Not sure if your child is ill enough to attend an emergency department?
If you have an issue with or are
after advice about your child's health, please see your GP or contact Nurse on Call as the emergency department cannot give you
medical advice over the phone.
The Kids Health Info fact sheets have
been developed to help you learn more about health topics, medical conditions
and the services available at The Royal Children's Hospital. These may assist
you with the care for your unwell child.
When your child is sick with a
common virus, they may experience one of more of the following symptoms:
Your GP can offer expert help
Your local GP can offer expert
advice on how to manage these symptoms, including how to give fluids to avoid
dehydration, paracetamol or ibuprofen, or provide a script for antibiotics if
necessary.
Coughs, colds and gastro can be
treated by your GP. Fever is a normal response to infections and common viruses
and it is not always necessary to treat a fever. If your child is miserable or
uncomfortable, you can provide paracetamol and ibuprofen to assist. Antibiotics
do not help with viral illnesses such as a cold.
Watch the video below for more information:
When your child is very unwell
Some of the signs to look out for
that suggest you should take your child to your nearest emergency department or
call an ambulance (000) are:
- Difficulty breathing
- Become very pale or blue around the lips
- Drowsy or not responding to your voice
- A rash that does not fade when pressed
- A fit or a convulsion
- Becoming very unwell quite quickly
- An accident or injury such as a burn or broken
bone
Symptoms in young babies may
include:
- The soft spot on the top of their head is full
or bulging
- High pitched crying or screaming
- Difficulty rousing or not waking for feeds
Health resources
The RCH has plenty of online information that can help with your health and hospital related questions. From health fact sheets to our own TV show, these resources are easy to understand and engaging for you and your family.
Kids Health Info
This site is dedicated to providing quality, up-to-date health information. Our fact sheets have been developed for parents and adolescents, and cover pertinent topics about medical conditions and the services available at the RCH. View our fact sheets here: www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/
Dr Margie
Dr Margie addresses common and interesting questions about child and adolescent health through her blog from the perspective of a busy doctor, researcher and mother. Read her blog here: //blogs.rch.org.au/drmargie/about/
Be Positive (B+)
Be Positive (B+) is the RCH’s own TV show, designed to help children learn more about what happens in hospital. In a series of fun episodes, host Carly and her two loveable friends, Jazz and Rocco, will take you on a journey through common hospital procedures like having an X-ray, or getting a blood test. You can watch video clips from the show here: www.rch.org.au/be-positive/