Full body

Helpful resources and services if your child has a genetic or rare disorder.

At-a-glance information on a range of childhood infections - how they are spread, early symptoms, time between exposure and sickness, exclusion from school and day care.

Call Healthline free. If you need advice about a child who is unwell, call 0800 611 116 anytime.

Colds and fever are a normal part of childhood. Sometimes whānau (families) worry about missing a more serious illness. Knowing your child and seeing a change in their behaviour could be the most important clue to how sick they are.

Kawasaki disease is a rare but serious illness affecting young tamariki (children). The most striking feature is a high fever that comes and goes for at least 5 days. If you think your child might have Kawasaki disease, take them to a health professional straightaway.

Rheumatic fever is a serious illness. It often starts with a sore throat. Without treatment, some sore throats can cause rheumatic fever which can lead to heart damage. 

From 2 to 5 years after cancer treatment has finished, your child or young person will transfer into long-term follow-up care. This focuses on long-term problems that may be the result of the disease or treatment. Remember, many rangatahi (young people) do not develop any long-term problems.

Anxiety is a common and natural feeling that everybody experiences. If anxiety is significantly impacting your child's everyday life, then it is important to get help for them. 

If your child has cancer, please talk to your child's healthcare team before using any complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) for your child. Some CAM treatments, even vitamins, can interfere with standard medical treatment or can be unsafe for your child with cancer. 

When your child is getting ready to go home from hospital, feelings of excitement can be mixed with feelings of anxiety for everyone in the whānau (family). 

If your child has had a cancer diagnosis, you and your whānau (family) should know that you are not alone. Support is available.

Find out about some techniques you can use to help your child cope with their cancer treatment.

Play is how tamariki (children) make sense of the world around them. In hospital, it helps them to express their feelings and worries, understand what is happening and cope with treatment. This information is for child cancer patients in hospital but is also relevant to any child in hospital.

Sometimes, if your child has lost a lot of weight or has not been eating very well for a period of time, they may need tube feeding. 

Medicines your child has during cancer treatment can sometimes cause taste changes.

Diabetes-related distress and mental health concerns are common in tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) living with diabetes. Support is available to help you and your whānau (family).