When your child is unwell or has a health issue

When your child is unwell or has a health issue

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Information for when your child is unwell or has a health issue (such as bedwetting or constipation). If you would like telephone advice, you can call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if your child of any age is unwell or hurt.

You can check the following listings in this section:

Conditions, tests and treatments A-Z

Health issues A-Z

Fever means the temperature of the inside of the body is higher than normal (more than 38 degrees Celsius). Fever actually helps your child’s body fight off infection. Fever by itself does not tell you whether your child is seriously sick.
You might want to measure your child’s body temperature if they feel hot. If they do not seem unwell, you do not need to take their temperature. The most common reason for a child to have a raised temperature is because they are fighting off an infection. A very young baby can get too hot if they are wrapped in too many layers.
Coughing is common in children, especially when they are pre-school age, and is usually short-lived. Causes of cough include colds, asthma and chest infections. A cough that lasts longer than four weeks is not normal and may be a sign of chest disease.
Sore throats are common in children. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and need no treatment other than pain relief. Sometimes children can get 'strep throat'. A rare complication of strep throat is rheumatic fever. Maori and Pacific Island children are most at risk of rheumatic fever, and should see a doctor with any sore throat.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know whether your child is unwell and to decide if you need to see a doctor right away. This section provides some advice on when you need to see a doctor urgently.

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if you need advice about a child of any age who is unwell or hurt, or has any symptoms of sickness. This is a free 24 hour a day telephone health advice service.

Dial 111 from any phone if you need medical help in an emergency. You can call this emergency number 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Information about what medical services are available for children who have been abused and about surviving sexual abuse. It includes advice about who to contact if you are worried about the safety of a child.

General information about diabetes; emotional and mental wellbeing concerns for children and young people with diabetes; healthy eating and physical activity; information to give to your child's school and growing up and diabetes management.

This is a section which includes information about your child's ears and hearing, including hearing problems, hearing tests and conditions which affect your child's ears.

This is a section which includes information about your child's eyes and vision, including vision problems, vision tests and conditions which affect your child's eyes.

A section which includes information about the health system; what to do when you need health care and children and young people's rights when receiving health and disability services.

Information about rheumatic fever and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Other heart conditions to be added in the future.

A section which includes conditions affecting the lungs and/or breathing - asthma, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, croup, obstructive sleep apnoea, pneumonia. Also, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) which is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea and polysomnography (sleep study), for the investigation of breathing problems during sleep.

This section includes information about helping your child cope with procedures and treatment, preparing for hospital, and information about specific pain medications and treatments.

Information in this section on boils, eczema, head lice or nits, impetigo or school sores, serious skin infections and warts.

Information in this section about bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation, soiling, laxatives.
This section includes information about a range of tests from newborn metabolic screening (heel prick test) to urine tests and test for cancer.

This section includes information about a range of treatments as well as information such as how to support your child before, during and after treatments and helping your child prepare for hospital.

Health issues A-Z

The complete listing of topics for this section, organised by title.