All genders

Healthline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 611 116. Call Healthline if you need advice about a child of any age who is unwell, hurt, or has any symptoms of sickness. It's free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone.

The most common reason for tamariki (children) to have a raised temperature is because they are fighting off an infection.

Financial support may be available because of your child's extra needs. 

Colds and fever are a normal part of childhood. You know your child best. If you’re worried at any stage, always seek help.

If you receive news that your child has special needs, you may experience a range of emotions. Remember, there are services available when you want or need help.

This set of principles describe how healthcare providers should meet your child or young person's particular needs during every phase of healthcare and disability support.

If your child seems to be having trouble seeing clearly, they need a vision check.

Whooping cough can make pēpi (babies) very sick and some pēpi can die. Having whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy protects pēpi in their first weeks of life. Start vaccinating pēpi the day they turn 6 weeks old to keep protecting them.

Positional head flattening may happen if a baby lies with their head in the same position for a long time. Find out how you can help to prevent this in your baby.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea.

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. 

Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep may be a sign that your child is having difficulty breathing. The medical name for this is obstructive sleep apnoea.

If your child has a long-term disability, a needs assessment is a step towards getting support or services for your child and whānau (family).

If your child has speech or language difficulties or has trouble following instructions, they may have a hearing problem. Other signs include if they are easily distracted or have difficulty paying attention in class.

Screening for some vision problems for your child should happen around 11 or 12 years of age. Your child will not have their hearing checked at school so if you are concerned about your child's hearing, it's important that you visit a health professional.