voiceNoisy, rasping breathing (stridor), especially when breathing inRunny nose and mild feverSymptoms often worse at night

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Keep your child calm, as crying and distress can make breathing worse
✓Hold and comfort your child in an upright position
✓Offer fluids regularly in small sips
✓Paracetamol as advised by your doctor if feverish or distressed
✓Stay nearby and watch breathing, especially at night

🔬 Causes

Usually caused by viruses (commonly parainfluenza) that infect and swell the upper airway.

🛡️ Prevention

•Frequent handwashing
•Cover coughs and sneezes
•Keep away from people with coughs and colds
•Keep up routine childhood vaccinations as advised

See a doctor urgently if

•Noisy, harsh breathing (stridor) heard while resting or calm
•Drooling or unable to swallow
•Struggling to breathe, very fast breathing, or skin pulling in between the ribs
•Blue or grey lips, tongue or skin
•Unusually restless, drowsy, or too breathless to talk, eat or drink

Pneumonia

Breathing

An infection of the lungs in which the tiny air sacs fill with fluid, making breathing difficult. It is a leading cause of serious illness in young children and needs prompt medical assessment.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

CoughFast or difficult breathingLower chest pulling in (indrawing) when breathingFeverWheezing (more common with viral causes)Poor feeding and tiredness

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Seek medical assessment promptly, as pneumonia often needs treatment from a doctor
✓Keep offering fluids and feeds; ORS if not drinking well
✓Encourage rest
✓Paracetamol as advised by your doctor for fever or discomfort
✓Watch breathing and alertness closely

🔬 Causes

Caused by bacteria (such as pneumococcus and Hib) or viruses (such as RSV) that infect the lungs.

🛡️ Prevention

•Routine vaccines (pneumococcal, Hib, measles, whooping cough) as advised
•Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months
•Good nutrition
•Reduce indoor smoke and avoid exposure to smoking
•Handwashing and good hygiene

See a doctor urgently if

•Fast or laboured breathing, or chest indrawing
•Blue or grey lips, tongue or skin
•Unable to drink or feed
•Drowsy, very lethargic, unconscious, or having convulsions
•Grunting with each breath, or noisy breathing while calm
•Fever not improving or the child getting worse

Bronchiolitis

Breathing

A common viral chest infection in babies under 2 that swells the smallest airways in the lungs and makes breathing harder. It usually starts like a cold and most children recover at home.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Runny or blocked noseCough that may worsen after a day or twoFaster breathingMild feverDifficulty feeding because of a blocked noseWheezing or rattly breathing

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer small, frequent feeds or fluids
✓Keep nasal passages clear with saline drops and gentle suction
✓Keep your baby upright when feeding and watch breathing
✓Paracetamol as advised by your doctor if feverish and uncomfortable
✓Keep your baby away from smoke

🔬 Causes

Usually caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses, most common in the winter months.

🛡️ Prevention

•Frequent handwashing and keep surfaces clean
•Keep babies away from people with coughs and colds
•Avoid exposure to smoke
•Preventive immunisation for eligible babies as advised by your doctor

See a doctor urgently if

•Working hard to breathe, fast breathing, or tummy and ribs sucking in
•Pauses in breathing (more than about 10 seconds) or grunting with each breath out
•Blue or grey lips, tongue or skin
•Feeding much less than usual or far fewer wet nappies
•Floppy, very drowsy, or hard to wake

Asthma / Viral Wheeze

Breathing

Conditions where the airways narrow and become inflamed, causing wheezing, cough and breathlessness. Some young children wheeze only during colds (viral wheeze), while asthma tends to flare with several triggers.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)Cough, often worse at night or with activityBreathlessnessChest tightnessSymptoms triggered by colds, exercise, smoke or allergens

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Follow your child's asthma action plan and use prescribed inhalers as advised by your doctor
✓Keep your child calm and sit them upright
✓Identify and avoid known triggers such as smoke
✓Keep regular check-ups to keep symptoms controlled
✓Make sure inhaler technique is correct as shown by your doctor

🔬 Causes

Caused by sensitive, inflamed airways reacting to triggers such as viral colds, smoke, pollen, dust or animals.

🛡️ Prevention

•Avoid known triggers, including tobacco smoke
•Take preventer medicines regularly as advised by your doctor
•Keep an up-to-date asthma action plan
•Manage allergies such as hay fever

See a doctor urgently if

•Too breathless to speak, eat, play or sleep
•Reliever inhaler not helping, or needed more often than advised
•Fast or hard breathing, or ribs and tummy pulling in
•Blue or grey lips, tongue or skin
•Symptoms getting rapidly worse or the child becoming exhausted

Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)

Allergy

Inflammation inside the nose caused by an allergic reaction to something the child breathes in, such as pollen, dust or animal dander. It is uncomfortable but not dangerous, though it can disturb sleep and worsen asthma.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

SneezingRunny or blocked noseItchy nose, eyes or throatRed, watery eyesPostnasal drip and coughTiredness or poor concentration

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Identify and avoid known triggers where possible
✓Keep windows shut and limit outdoor time when pollen is high
✓Rinse pollen off with a wash and change of clothes after being outdoors
✓Reduce house dust and pet exposure
✓See your doctor about suitable allergy treatments if symptoms persist

🔬 Causes

Caused by an allergic reaction to airborne allergens such as pollen, house dust mites, mould or animal dander.

🛡️ Prevention

•Reduce exposure to known allergens
•Keep indoor spaces free of dust and mould
•Limit contact with pets if they trigger symptoms
•Use allergy treatments before the pollen season as advised by your doctor

See a doctor urgently if

•Wheezing, breathlessness, or worsening asthma symptoms
•Swelling of the lips, tongue or face, or difficulty breathing (possible severe allergy)
•Symptoms severely disrupting sleep, school or daily life
•Facial pain, thick discoloured discharge, or fever suggesting a sinus infection

Sore Throat / Tonsillitis

Ear & eye

Inflammation of the throat and tonsils that makes swallowing uncomfortable. It is very common in children and most cases are caused by viruses and settle within a few days.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Sore throat and painful swallowingRed or swollen tonsils, sometimes with white or yellow patchesFeverSwollen glands in the neckHeadacheEaracheTiredness and reduced appetite

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Encourage rest
✓Offer plenty of cool drinks; ORS or water if not drinking well
✓Offer soft foods if swallowing is painful
✓Paracetamol as advised by your doctor for pain or fever
✓Most sore throats do not need antibiotics and settle in a few days

🔬 Causes

Most often caused by viruses such as cold or flu viruses, but can sometimes be a bacterial infection such as strep throat.

🛡️ Prevention

•Frequent handwashing
•Cover coughs and sneezes
•Avoid sharing cups and utensils
•Keep away from people who are unwell

See a doctor urgently if

•Difficulty breathing or swallowing
•Drooling or unable to swallow saliva
•Difficulty opening the mouth, or muffled voice with severe one-sided throat swelling
•Not drinking and showing signs of dehydration
•Very drowsy, confused, or a non-fading rash
•Any baby 3 months or younger with a fever

Ear Infection (Acute Otitis Media)

Ear & eye

An infection of the middle ear, common in young children, that causes earache and sometimes fever. Most cases improve on their own within a few days.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Earache, or tugging/rubbing the ear in younger childrenFeverIrritability and cryingPoor feedingRestlessness or trouble sleepingSometimes fluid or discharge draining from the earReduced hearing

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Most ear infections clear up on their own within about 3 days
✓Offer fluids and keep your child comfortable
✓Paracetamol as advised by your doctor for pain or fever
✓Do not put cotton buds, oil or anything inside the ear
✓See a doctor if not improving in 3 days, or sooner if your child is very unwell

🔬 Causes

Often follows a cold; caused by viruses or bacteria that infect the middle ear behind the eardrum.

🛡️ Prevention

•Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke
•Keep up routine childhood vaccinations as advised
•Frequent handwashing to reduce colds
•Breastfeeding where possible

See a doctor urgently if

•Swelling, redness or tenderness of the bone behind the ear
•Fast or laboured breathing
•Severe headache, neck stiffness, or avoiding bright light
•Very drowsy, confused, or inconsolable crying
•Pale, blue or mottled skin and unusually cold to touch
•Any baby 3 months or younger with a fever

Diarrhoea & Dehydration

Tummy

Diarrhoea means passing 3 or more loose or watery stools a day, or more often than normal for your child. The main danger is dehydration (loss of body fluids and salts), which can become serious quickly in young children.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Loose or watery stools, more often than usualTummy pain or crampsVomitingFever (sometimes)Loss of appetiteSigns of dehydration: dry mouth, fewer wet nappies, thirst

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Give ORS (oral rehydration solution) after each loose stool to replace lost fluids and salts
✓Keep breastfeeding or formula feeding as normal, and feed more often
✓Continue giving food and home fluids; do not starve the child
✓Give zinc supplementation only as advised by your doctor
✓Avoid fruit juice and fizzy or sugary drinks, which can worsen diarrhoea
✓Wash hands well after toilet/nappy changes and before feeding

🔬 Causes

Usually a viral, bacterial or parasitic gut infection (such as rotavirus) spread through contaminated food, water or unwashed hands.

🛡️ Prevention

•Safe drinking water and good food hygiene
•Wash hands with soap, especially before food and after the toilet
•Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months
•Rotavirus vaccination
•Improved sanitation and safe disposal of stools

See a doctor urgently if

•Signs of dehydration: sunken eyes, no tears when crying, very little or no urine
•Lethargy, drowsiness, or skin pinch that goes back slowly
•Blood in the stool
•Repeated vomiting or unable to keep fluids down
•High fever, or diarrhoea lasting more than 14 days
•Any unwell baby under 6 months

Gastroenteritis / Vomiting

Tummy

Gastroenteritis is a short-lived stomach and gut infection that causes vomiting and/or diarrhoea. It is very common in children and usually settles on its own within a few days.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Sudden vomitingWatery diarrhoeaTummy pain or crampsMild feverLoss of appetiteFeeling tired or unwell

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer frequent small sips of fluid or ORS to prevent dehydration
✓Keep breastfeeding or bottle feeding; offer small, frequent feeds
✓Do not dilute formula; make it at normal strength
✓Reintroduce normal food once vomiting settles; let the child rest
✓Avoid fruit juice and fizzy drinks until recovered
✓Wash hands and clean surfaces well to stop spread

🔬 Causes

Most often a viral or bacterial gut infection or food poisoning, spread by contaminated food, water or contact with an infected person.

🛡️ Prevention

•Wash hands well with soap and water
•Safe food handling and clean drinking water
•Keep an unwell child away from others until 48 hours after symptoms stop
•Rotavirus vaccination for babies

See a doctor urgently if

•Signs of dehydration: sunken eyes, dry mouth, very little or no urine
•Unable to keep any fluids down, or repeated vomiting
•Blood in vomit or stool, or green vomit
•Severe or constant tummy pain
•High fever, drowsiness or floppiness
•Any unwell baby under 12 months

Constipation

Tummy

Constipation means a child passes hard, dry stools, poos less often than usual, or finds it painful or difficult to go. It is very common, especially around potty training, and usually improves with simple changes.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Fewer than 3 poos in a weekHard, dry or pellet-like stoolsStraining or pain when passing stoolTummy ache, eased after a pooPoor appetite or lack of energySoiling (runny leakage) in older children with hard stool inside

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer plenty of water and fluids through the day
✓Give more fibre: fruits, vegetables and whole grains
✓For babies under 6 months, continue normal milk feeds as usual
✓Encourage regular, unhurried toilet time, especially after meals
✓Make sure feet are supported flat on a stool while on the toilet
✓Encourage active play and movement

🔬 Causes

Often linked to not enough fibre or fluids, holding in poo to avoid pain, or changes in routine such as potty training or starting school.

🛡️ Prevention

•Fibre-rich diet with fruits and vegetables
•Enough daily fluids
•Regular toilet routine and active play
•A calm, no-pressure approach to potty training

See a doctor urgently if

•Constipation in a baby under a few weeks old
•Blood in the stool or on wiping
•Severe tummy pain, swelling or vomiting
•Not passing any stool or wind for a long time
•Weight loss or not feeding well
•Constipation that does not improve with home care

Reflux / GERD in Infants

Tummy

Reflux (spitting up) is when milk comes back up from a baby's stomach. It is very normal in healthy babies who feed well and are not distressed ("happy spitters"), and it usually improves as the baby grows.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Bringing up milk or spitting up after feedsMild hiccups or small possets of milkUsually content and feeding well between episodesMay be a little unsettled at timesOften starts around 2-3 weeks, peaks at 4-5 monthsUsually settles by 9-12 months of age

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Feed in a more upright position and hold baby upright after feeds
✓Burp the baby during and after feeds
✓Offer smaller, more frequent feeds
✓Keep breastfeeding; do not stop normal feeding
✓Thicken feeds or change formula only if advised by your doctor
✓Always place baby on their back to sleep

🔬 Causes

The muscle at the top of the stomach is still immature in babies, so milk easily comes back up; it is part of normal development, not an illness, in most babies.

🛡️ Prevention

•Reflux is normal and cannot always be prevented
•Upright feeding and burping can reduce spitting up
•Avoid overfeeding; try smaller, frequent feeds

See a doctor urgently if

•Poor weight gain or not enough wet nappies
•Forceful or projectile vomiting
•Blood or green colour in the spit-up or stool
•Refusing feeds, or crying and arching in pain during feeds
•Breathing problems, coughing or choking
•Spitting up that starts after 6 months or continues past 12 months

Rotavirus

Vaccine-preventable

Rotavirus is a very contagious virus that causes severe watery diarrhoea and vomiting, mainly in babies and young children. The biggest risk is dehydration, but it is preventable with a vaccine.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Severe watery diarrhoeaVomitingFeverTummy painLoss of appetiteSigns of dehydration if fluids are not replaced

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Give ORS frequently to replace lost fluids and salts
✓Keep breastfeeding or formula feeding, and feed more often
✓Offer small, frequent sips if the child is vomiting
✓Continue feeding age-appropriate food during recovery
✓Wash hands well to avoid spreading it to others

🔬 Causes

Caused by the rotavirus, which spreads easily through the faecal-oral route via contaminated hands, surfaces and objects.

🛡️ Prevention

•Rotavirus vaccine is the best protection for babies
•Wash hands with soap, especially after nappy changes
•Safe drinking water and good hygiene
•Clean contaminated surfaces and objects

See a doctor urgently if

•Decreased or no urine, dry mouth, crying with few or no tears
•Sunken eyes or skin pinch that goes back slowly
•Unusual sleepiness, floppiness or hard to wake
•Unable to keep any fluids down
•Blood in stool or high fever
•Any young baby who is clearly unwell

Hepatitis A

Vaccine-preventable

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. It does not cause long-term liver disease, and young children often have no symptoms, though they can still pass the virus to others.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Often no symptoms in children under 6 yearsFever and tirednessLoss of appetite and nauseaTummy discomfortDark urineYellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Rest and allow several weeks for full recovery
✓Give plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
✓Offer a normal, well-balanced diet as tolerated
✓Avoid medicines that stress the liver unless your doctor advises
✓Wash hands well to avoid spreading it to others

🔬 Causes

Spread by the faecal-oral route, usually through water or food contaminated with the virus, or close contact with an infected person.

🛡️ Prevention

•Hepatitis A vaccination
•Safe drinking water and proper sanitation
•Wash hands before food and after the toilet or nappy changes
•Eat freshly cooked food and avoid unsafe water

See a doctor urgently if

•Deepening jaundice (very yellow eyes or skin)
•Repeated vomiting or unable to keep fluids down
•Very drowsy, confused or hard to wake
•Severe tummy pain
•Signs of dehydration
•Any baby or young child who becomes very unwell

Intestinal Worms

Tummy

Intestinal worms (soil-transmitted helminths such as roundworm, whipworm and hookworm) are parasites that live in the gut. Light infections often cause no symptoms, but heavier ones can affect a child's nutrition and growth.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Often no symptoms with light infectionTummy painDiarrhoeaLoss of appetite and weaknessTiredness or paleness (from anaemia)Poor weight gain or slowed growth

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Take deworming medicine only as advised by your doctor or health programme
✓Offer a nutritious diet to support recovery
✓Keep nails short and clean and discourage putting hands in the mouth
✓Wash hands well before eating and after using the toilet
✓Wash fruits and vegetables and use safe drinking water

🔬 Causes

Children get infected by swallowing worm eggs from contaminated soil, water or unwashed food, or (for hookworm) by walking barefoot on infected soil.

🛡️ Prevention

•Periodic deworming as advised by health programmes
•Wash hands with soap and keep nails clean
•Wear footwear, especially on soil
•Use safe water, washed produce and proper sanitation

See a doctor urgently if

•Visible worms in stool with ongoing tummy pain
•Severe or persistent tummy pain or swelling
•Significant weight loss or poor growth
•Marked paleness, tiredness or breathlessness (possible anaemia)
•Blood in the stool
•Vomiting or refusal to eat

Infant Colic

Tummy

Colic is when an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby cries a lot for no clear reason. It is common, harmless and usually settles on its own by 3 to 4 months of age.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Intense crying, often for more than 3 hours a dayCrying worse in the late afternoon or eveningClenched fists and flushed faceDrawing up the knees or arching the backTummy rumbling or passing windHard to soothe during episodes

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Hold and cuddle your baby during crying spells
✓Hold baby upright during feeds and wind after feeds
✓Try gentle rocking, a warm bath or soft background (white) noise
✓Keep up normal feeding patterns
✓Take breaks and ask for support so you can stay calm

🔬 Causes

The exact cause is not known; an immature digestive system or, occasionally, cow's milk allergy may play a part.

🛡️ Prevention

•Colic cannot usually be prevented and is not your fault
•Calm feeding and winding may help reduce episodes
•Avoid unproven herbal drops or remedies without medical advice

See a doctor urgently if

•A weak, high-pitched or unusual cry not like the baby's normal cry
•Fever, vomiting or diarrhoea
•Poor feeding or poor weight gain
•Blood in the stool
•Baby seems floppy, very drowsy or unwell
•Crying that continues beyond 4 months of age

Oral Thrush (Oral Candidiasis)

Infections

Oral thrush is a common, usually harmless fungal (Candida) infection in a baby's mouth. It shows up as white patches and can sometimes make feeding uncomfortable.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

White patches on the tongue or inside the mouthCoating that looks like cottage cheese and does not wipe off easilyWhite spots on the gums or inner cheeksReluctance or fussiness during feedsMild soreness in the mouth

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓See a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment
✓Keep breastfeeding or bottle feeding and watch how well baby feeds
✓Sterilise dummies, bottles and teats after each use
✓For breastfeeding mothers, look after your own nipple and skin care
✓Give antifungal treatment only as advised by your doctor

🔬 Causes

An overgrowth of Candida yeast, which is more likely in young babies or after a course of antibiotics.

🛡️ Prevention

•Sterilise bottles, teats and dummies regularly
•Good hygiene for feeding equipment and caregiver hands
•Use antibiotics only when prescribed

See a doctor urgently if

•Baby is feeding poorly or refusing feeds
•Signs of dehydration from not feeding
•Patches spreading or not improving with treatment
•White patches with fever or the baby seeming unwell
•Thrush that keeps coming back

Teething

Teeth

Teething is when a baby's first teeth push through the gums, usually between about 6 and 10 months. It can cause mild discomfort but is a normal part of development.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Drooling more than usualWanting to chew or bite on thingsSore, swollen or tender gumsBeing more irritable or unsettledMild fussiness around feeds or sleep

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Gently rub the sore gum with a clean finger
✓Offer a clean, chilled (not frozen) teething ring or wet washcloth
✓Give something safe to chew on under supervision
✓Wipe away drool to prevent skin irritation
✓Use paracetamol only as advised by your doctor
✓Avoid teething gels with benzocaine and avoid amber teething necklaces

🔬 Causes

Caused by new baby teeth breaking through the gums as part of normal growth.

🛡️ Prevention

•Teething is normal and cannot be prevented
•Start gentle gum and tooth cleaning as teeth appear
•Avoid sugary drinks in bottles to protect new teeth

See a doctor urgently if

•High fever (teething does not cause fever)
•Diarrhoea lasting more than a day (not caused by teething)
•Constant or inconsolable crying
•Refusing feeds or seeming unwell
•Any symptom that makes you worry it is an infection

Dengue

Mosquito-borne

Dengue is a viral infection spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, which typically bites during the day. Most children recover in about a week, but a small number develop severe, life-threatening dengue.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

High feverPain behind the eyesMuscle, joint and bone painHeadacheNausea and vomitingSkin rashFeeling very tired

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Give plenty of fluids and ORS to prevent dehydration
✓Encourage rest
✓For fever, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor
✓Avoid painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin (NSAIDs), as they increase bleeding risk
✓Watch closely for warning signs, especially as the fever drops
✓Confirm the diagnosis with a blood test as advised by your doctor

🔬 Causes

Caused by the dengue virus, spread to children through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

🛡️ Prevention

•Remove stagnant water around the home where mosquitoes breed
•Use mosquito nets and screens, including during the day
•Apply mosquito repellent on exposed skin
•Dress children in long-sleeved clothing

See a doctor urgently if

•Severe abdominal pain or tenderness
•Persistent vomiting (3 or more times)
•Bleeding from gums or nose, or blood in vomit/stool
•Lethargy, restlessness or irritability
•Cold, clammy or pale skin
•Warning signs appearing as the fever goes away need immediate hospital care

Malaria

Mosquito-borne

Malaria is a serious infection spread by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, which usually bites at night. It is curable when diagnosed and treated early, but can become life-threatening in children.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Fever, often with chills and shiveringHeadacheBody and muscle achesFeeling very tired or weakNausea or vomitingDiarrhoeaSweating

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Malaria must be confirmed with a blood test and treated by a doctor; never self-treat
✓Give plenty of fluids and ORS to prevent dehydration
✓Encourage rest
✓For fever, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor
✓Complete the full course of medicine exactly as prescribed

🔬 Causes

Caused by Plasmodium parasites, spread to children through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito.

🛡️ Prevention

•Sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets
•Use mosquito repellent on exposed skin
•Remove stagnant water where mosquitoes breed
•Use window screens and cover exposed skin in the evening

See a doctor urgently if

•High fever with chills or rigors
•Drowsiness, confusion or difficulty waking
•Seizures (fits)
•Difficulty breathing or fast breathing
•Very pale skin, yellow eyes, or passing little urine

Chikungunya

Mosquito-borne

Chikungunya is a viral infection spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It causes fever and joint pain; most children recover fully, though joint pain can sometimes last longer.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Sudden high feverSevere joint pain or swellingMuscle painHeadacheSkin rashNauseaFeeling very tired

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Give plenty of fluids and ORS to prevent dehydration
✓Encourage rest
✓For fever and pain, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor
✓Avoid painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin until dengue has been ruled out
✓Gentle movement may help ease stiff, painful joints

🔬 Causes

Caused by the chikungunya virus, spread to children through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

🛡️ Prevention

•Remove stagnant water around the home where mosquitoes breed
•Use mosquito nets and window screens, including during the day
•Apply mosquito repellent on exposed skin
•Dress children in long-sleeved clothing

See a doctor urgently if

•Very high fever that does not settle
•Unable to drink or keep fluids down
•Persistent vomiting
•Drowsiness or unusual irritability
•Severe pain or signs of dehydration

Typhoid Fever

Infections

Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated food or water. It causes a prolonged high fever and needs antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Prolonged high feverHeadacheTummy (abdominal) painLoss of appetiteFeeling very tired or weakConstipation or diarrhoeaNauseaSometimes a faint rash

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Typhoid needs antibiotics prescribed by a doctor; complete the full course
✓Give plenty of safe (boiled or treated) fluids and ORS to prevent dehydration
✓For fever, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor
✓Offer small, soft, easy-to-digest meals
✓Wash hands well and use only safe food and water during recovery

🔬 Causes

Caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria, usually spread through food or water contaminated by infected stool.

🛡️ Prevention

•Drink only safe, boiled or treated water
•Eat freshly cooked, hot food and wash fruits and vegetables
•Wash hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet
•Ask your doctor about the typhoid vaccine

See a doctor urgently if

•High fever that stays up or keeps rising
•Severe abdominal pain or a swollen, distended tummy
•Confusion or unusual drowsiness
•Blood in the stool
•Persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration

Childhood Tuberculosis (TB)

Infections

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that most often affects the lungs but can affect other parts of the body. It is preventable and curable but needs a long, complete course of treatment under a doctor.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Cough lasting more than 2 weeksFever, often in the eveningNight sweatsWeight loss or poor weight gainFeeling tired or low on energyReduced appetiteSometimes swollen glands in the neck

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓TB must be evaluated and treated by a doctor; have your child tested if they have symptoms
✓Give all medicines exactly as prescribed and never stop early, even once the child feels better
✓Complete the full treatment course, which can last several months
✓Offer a nourishing diet to support recovery
✓Tell the doctor if anyone in close contact has TB so they can be checked

🔬 Causes

Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, spread through the air when a person with lung TB coughs.

🛡️ Prevention

•Ensure the BCG vaccine is given as per the immunisation schedule
•Keep rooms well ventilated and let in sunlight
•Get household contacts of a TB patient tested and treated
•Cover coughs and sneezes and maintain good hygiene

See a doctor urgently if

•Cough lasting more than 2 weeks
•Ongoing weight loss or failure to gain weight
•Evening fever or night sweats that do not settle
•Close contact with someone who has TB
•Coughing up blood or difficulty breathing

Fever & Febrile Seizures

Brain & nerves

A febrile seizure is a fit that can happen when a young child has a high fever, usually between 6 months and 6 years of age. Most are brief and harmless and do not cause lasting harm.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

High temperature (fever)Stiffening of the bodyJerking of the arms and legsEyes rolling backLoss of consciousness for a short timeDrowsiness or confusion for a short while afterwards

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓During a seizure, place your child on their side on a safe, soft surface
✓Do NOT put anything in their mouth and do not restrain them
✓Move nearby objects away and time how long the seizure lasts
✓Stay calm and stay with your child until it passes
✓For fever once recovered, offer cool fluids and use paracetamol only as advised by your doctor
✓Note that fever medicine does not prevent febrile seizures

🔬 Causes

Triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature during a fever, most often from a common childhood infection.

🛡️ Prevention

•Febrile seizures usually cannot be prevented and are not caused by parents missing a fever
•Keep your child comfortable and well hydrated during a fever
•Treat the underlying infection as advised by your doctor

See a doctor urgently if

•Seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (call for emergency help)
•Your child's first-ever seizure
•More than one seizure in a row or within 24 hours
•Difficulty breathing or turning blue
•Very drowsy, unresponsive, or a stiff neck
•Seizure affecting only one side of the body

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Vaccine-preventable

Chickenpox is a very contagious viral infection that causes an itchy, blister-like rash all over the body. It is usually mild in healthy children and clears on its own in about 1 to 2 weeks.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Itchy rash of small red spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters, then scabsSpots can appear all over, including scalp, mouth and genitalsFeverTiredness and body achesLoss of appetiteSometimes a cough or runny nose before the rash

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration; cool ice lollies can soothe mouth blisters
✓Use calamine lotion, cooling gels or lukewarm baths to ease itching
✓Dress in loose, soft cotton clothing
✓Keep fingernails short and use mittens or socks on hands to stop scratching and scarring
✓For fever, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor
✓Avoid ibuprofen or other NSAIDs (may worsen skin infection) and never give aspirin to children (linked to Reye's syndrome)

🔬 Causes

Caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which spreads easily through coughs, sneezes and contact with the blister fluid.

🛡️ Prevention

•The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine is the best protection
•Keep an infected child home until all blisters have crusted over
•Avoid contact with newborns, pregnant women and people with weak immunity
•Wash hands often and avoid sharing utensils or towels

See a doctor urgently if

•Skin around blisters becomes red, hot, swollen or very painful (possible bacterial infection)
•Trouble breathing or chest pain
•Unusual drowsiness, confusion or hard to wake
•Stiff neck or repeated vomiting
•Signs of dehydration (very little urine, no tears, dry mouth)
•Chickenpox in a newborn baby or a child with weak immunity

Measles

Vaccine-preventable

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that causes fever and a spreading red rash. It can lead to serious complications, especially in young and undernourished children.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

High feverCough, runny nose and red, watery eyesTiny white spots inside the cheeks (Koplik spots)Red-brown blotchy rash starting on the face and spreading down the bodyTiredness and irritabilityLoss of appetite

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Give plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
✓Encourage rest in a comfortable, dimly lit room if eyes are sensitive to light
✓Gently clean crusts from the eyes with cooled boiled water
✓For fever, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor (never give aspirin to children)
✓Vitamin A may be given as advised by your doctor to reduce complications
✓Keep the child away from others, especially babies and pregnant women, while infectious

🔬 Causes

Caused by the measles virus, which spreads very easily through the air from coughs and sneezes and can linger in a room for up to two hours.

🛡️ Prevention

•Two doses of the measles-containing (MMR) vaccine give strong protection
•Vaccination is part of India's national immunisation schedule
•Keep an infected child away from others until cleared by a doctor
•Vitamin A supplementation as advised helps reduce severity

See a doctor urgently if

•Difficulty or fast breathing
•Fever that stays very high or returns after improving
•Ear pain or discharge
•Drowsiness, confusion or seizures (fits)
•Signs of dehydration (very little urine, sunken eyes, no tears)
•Severe diarrhoea or refusing to drink

Mumps

Vaccine-preventable

Mumps is a contagious viral infection best known for causing painful swelling of the glands at the sides of the face. It usually gets better on its own within about two weeks.

👶 Usually affects: School age

🔎 Symptoms

Painful swelling of the cheeks and jaw (swollen salivary glands)Pain when chewing or swallowingFeverHeadacheAching muscles and jointsTiredness and loss of appetite

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer plenty of fluids; avoid sour or acidic drinks that increase gland pain
✓Give soft, easy-to-chew foods
✓Apply a warm or cool compress to swollen glands for comfort
✓Encourage rest
✓For fever or pain, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor (never give aspirin to children)

🔬 Causes

Caused by the mumps virus, which spreads through saliva droplets from coughs, sneezes and close contact.

🛡️ Prevention

•Two doses of the MMR vaccine give strong protection
•Keep an infected child home for about 5 days after swelling starts
•Wash hands often and avoid sharing cups or utensils

See a doctor urgently if

•Severe headache with a stiff neck (possible meningitis)
•Drowsiness, confusion or seizures
•Repeated vomiting or severe abdominal pain
•Painful, swollen testicles in boys
•New hearing problems
•Signs of dehydration or refusing to drink

Rubella (German Measles)

Vaccine-preventable

Rubella is a usually mild viral infection that causes a light red rash. It is most dangerous in pregnancy, where it can seriously harm the unborn baby.

👶 Usually affects: School age

🔎 Symptoms

Pink or light-red rash starting on the face and spreading down the bodyMild feverSwollen, tender glands behind the ears and at the back of the neckRunny or stuffy noseRed or sore eyesAching joints (more common in older children)

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Give plenty of fluids and encourage rest
✓Offer soft foods if the child is uncomfortable
✓For fever, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor (never give aspirin to children)
✓Keep the child away from others, especially pregnant women, while infectious

🔬 Causes

Caused by the rubella virus, which spreads through coughs and sneezes from an infected person.

🛡️ Prevention

•Two doses of the MMR vaccine give strong protection
•Vaccination is part of India's national immunisation schedule
•Keep an infected child away from pregnant women and others until cleared

See a doctor urgently if

•Pregnant women exposed to rubella should seek medical advice urgently
•Unusual drowsiness, confusion or seizures
•Severe headache or stiff neck
•Unusual bruising or bleeding
•High fever that does not settle

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Infections

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common, mild viral infection in young children that causes mouth sores and a rash on the hands and feet. It usually clears on its own in 7 to 10 days.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Fever and flu-like feelingSore throat and painful mouth ulcersSmall blisters or spots on the hands and soles of the feetSpots may also appear on the buttocks or legsLoss of appetite and refusing to eat or drinkTiredness and irritability

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer plenty of cool fluids in small, frequent sips to prevent dehydration
✓Give soft, cool foods and avoid spicy, salty or acidic items that sting the mouth
✓A pharmacist can advise on suitable mouth-ulcer gels or sprays for children
✓For fever or pain, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor (never give aspirin to children)
✓Encourage rest and frequent handwashing

🔬 Causes

Caused by viruses (commonly coxsackievirus) that spread through coughs, sneezes, saliva, blister fluid and contact with poo.

🛡️ Prevention

•Wash hands often with soap, especially after nappy changes and toilet use
•Avoid sharing cups, cutlery, towels and toys
•Keep a sick child home while feverish or unwell to limit spread
•Clean and disinfect surfaces and soiled items

See a doctor urgently if

•Signs of dehydration (very little urine, dry mouth, no tears)
•Refusing all fluids because of mouth pain
•Very high fever or fever that will not come down
•Fever lasting more than a few days or symptoms getting worse
•Drowsiness, severe headache or unusual irritability

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Vaccine-preventable

Whooping cough is a contagious bacterial infection that causes long bouts of severe coughing. It is especially dangerous for young babies, who can stop breathing.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Starts like a cold with a runny nose and mild coughSevere coughing fits that come in bursts, often worse at nightA 'whoop' sound or gasp when breathing in after coughing (may be absent in babies)Going red or blue in the face during coughingVomiting after coughing fitsIn babies: pauses in breathing (apnoea) and the cough may be slight or absent

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer plenty of fluids and small, frequent feeds
✓Keep the child rested in a calm, smoke-free environment
✓Sit the child upright during coughing fits and stay calm and reassuring
✓For fever, use only paracetamol as advised by your doctor (never give aspirin to children)
✓Wash hands often and keep the child away from babies while infectious

🔬 Causes

Caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which spreads through droplets from coughs and sneezes.

🛡️ Prevention

•The DPT / pentavalent vaccine protects babies and is part of India's immunisation schedule
•Vaccination in pregnancy helps protect newborns
•Keep infants away from anyone with a persistent cough
•Wash hands often and cover coughs and sneezes

See a doctor urgently if

•Pauses in breathing (apnoea) in a baby
•Lips, face or skin turning blue or grey (call emergency help)
•Struggling to breathe or breathing very fast
•A baby under 6 months who is feeding poorly or seems very unwell
•Coughing fits causing exhaustion, vomiting or going floppy
•Any baby with a worsening cough or signs of dehydration

Diphtheria

Vaccine-preventable

Diphtheria is a serious, potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that usually affects the nose and throat. It is a medical emergency and needs immediate hospital treatment.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Sore throat and difficulty swallowingA thick grey-white coating (membrane) over the throat, tonsils or noseFeverSwollen glands and neck swelling ('bull neck' in severe cases)Difficulty breathingHoarse voice and weakness

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Diphtheria is a medical emergency and cannot be managed at home — seek hospital care immediately
✓While arranging urgent care, keep the child calm and upright to ease breathing
✓Keep the child away from others to prevent spread
✓Phone ahead before going to the clinic or hospital so staff can prepare

🔬 Causes

Caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which spreads through coughs, sneezes and close contact or by sharing contaminated items.

🛡️ Prevention

•The DPT / pentavalent vaccine protects against diphtheria and is part of India's immunisation schedule
•Booster doses keep protection up to date
•Avoid close contact with anyone who has diphtheria and seek medical advice if exposed

See a doctor urgently if

•Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
•Difficulty swallowing or drooling
•A grey or white membrane seen in the throat
•Marked neck swelling ('bull neck')
•Skin or lips turning blue
•Any suspected diphtheria — treat as an emergency

Scabies

Skin

Scabies is a very itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin and lay eggs. It is common and spreads easily through close skin contact.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Intense itching, usually worse at nightTiny red spots or a raised rashItchy bumps between the fingers, on wrists, armpits, waist or groinScratch marks across the bodyIn babies, rash can affect palms, soles, head and neckRash may be harder to see on darker skin

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓See a doctor or pharmacist for the prescribed cream or lotion to apply over the whole body
✓Treat everyone in the household and all close contacts at the same time, even if they have no symptoms
✓Wash all bedding, towels and clothing on the first treatment day in hot water (60C or higher) and dry on a hot setting
✓Seal items that cannot be washed in a plastic bag for at least 3 days
✓Keep fingernails short and avoid scratching to prevent skin infection
✓Repeat the treatment after 7 days as advised

🔬 Causes

Caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin, spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

🛡️ Prevention

•Avoid close skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has scabies until they are treated
•Treat all household members and close contacts together
•Do not share bedding, towels or clothing
•Wash bedding and clothes in hot water during treatment

See a doctor urgently if

•Child under 2 years with suspected scabies (needs a doctor)
•Signs of skin infection: redness, warmth, pus or crusting
•A crusted, thick or flaky widespread rash
•Itching that continues 2 to 4 weeks after completing treatment
•Fever or the child becoming generally unwell

Ringworm (Tinea)

Skin

Ringworm is a common fungal skin infection (not a worm) that often forms a ring-shaped, scaly, itchy rash. It is extremely common in India's warm, humid climate.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

A ring-shaped rash that may be scaly, dry or swollenItching of the affected areaRash that looks red or darker than surrounding skinA clearer patch of skin in the middle of the ringCan appear on the body, groin, feet or scalpOn the scalp it may cause patchy hair lossRings that slowly get bigger or join together

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Use the antifungal cream or treatment prescribed or recommended by a doctor or pharmacist
✓Complete the full course of treatment even after the rash looks better, as advised by your doctor
✓Keep the affected skin clean and dry, especially in skin folds
✓Wear loose cotton clothing and dry skin well after bathing
✓Do not share towels, combs, bedding or clothing
✓Wash clothes, towels and bedding regularly to avoid reinfection

🔬 Causes

Caused by a fungus and spreads through skin contact with an infected person or animal, or by sharing towels, combs, clothing or bedding.

🛡️ Prevention

•Keep skin clean and dry, particularly in skin folds and between toes
•Do not share towels, combs, hairbrushes or clothing
•Wash bedding and clothes regularly
•Treat any infected pets and other affected family members

See a doctor urgently if

•Rash that does not improve after using treatment as advised
•Ringworm on the scalp or causing hair loss (needs a doctor)
•Rash that keeps coming back or spreads widely
•Signs of skin infection such as pus, increasing pain or warmth
•Fever or the child becoming generally unwell

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

Skin

Atopic eczema is a common, long-term skin condition that makes the skin itchy, dry and cracked. It is most common in young children, tends to flare and settle, and cannot be cured but can be managed.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Itchy skin, which is the main symptomDry, cracked, scaly or thickened patchesSkin that looks red, or darker, lighter or discolouredIn babies, often on the face and scalpIn older children, often behind the knees and inside the elbowsSore, weeping or bleeding skin during flare-upsSmall fluid blisters during bad flares

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Apply moisturisers (emollients) often, even when the skin looks clear
✓Use emollients instead of soap and avoid harsh or fragranced soaps
✓Use creams or treatments as advised by your doctor during flare-ups
✓Identify and avoid triggers such as wool, heat and irritants
✓Keep fingernails short and discourage scratching; use mittens for babies
✓Keep the child cool and use lukewarm (not hot) baths

🔬 Causes

Linked to a sensitive skin barrier and family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever, with flares triggered by irritants such as soaps, heat, certain fabrics and allergens.

🛡️ Prevention

•Moisturise the skin regularly to keep the skin barrier healthy
•Avoid soaps, bubble baths and known irritants or triggers
•Dress the child in soft cotton clothing and avoid overheating
•Keep nails short to limit damage from scratching

See a doctor urgently if

•Skin that is weeping, has yellow crusts, or spots filled with pus (possible infection)
•Areas that are painful, swollen, warm or rapidly spreading
•Fever or the child becoming generally unwell
•Many small fluid-filled blisters or sudden severe worsening (urgent review needed)
•Eczema not controlled despite regular moisturising and usual care

Impetigo

Skin

Impetigo is a common and very contagious bacterial skin infection. It is not usually serious but spreads easily, especially among young children.

👶 Usually affects: School age

🔎 Symptoms

Red sores or blisters that burst quicklyGolden-brown or honey-coloured crusty patchesSores most often around the nose, mouth and on the handsPatches that may be itchy and sometimes painfulSores that can spread to other parts of the bodyCrusts that look like cornflakes stuck to the skin

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓See a doctor or pharmacist, as impetigo needs prescribed treatment such as antibiotics
✓Keep the child home from school or nursery until sores have crusted and healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment
✓Gently wash affected areas with soap and water and dry them well
✓Wash hands often, especially before and after applying any cream
✓Discourage touching or scratching the sores
✓Wash towels, bedding and flannels at a high temperature and do not share them

🔬 Causes

Caused by bacteria entering the skin, often through a cut, scratch, insect bite or area of eczema, and spreads through close contact or shared items.

🛡️ Prevention

•Keep cuts, scratches and insect bites clean and covered
•Wash hands regularly and avoid touching or scratching sores
•Do not share towels, flannels, bedding or clothing
•Keep the child away from others until no longer contagious

See a doctor urgently if

•Baby under 12 months with symptoms
•Symptoms that get worse or do not improve with treatment
•Sores spreading quickly or becoming very painful, swollen or warm
•Fever or the child becoming generally unwell
•Impetigo that keeps coming back

Prickly Heat (Heat Rash)

Skin

Prickly heat, or heat rash, is a harmless itchy rash of small raised spots that appears when sweat glands get blocked. It is common in babies and in hot, humid weather and is not contagious.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Small raised spots, about 2 to 4 mm acrossAn itchy, prickling or stinging feeling on the skinSome spots may be filled with fluidRash looks red on lighter skin, or grey or white on darker skinOften in skin folds, on the neck, back, chest or where clothing is tightMild swelling around the affected area

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Keep the child cool so they sweat less
✓Dress the child in loose, light cotton clothing
✓Use lightweight bedding and keep the room well ventilated
✓Give cool baths or showers and pat the skin dry gently
✓Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
✓Avoid scratching and avoid heavy creams or lotions that can block pores

🔬 Causes

Caused by sweating a lot when the body is hot, which blocks sweat glands and traps sweat under the skin.

🛡️ Prevention

•Dress babies and children in loose cotton clothing in hot weather
•Keep rooms cool and well ventilated
•Avoid overdressing or overheating the child
•Give regular cool drinks during hot weather

See a doctor urgently if

•Rash that does not improve after a few days of keeping cool
•Signs of skin infection such as pus, increasing pain, swelling or warmth
•Fever or the child becoming generally unwell
•Signs of overheating or dehydration, such as a very hot or floppy baby

Diaper Rash (Nappy Rash)

Skin

Diaper rash is a common skin reaction in the nappy area that makes the skin sore, red or raw. It affects many babies and is usually caused by skin being in contact with wee and poo.

👶 Usually affects: Infants

🔎 Symptoms

Red or raw patches on the bottom or nappy areaSkin that looks sore and feels warmScaly or dry skinBaby seeming uncomfortable, unsettled or distressedSpots, pimples or blisters in the nappy areaSkin that is sore when wiped

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Change wet or dirty nappies promptly
✓Clean the area gently with water or fragrance-free, alcohol-free wipes and pat dry
✓Give nappy-free time to let the skin air as much as possible
✓Apply a thin layer of barrier cream as advised by a pharmacist or doctor
✓Avoid soap, bubble bath and talcum powder on the area
✓Use well-fitting, absorbent nappies

🔬 Causes

Usually caused by the skin being in prolonged contact with wee and poo, and can be made worse by friction, soaps, fragranced wipes or thrush.

🛡️ Prevention

•Change nappies frequently and as soon as they are wet or soiled
•Keep the area clean and dry and allow regular nappy-free time
•Use a barrier cream to protect the skin
•Avoid fragranced soaps, wipes and talcum powder

See a doctor urgently if

•Rash with blisters, pus or open sores
•Bright red, raw or bleeding skin
•Rash that does not improve within about a week or keeps getting worse
•Fever or the baby becoming generally unwell
•Signs of infection (possible bacterial or thrush infection needing treatment)

Hives (Urticaria)

Allergy

Hives, or urticaria, is a raised, itchy rash that can appear anywhere on the skin. It often comes and goes within hours and is usually not serious, but it can occasionally be part of a severe allergic reaction.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

A raised, itchy rash of bumps or patchesPatches that are often pink or red, with paler centresRash that may sting or burn as well as itchSpots that move around, fading in one area and appearing in anotherRash that may be harder to see on darker skinSometimes swelling deep in the skin (angioedema), often of the eyelids or lips

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Try to identify and avoid anything that triggers the rash
✓Keep the skin cool and wear loose, light cotton clothing
✓Avoid scratching, heat and tight clothing that can make it worse
✓A pharmacist can advise on suitable treatments to relieve itching
✓Most cases settle on their own within a day or two

🔬 Causes

Happens when the skin releases histamine, often triggered by foods, medicines, insect bites, infections, heat, cold or contact with an irritant, though sometimes no cause is found.

🛡️ Prevention

•Avoid known triggers such as specific foods, medicines or insect stings
•Keep cool and avoid sudden heat, cold or skin irritants where these are triggers
•Seek allergy advice from a doctor if hives are frequent or severe

See a doctor urgently if

•Swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth, face or throat
•Difficulty breathing, wheezing, noisy breathing or a choking feeling
•Difficulty swallowing or a hoarse voice
•Dizziness, collapse, or a child becoming pale, floppy or unresponsive
•These signs are a medical emergency — call emergency services (112/108) immediately
•Rash with a high temperature, or hives that keep coming back or last several days

Head Lice (Pediculosis)

Skin

Head lice are tiny insects that live in the hair, and nits are their empty egg cases. They are very common in young children, spread by head-to-head contact, and are not a sign of dirty hair.

👶 Usually affects: School age

🔎 Symptoms

An itchy scalp, though not everyone itchesA tickling or crawling feeling in the hairTiny white or grey egg cases (nits) stuck near the rootsSmall live lice seen when combing wet hairItching behind the ears and at the back of the neckSometimes red or irritated skin from scratching

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Confirm live lice by combing wet, conditioned hair with a fine-toothed detection comb
✓Use wet combing on days 1, 5, 9 and 13 to remove lice and newly hatched ones
✓If needed, use a medicated lotion or spray as advised by a pharmacist
✓Check all household members and treat anyone who has live lice
✓Wash combs and recently used bedding or hats in hot water
✓There is usually no need to keep the child off school

🔬 Causes

Head lice spread through direct head-to-head contact, passing from one person's hair to another, and are not caused by poor hygiene.

🛡️ Prevention

•Avoid head-to-head contact where possible
•Check children's hair regularly with a detection comb, especially after contact
•Treat affected family members promptly to stop spread
•Do not share combs, brushes or hats

See a doctor urgently if

•Treatment not working after wet combing and a medicated treatment
•Signs of skin infection on the scalp, such as weeping, crusting or swelling
•Swollen or tender glands in the neck
•Fever or the child becoming generally unwell

Newborn Jaundice

Newborn

A very common yellowing of a newborn's skin and eyes caused by a build-up of bilirubin while the baby's liver is still maturing. Most cases appear on day 2-3, are mild, and clear on their own within about 2 weeks.

👶 Usually affects: Newborn

🔎 Symptoms

Yellow tinge to the skin, starting on the face and headYellowing of the whites of the eyesYellow colour spreading down to the chest and tummy as it increasesColour may be harder to see in darker skin (check gums, palms, soles)Sleepier or feeding less than usual in stronger casesDark yellow urine (a newborn's urine should be colourless)Pale, chalky or creamy-coloured stools

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Breastfeed early and often, around 8 to 12 times a day, to help clear bilirubin
✓Watch for enough wet and dirty nappies as a sign of good feeding
✓Do NOT rely on direct sunlight to treat it — sunlight is not a safe substitute for medical care
✓Attend the day 3-5 newborn check and any bilirubin (blood) tests advised
✓Follow treatment as advised by your doctor (some babies need phototherapy)

🔬 Causes

After birth the baby's immature liver cannot clear bilirubin (a normal waste product from red blood cells) fast enough, so it builds up and tints the skin yellow.

🛡️ Prevention

•Start breastfeeding early and feed frequently (8-12 times a day)
•Attend all newborn check-ups, especially around day 3-5 when bilirubin peaks
•Seek breastfeeding or lactation support if feeding is not going well

See a doctor urgently if

•Any yellowing in the first 24 hours of life — see a doctor urgently
•Deep yellow or orange colour, or yellow spreading to the palms and soles
•Jaundice still present after 2 weeks of age
•Poor or weak feeding, far fewer wet nappies
•Hard to wake, very floppy, lethargic, or a high-pitched cry
•Fever, pale/chalky stools or dark urine

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Ear & eye

Inflammation of the thin membrane covering the eye and inner eyelid that makes the white of the eye look pink or red. It is usually caused by a virus, is highly contagious, and most cases clear on their own within a couple of weeks.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Pink or red colour in the white of the eyeWatery eyesSticky pus or discharge that crusts on the lashes (often worse on waking)Burning, gritty or itchy feelingMild swelling of the eyelidsOne or both eyes affected

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Gently wipe away crusts with clean cotton wool and cooled boiled water, a fresh piece for each wipe
✓Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after touching the eyes
✓Do not share towels, flannels or pillows; wash them in hot water
✓Use a separate clean cloth for each eye
✓Avoid contact lenses until the eye is fully better
✓Follow treatment as advised by your doctor

🔬 Causes

Most often a virus (also bacteria or allergens), spread easily by hands, shared towels, or contact with discharge from an infected eye.

🛡️ Prevention

•Wash hands regularly and avoid rubbing the eyes
•Do not share towels, washcloths, pillows or eye cosmetics
•Keep an infected child's towels and bedding separate and wash them hot
•Keep hands and face clean to reduce spread at home and school

See a doctor urgently if

•A baby in the first 4 weeks of life with red, swollen or pus-filled eyes — see a doctor the same day
•Eye pain or marked sensitivity to light
•Any change in vision
•Intense redness in one or both eyes
•Marked swelling or redness around the eye
•Not improving after about a week

Stye (Hordeolum)

Ear & eye

A stye is a small, painful red lump on the edge of the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle or a tiny oil gland. It is usually harmless and often settles on its own.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

A red, tender lump on the edge of the eyelidSwelling of the eyelidPain or soreness at the lumpWatering of the affected eyeA gritty feeling, as if something is in the eyeSometimes a small yellow spot of pus on the lump

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Hold a clean warm compress over the closed eye for 5 to 10 minutes, a few times a day
✓Use warm (not scalding) water to avoid burns
✓Gently clean the base of the lashes with a little cooled boiled water
✓Do NOT squeeze, pop or pierce the stye
✓Avoid contact lenses and eye make-up until it heals
✓Follow treatment as advised by your doctor if it does not improve

🔬 Causes

A bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle or an oil gland at the edge of the eyelid.

🛡️ Prevention

•Wash hands before touching the eyes or face
•Avoid rubbing the eyes
•Remove eye make-up before sleep and do not share it
•Keep flannels and towels clean and personal

See a doctor urgently if

•Redness or swelling spreading across the whole eyelid or onto the face
•Fever along with the swollen eye
•Any change in or trouble with vision
•Severe pain or a hot, hard, very swollen eyelid (possible eyelid cellulitis)
•The lump getting bigger or not improving after a few days

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Urinary

An infection of the urinary tract (bladder or kidneys) that happens when bacteria enter through the urethra. It needs a doctor's diagnosis with a urine test and proper treatment to clear the infection and protect the kidneys.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

In babies, signs are vague: fever with no obvious cause may be the only onePoor feeding, irritability or unusual sleepiness in infantsVomiting or loose stools in babiesPain or burning when passing urine in older childrenNeeding to wee more often, or sudden daytime wettingLower tummy or back painCloudy, smelly, or blood-tinged urine

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer plenty of fluids, including frequent breastfeeds for babies
✓Encourage the child to pass urine regularly and not hold it in
✓Help with fever comfort measures and rest
✓Get a urine test done — a UTI needs a doctor's diagnosis
✓Complete the full course of treatment as advised by your doctor

🔬 Causes

Bacteria from the skin, bowel or genital area travel up the urethra into the bladder (and sometimes reach the kidneys).

🛡️ Prevention

•Encourage regular drinking and regular emptying of the bladder
•Wipe front to back after toileting
•Treat and prevent constipation
•Change nappies promptly and keep the area clean

See a doctor urgently if

•Fever in a young infant (especially under 3 months) — seek same-day care
•High fever, or a fever lasting more than a couple of days with no clear cause
•Back or flank (side) pain
•Repeated vomiting or a child who looks very unwell
•Visible blood in the urine
•Not drinking, very few wet nappies, or unusually drowsy

Iron-Deficiency Anaemia

Nutrition

A condition where the blood has too few healthy red blood cells because the body lacks enough iron, the most common nutritional deficiency in young children. It can affect growth, energy and learning if untreated.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Pale skin, lips, or inner eyelidsTiredness, weakness, or low energyIrritability or crankinessPoor appetiteGetting breathless or tired during playTrouble concentrating or slower learningFrequent infections

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer iron-rich foods: dark green leafy vegetables, beans, lentils, jaggery, eggs, and meat or fish if eaten
✓Pair iron foods with vitamin C foods (citrus, amla, guava, tomato) to help absorption
✓Continue breastfeeding; use iron-fortified cereals or foods for infants starting solids
✓Limit excess cow's milk and tea, which can reduce iron absorption
✓Give iron supplements only as advised by your doctor
✓Follow government iron-folic acid and deworming programmes (Anaemia Mukt Bharat)

🔬 Causes

Not getting enough iron from food during periods of rapid growth, sometimes worsened by worm infections or blood loss.

🛡️ Prevention

•Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, then iron-rich complementary foods
•A varied diet with iron-rich and vitamin-C-rich foods
•Use of iron-fortified foods such as fortified rice or cereals
•Routine deworming as per the national schedule
•Iron-folic acid supplementation as advised under child health programmes

See a doctor urgently if

•Very pale child who is unusually tired, breathless, or has a fast heartbeat
•Poor weight gain or delayed development
•Refusing to eat, or eating non-food items like soil or chalk (pica)
•Symptoms that do not improve with diet changes
•Any signs of bleeding or blood in stool

Vitamin D Deficiency & Rickets

Nutrition

Rickets is when a child's growing bones become soft and weak, usually from too little vitamin D or calcium. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium for strong bones.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Bowed or curved legs once walking beginsSwollen wrists, ankles or kneesDelayed walking or muscle weaknessSoft skull bones or a late-closing soft spot (in babies)Teeth coming in later than usualBeing smaller than expected for ageBone pain or reluctance to walk

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Offer vitamin-D and calcium-rich foods: milk and dairy, eggs, fish, and fortified foods
✓Give vitamin D drops or supplements only as advised by your doctor, especially for breastfed babies
✓Allow safe, brief sunlight exposure (early morning or late afternoon); avoid harsh midday sun and never let babies overheat or burn
✓Keep up breastfeeding alongside vitamin D supplementation as advised
✓Encourage active outdoor play for older children

🔬 Causes

Not getting enough vitamin D (from sunlight or diet) or calcium, which the body needs to build strong bones.

🛡️ Prevention

•Vitamin D supplementation for breastfed infants as advised by a doctor
•Safe, regular short sun exposure for older children
•A diet with vitamin-D and calcium-rich or fortified foods
•Extra attention for darker-skinned children and those with little sun exposure

See a doctor urgently if

•Noticeably bowed legs, knock knees, or bone deformities
•Delayed walking or persistent muscle weakness
•In babies, fits or twitching (possible low calcium) — seek care urgently
•Bone pain or frequent fractures
•Poor growth or delayed milestones

Severe Acute Malnutrition

Nutrition

A serious, life-threatening condition where a child is severely underweight for their height (severe wasting or visible severe thinness) or has swelling of both feet (oedema). It needs prompt medical care.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Visible severe thinness or 'skin and bones' appearanceSwelling of both feet (and sometimes legs or face)Very low weight for height or lengthA thin upper arm (low mid-upper-arm circumference)Loss of appetite or poor feedingTiredness, weakness, or being less playfulLoose, dry skin or thin, sparse hair

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Have the child weighed and assessed at a health centre or anganwadi without delay
✓Continue breastfeeding for infants and young children
✓Follow the health worker's feeding plan and any therapeutic foods provided
✓Keep up routine immunisation and deworming
✓Do not try to manage a severely affected child at home alone — medical care is essential

🔬 Causes

Not getting enough nutritious food over time, often combined with repeated infections or illness.

🛡️ Prevention

•Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, then continued breastfeeding with nutritious complementary foods
•Regular growth monitoring at anganwadi or health centre
•Complete immunisation and routine deworming
•Prompt treatment of infections like diarrhoea and pneumonia
•Use of supplementary nutrition programmes (ICDS/anganwadi) when needed

See a doctor urgently if

•Visible severe wasting or swelling of both feet — seek care urgently
•Refusal to feed or unable to drink or breastfeed
•Lethargy, unusual sleepiness, or unconsciousness
•Vomiting everything or convulsions (fits)
•Any danger sign — go to a health centre or Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre immediately

Dental Caries (Tooth Decay)

Teeth

Tooth decay is damage to a tooth's surface that can lead to cavities (holes), caused by bacteria and sugar producing acid that wears away enamel. It is one of the most common childhood conditions.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

White, brown or black spots on teethHoles or pits in the teethTooth pain or sensitivity to hot, cold or sweetPain or trouble while eatingBad breathSwelling or redness around a tooth or gum

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste (a smear for under-3s, pea-sized for older children)
✓Help or supervise brushing until the child can do it well
✓Limit sugary foods, sweets, and sugary or fizzy drinks
✓Never put a baby to bed with a bottle of milk, juice or sweet drink
✓Offer water instead of sweet drinks and avoid frequent snacking
✓Take the child for regular dental check-ups

🔬 Causes

Frequent sugary foods and drinks combined with not removing plaque, so bacteria produce acid that damages the teeth.

🛡️ Prevention

•Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
•Limit sugar in foods and drinks
•Avoid bottle-feeding at night and sugary drinks in bottles
•Regular dental visits from when the first teeth appear
•Consider fluoride varnish or sealants as advised by a dentist

See a doctor urgently if

•Ongoing tooth pain or night-time pain
•Swelling of the face, jaw or gum
•A visible hole, abscess, or pus around a tooth
•Difficulty eating, drinking or sleeping due to pain
•Fever with mouth or gum swelling

Food Allergy

Allergy

A food allergy is when the body's immune system reacts to a particular food, causing symptoms that range from mild to severe. Common triggers include milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish.

👶 Usually affects: All ages

🔎 Symptoms

Itchy rash, hives, or rednessSwelling of the face, lips or eyesTummy pain, vomiting or diarrhoeaRunny or blocked nose, sneezingItchy or tingling mouthCoughing or wheezingEczema flare-ups (in some children)

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Once a trigger food is identified, avoid it and check food labels carefully
✓Tell carers, family and school about the allergy and what to avoid
✓Introduce common allergens one at a time when starting solids, and discuss high-risk babies with your doctor
✓Keep a record of which food caused a reaction
✓If your doctor prescribes emergency medicine, keep it available and know how to use it

🔬 Causes

The immune system mistakenly treats a harmless food protein as a threat and reacts to it.

🛡️ Prevention

•Introduce common allergenic foods around 6 months (not before 4 months), unless your doctor advises otherwise
•Do not delay allergenic foods unnecessarily once started
•For high-risk babies (severe eczema or existing allergy), get medical advice before introducing allergens
•Once an allergy is known, strict avoidance of that food prevents reactions

See a doctor urgently if

•Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat — medical emergency
•Difficulty breathing, noisy breathing or wheeze — call for emergency help
•Repeated vomiting after eating a food
•Dizziness, collapse, or going floppy or unresponsive
•Pale or bluish colour or signs of shock — get emergency help immediately

Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis)

Behaviour & development

Bedwetting is passing urine during sleep and is very common in young children. It is not the child's fault, and most children naturally outgrow it as they get older.

👶 Usually affects: School age

🔎 Symptoms

Wetting the bed during sleepBeing unable to wake to a full bladderMore common in deep sleepersMay happen most nights or only sometimes

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Reassure your child and never punish or shame them — it is not their fault
✓Encourage a toilet visit just before bed
✓Limit drinks, especially fizzy or caffeinated ones, in the hour or two before bed
✓Use a waterproof mattress cover to make clean-up easier
✓Use praise or a reward system for dry nights and for helping
✓Make sure the toilet is easy to reach at night

🔬 Causes

Usually the bladder is still maturing or produces more urine at night than it can hold, and the child does not wake up — often it runs in families.

🛡️ Prevention

•Establish a calm, regular bedtime and toileting routine
•Treat and prevent constipation, which can worsen bedwetting
•Keep a relaxed, supportive approach — pressure does not help
•Encourage normal daytime drinking and regular toilet use

See a doctor urgently if

•Bedwetting that restarts after being reliably dry for 6 months or more
•Daytime wetting along with night-time wetting
•Pain, burning, or crying when passing urine (possible infection)
•Excessive thirst, drinking a lot, or unexplained weight loss (could signal diabetes)
•Still wetting beyond about age 7 and causing the child distress

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

Behaviour & development

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental condition where a child has ongoing patterns of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity that are greater than expected for their age and affect daily life. It is not caused by bad parenting and not caused by vaccines.

👶 Usually affects: School age

🔎 Symptoms

Finds it hard to pay attention or is easily distractedHas trouble finishing tasks or following instructionsSeems forgetful or often loses thingsVery active, restless, or 'always on the go'Finds it hard to sit still or wait their turnActs quickly without thinking (impulsive)Difficulties show up in more than one setting (home and school)Talks a lot or interrupts others

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Keep consistent daily routines for wake-up, homework, meals and bedtime
✓Give short, clear, one-step instructions and praise effort
✓Break big tasks into smaller steps
✓Reduce distractions during homework and use reward charts for goals
✓Use calm, positive discipline rather than harsh punishment
✓Work together with teachers so support is consistent at school and home

🔬 Causes

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition influenced by genes and brain development; it is not caused by parenting, sugar, or screen time alone.

🛡️ Prevention

•Attend regular developmental and well-child check-ups
•Seek a professional evaluation early if you have concerns — early support helps
•Work with school for early classroom support
•ADHD is not preventable, but early identification and support improve outcomes

See a doctor urgently if

•Inattention or hyperactivity that is hard to manage and affects school or friendships
•Concerns raised by teachers about learning or behaviour
•Your child is struggling socially or emotionally
•You have ongoing worries about your child's development or behaviour — ask for a professional evaluation
•Signs of low mood, anxiety or other concerns alongside the behaviour

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Brain & nerves

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition involving differences in how a child communicates, interacts, plays and experiences the world. Every autistic child is different, and it is not caused by parenting or by vaccines.

👶 Usually affects: Under 5

🔎 Symptoms

Differences in eye contact or facial expressionsDelayed speech, or little or no speechLess pointing, gesturing, or sharing of interestsPrefers to play alone or finds social play harderRepeats words, actions, or lines up objectsStrong, focused interests in particular topicsLikes routines and may be upset by changeStrong reactions to sounds, lights, textures or smells

Home care · Prevention

🏠 Home care

✓Follow your child's lead and build on their interests and strengths
✓Use clear, simple language and visual supports or routines
✓Keep predictable daily routines to help your child feel secure
✓Notice and gently adjust for sensory sensitivities (sounds, lights, textures)
✓Connect with early intervention or support services as advised
✓Celebrate progress and focus on what your child can do

🔬 Causes

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition linked to differences in early brain development, with a strong genetic component; it is not caused by parenting or vaccines.

🛡️ Prevention

•Attend regular developmental monitoring and well-child check-ups
•Act early on any developmental concern — early evaluation and intervention help
•Use early intervention or support services for the best outcomes
•Autism is not preventable, but early support makes a meaningful difference

See a doctor urgently if

•Not meeting communication, social or play milestones for their age
•Loss of speech, gestures or skills the child previously had — seek evaluation
•No babbling or gestures by around 12 months, or no words by 16 months
•Significant difficulties with social interaction or at school
•Any parental concern about development — ask for a developmental evaluation early

Common childhood illnesses

🫁Common Cold

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🫁Influenza (Flu)

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🫁COVID-19

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🫁Croup

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🫁Pneumonia

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🫁Bronchiolitis

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🫁Asthma / Viral Wheeze

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🤧Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

👂Sore Throat / Tonsillitis

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

👂Ear Infection (Acute Otitis Media)

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🍽️Diarrhoea & Dehydration

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🍽️Gastroenteritis / Vomiting

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🍽️Constipation

🔎 Symptoms

🏠 Home care

🔬 Causes

🛡️ Prevention

🚨See a doctor urgently if

🍽️Reflux / GERD in Infants

Common Cold

See a doctor urgently if

Influenza (Flu)

See a doctor urgently if

COVID-19

See a doctor urgently if

Croup

See a doctor urgently if

Pneumonia

See a doctor urgently if

Bronchiolitis

See a doctor urgently if

Asthma / Viral Wheeze

See a doctor urgently if

Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)

See a doctor urgently if

Sore Throat / Tonsillitis

See a doctor urgently if

Ear Infection (Acute Otitis Media)

See a doctor urgently if

Diarrhoea & Dehydration

See a doctor urgently if

Gastroenteritis / Vomiting

See a doctor urgently if

Constipation

See a doctor urgently if

Reflux / GERD in Infants

See a doctor urgently if

Rotavirus

See a doctor urgently if

Hepatitis A

See a doctor urgently if

Intestinal Worms

See a doctor urgently if

Infant Colic

See a doctor urgently if

Oral Thrush (Oral Candidiasis)

See a doctor urgently if

Teething

See a doctor urgently if

Dengue

See a doctor urgently if

Malaria

See a doctor urgently if

Chikungunya

See a doctor urgently if

Typhoid Fever

See a doctor urgently if

Childhood Tuberculosis (TB)