Childhood Illness

The Little Orange Book provides expert advice on helping babies and young children when they’re poorly.

When should I worry? will help you to deal with common infections in children who are normally healthy.

Child health apps - the NHS website has a guide to some of the child health apps available for download.

Below is a list of useful medicines and dressings for all the family. They are inexpensive and worth stocking at home.

Remember: Keep all medicines locked-up and out of the reach of children.

• Paracetamol/Ibuprofen - for adults or children over 12. Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises
• Paracetamol mixture/Ibuprofen syrup - for relief of pain or fever in young children
• Cough linctus (non sedative) - for dry or painful coughs, but not coughs caused by common colds
• Menthol crystals - add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs
• Vapour rub - again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose
• Antihistamine (cetirizine) - for hay fever, allergies etc
• Rehydration powders - to restore fluids and body salts lost during stomach upsets/ diarrhoea
• Antiseptic solution - one teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes
• Antiseptic cream - for treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes
• Calamine lotion - for dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites and stings and sunburn
• Factor 50 sunblock - especially for children
• Dressing strips - for minor cuts
• 3″ wide crepe bandage - to keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints
• Gauze squares - for cleaning cuts and grazes
• Thermometer - for fevers