Common Childhood Infections: What to Do, in Order
Common Childhood Infections: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
The everyday viral illnesses of childhood and how long they last. Most need nothing but fluids and time, and antibiotics for them cause harm without benefit.
Key takeaways
- Typical cold: up to 10 days, cough can last 3 weeks
- Ear infection: most settle without antibiotics
- Most useful single change: Keep fluids going and treat fever for comfort.
- Commonest mistake: Requesting antibiotics for viral illness.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Keep fluids going and treat fever for comfort
- Expect a cough to outlast the illness itself
- Accept a delayed antibiotic prescription where it is offered
- Check school exclusion guidance
Do not
- Requesting antibiotics for viral illness
- Aspirin in under-16s
- Sending a child back to school within 48 hours of diarrhoea or vomiting
The numbers behind the list
Where the items above come from.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Typical cold | up to 10 days, cough can last 3 weeks |
| Ear infection | most settle without antibiotics |
| Sore throat | usually viral |
| Diarrhoea and vomiting | stay off school for 48 hours after symptoms stop |
If you change one thing
Keep fluids going and treat fever for comfort. It heads the list. If you take nothing else from this page, take that.
Where to go next
- Myths About Common Childhood Infections, Checked Against the Guidance
- The First Steps With Common Childhood Infections
- Common Childhood Infections — the reference entry
- Child Safety at Home: What Published Guidance Supports
- Childhood Vaccinations: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
Call 999 for difficulty breathing, a rash that does not fade under pressure, a stiff neck, a seizure, or a child who is floppy, will not wake or is unusually drowsy. Seek urgent advice for a fever of 38C or above in a baby under three months, dehydration, or a child who is getting worse rather than better.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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