Tummy bugs. Home: Family doctor: What to do next

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1 Tummy bugs next 1 Home: to rest and have small amounts of water often; stay home for 2 days after vomiting or diarrhoea has finished 2 Family doctor: if still sick on day 3 of symptoms

2 Tummy bugs Gastroenteritis is a bowel infection that causes diarrhoea (runny poos), stomach pain and vomiting. Some children will also have a headache or mild fever with gastro. Most children with gastro have mild symptoms that do not need to be treated by a doctor. y Drink small amounts regularly 1/4 cup of water every 20 minutes (for child) y Plain water is best or watered down apple juice y Avoid sugary drinks which can make gastro worse y Have plenty of rest y Wash hands thoroughly with soapy water after toileting and vomiting y Clean bathroom areas often y Urinate (wee) at least every 6 hours y Wash hands thoroughly before food preparation y Do not share drink or food with a sick person y Stay home for 2 days after vomiting and/or diarrhoea has finished When to get help Gastro can take a couple of days to go away. Call your family doctor if: y You are still sick after 2 full days of being sick y The volume and frequency of vomit or diarrhoea is increasing rather than decreasing y Your child has tummy pains despite having pain relief Take your child to ED if: y They are sleepy, floppy or limp, pale and sweaty y They have not urinated for 6 hours during the day y They have severe stomach pain y They have blood in their diarrhoea or vomit More information For more information call Healthline or visit

3 Sprain, strain & possible fracture next 1 Home: to rest and follow RICED guidelines 2 Family doctor: if in pain and can t use limb as normal ED: if in severe pain and limb is pale, 3cold and/or deformed

4 Sprains & strains Muscle strains and ligament sprains are common injuries among children. Both can cause pain and swelling. Sprains and strains are best treated following the R.I.C.E.D approach. R est y Rest reduces further damage y Avoid moving the injured part as much as possible and keep weight off it I ce y Ice reduces pain, swelling and bleeding y Wrap ice in a damp towel don t put ice directly onto bare skin y Keep ice on the injury for 20 minutes every 2 hours during the day for the first 48 hours C ompression y Bandaging helps to reduce swelling and bleeding y Bandage the injury firmly in between ice treatments E levation y Elevation helps to stop bleeding and reduce swelling. y Raise the injured limb on a pillow for comfort and support D iagnosis y Call your family doctor if you re worried about the injury (see next section) When to get help Call your family doctor if: y Your are still in pain after taking pain relief medicine (eg paracetamol) y The swelling and pain have not eased y You can t use the limb as normal y Your are holding the limb to look after it or protect it from being knocked Go to ED if: y You are in severe pain after taking pain relief y The limb is pale, cold and/or deformed looking More information For more information call Healthline or visit

5 Allergies next Home: talk to your pharmacist about relief for minor 1allergic reactions Family doctor: if symptoms not better 2after 2 days ED: via ambulance for breathing issues, if lips/tongue swelling or if 3epipen used

6 Allergies Allergies occur when a person s immune system over-reacts to something in the environment. Common allergies include those to dust, grasses, pollen, pets, foods and insect stings. y If you have a mild allergic reaction, take them home to rest and recover y Talk to a pharmacist if you have mild hayfever symptoms (sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy or watering eyes, itchy or irritated throat or red itchy skin with patchy swelling) y Monitor your child and keep a watch for new or worsening symptoms When to get help Call your family doctor if: y Their symptoms become worse (spreading rash, swollen lips and/or eyes) y Their symptoms haven t got better after 2 days (particularly if they have been taking allergy relief) y They start having symptoms on a regular basis y You are concerned about them Call an ambulance if: y Your child is having trouble breathing y You are concerned that their symptoms are rapidly getting worse More information For more information call Healthline or visit

7 Colds & coughs next 1 Home: to rest and drink water regularly; pain relief for sore throats, earaches and headaches 2 Family doctor: if still sick after 3 days or if child is feverish, miserable and not wanting to drink

8 Colds & coughs Coughs and colds are common in children and are usually short-lived. Most coughs and colds do not require treatment and get better by themselves in time. Colds can last up to a week while coughs can last up to 3-4 weeks. y Drink small amounts of water regularly y Going to the toilet to urinate (wee) at least every 6 hours y Have plenty of rest y Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, which can make coughs worse y Take pain relief (eg paracetamol) if you have a sore throat, earache or headache When to get help Call your family doctor if: y Your child is feverish, miserable and not wanting to drink y Your child is still unwell after more than 3 days y A cough lasts more than 3 weeks Take your child to ED if: y they are sleepy, floppy or limp y they are breathing very fast or have trouble breathing y they are too tired or breathless to drink y they have not urinated (been for a wee) for 6 hours y you are overly concerned about them More information For more information call Healthline or visit

9 Cuts & wounds next Home: to rest and monitor 1minor wounds 2 Family doctor: if wound is gaping, has dirt or something inside wound, or if not healing after 2 days ED: if large and/or deep wound, 3large blood loss

10 Cuts & wounds Cuts and scrapes are common in children. Most minor cuts will heal in time if kept clean and checked regularly. y Clean the wound by running it under warm water or gently wiping with a clean cloth y To stop bleeding, press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth for up to 10 minutes y Raise the limb to help stop bleeding if necessary y Put a plaster or sterile dressing on the wound y Check the wound and replace the dressing every day y Give your child pain relief (eg paracetamol) if needed When to get help Call your family doctor if: y The wound is gaping more than ½ cm y There is dirt or something in the wound y The wound isn t healing after 2 days y The wound looks infected (ie red, hot and/or has a pus-like discharge) Take your child to ED if: y The wound is large or deep y There is large blood loss More information For more information call Healthline or visit

11 Head injury next Home: if minor headache 1after injury 2 Family doctor: for assessment if any loss of consciousness or in severe pain ED: if drowsy, acting strange, vomiting, can t move parts of body, blurred vision, slurred 3speech

12 Head injury Head injuries can range from mild to severe knocks to the head. y If they have a mild headache, go home to rest, take pain relief (e.g. paracetamol) if needed and avoid computers, TV and cellphones for 24hours When to get help Call your family doctor if: y They have any loss of consciousness, even if it s brief and they seem well y They vomit more than twice y You are concerned about them Go to ED if: y You can t get a same-day appointment with your family doctor for the symptoms listed above y They are drowsy or sleepy y They faint or can t wake up y They are acting strange or confused and not making sense y They have slurred speech or blurred vision y They can t move parts of the body More information For more information call Healthline or visit