Coronavirus
It can be confusing to know what to do when your baby is unwell during the coronavirus pandemic.
Remember that the NHS is still providing safe care.
Download the Coronavirus poster babies 2020 England
Bronchiolitis.
Symptoms of respiratory infection such as Bronchiolitis in children, include a high temperature of 37.8°C or above, a dry and persistent cough, difficulty feeding, rapid or noisy breathing or wheezing.
Most cases of respiratory illness are not serious and clear up within 2 to 3 weeks, but you should contact your GP or call NHS 111 if:
- Your child struggles to breath.
- Your child has taken less than half their usual amount during the last 2 or 3 feeds, or they have had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more.
- Your child has a persistent high temperature of 37.8C or above.
Some children under 2, especially those born prematurely or with a heart condition, can suffer more serious consequences from these common respiratory infections.
Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is a common fungal infection in the mouth. It can be easily and quickly treated if it doesn’t clear up on its own.
Sticky eyes
It’s a very common condition in newborn babies and looks like discharge from one or both eyes; this is often not due to an infection. If the whites of your baby’s eyes remain clear of redness, but there’s a discharge, it’s likely to be due to blocked tear ducts. About one in five babies are born with tear ducts that have not fully developed. Your midwife or health visitor will be able to advise you about this. If the eye becomes inflamed angry or red, there is yellow or green sticky crusty discharge around the eye that keeps on coming back seek advice from your Pharmacist or General Practitioner.
Eczema
Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It is more common in children, often developing before their first birthday.
There are lots of things which can cause eczema, for example soaps, detergents, wearing wool next to the skin, overheating at night and contact with water and dusty materials. Infection and exposure to certain foods, pets, grass and tree pollens can also cause eczema.
Glue Ear
Glue ear, also known as Otitis Media with Effusion is a build up of fluid inside the ear affecting the ear drum. It stops sound from passing through the ear effectively, causing hearing loss in one or both ears. It’s a common condition that affects one in five children around the age of two.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a common illness that mainly affects children and causes an itchy, spotty rash.
Most children will catch chickenpox at some point. It can also occur in adults who didn’t have it when they were a child. It’s usually mild and clears up in a week or so, but it can be more serious for some people, such as pregnant women, newborn babies and people with a weakened immune system.
Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever causes a distinctive pink-red rash which may start in one area but then spreads to other parts of the body, such as the ears, neck and chest.