- They have difficulty breathing or are unable to swallow
- If they are excessively drooling – this can be a sign of not being able to swallow
- They make a high-pitched sound as they breathe (known as stridor)
- If their symptoms are severe or worsening quickly
- You have serious or urgent medical concerns about your child
- They have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery
- They have a weakened immune system (for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes)
- The side of their neck feels swollen and painful (swollen glands)
- They are coughing up blood
- If they feel very unwell or have chest pain
- There is swelling or fluid around their ear
- They have something stuck in their ear
- They experience hearing loss or a change in hearing
- If they are under 2 years old and have ear ache in both ears
- If their cough is very bad or quickly gets worse – for example, they have a chesty/barking cough or cannot stop coughing
Illnesses like coughs, sore throats and ear ache are extremely common in young children – but children’s bodies are designed to fight off many common illnesses, without the need for antibiotics.
These common ailments can be unpleasant for children and their caregivers, but are most often caused by viral infections and do not need to be treated with antibiotics.
Antibiotics rarely speed up recovery for these conditions and have no effect on viruses.
Instead, our children’s ‘super bodies’ get to work, and most children with a normal immune system and up to date immunisations will recover in the same amount of time without antibiotics.
You know your children best, so do seek medical help if you are concerned about their symptoms, or if they need a bit more support because they are immunosuppressed or have other existing medical conditions.
Find out more about what to do in the event of common minor illnesses here.
Common illnesses such as coughs, ear ache and sore throats don’t usually need treating with antibiotics, and your child will get better without taking unnecessary medication.
In fact, antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat most infections, because:
- Many infections in children are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are not effective
- Antibiotics are often unlikely to speed up the healing process
- Antibiotics can cause unwanted side effects for your child, such as rash and diarrhoea
- The more often antibiotics are used to treat minor conditions, the more likely they are to become ineffective for treating more serious conditions
But if something doesn’t seem right or you’re concerned about your child, speak to a GP.
Overuse of antibiotics means they’re becoming less effective against bacteria and this has led to the emergence of ‘super bugs’. These are strains of bacteria that have developed resistance to many different types of antibiotics.
They can be serious and challenging to treat, and are becoming an increasing cause of disability and death across the world.
Find out more about antibiotic resistance and ‘super bugs’ here.
Our children’s ‘super bodies’ do amazing work against common illnesses like coughs, sore throats and ear ache.
By preparing ourselves with the information and knowledge to care for them at home, spot more serious symptoms, and know when and where to get help, we can support them to feel better sooner, and without unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999
