A child who is unwell may become less active, drowsy and want to sleep more than usual. 

More serious signs can include:

• floppiness
• a weak cry
• irritability
• not responding to people or things around them.

When a child is having difficulty breathing, they may:

• have a blue, green, white, or grey colour around the lips, tongue, gums, ears, and fingernails
• flare their nostrils when breathing in through the nose
• make noses like grunts, coughs, wheezes, and snores
• breathe very fast
• have retractions - when skin pulls in around the chest, neck, and ribs in an upside-down V-shape as they breathe
• bob their head back and forth
• sit leaning forward on their arms
• stop or pause breathing.  

Breathing difficulty is a medical emergency. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency department.

Serious signs of illness on the skin can include:

• cyanosis – lack of oxygen that causes a blue, green, white, or grey tint around the lips, tongue, gums, ears, and fingernails
• skin that is paler than normal 
• skin that is a purple-mottled colour 
• bright red or purple spots or bruises.

A purple rash that does not blanch or fade when pressed can be serious and may be a sign of meningococcal infection. 

You can check for this at home by pressing a clear drinking glass on the skin and seeing if the rash fades. If the rash does not fade, call your local doctor immediately.

Children are at risk of dehydration if they lose more fluid through vomiting and diarrhoea than they take in through eating and drinking.

Serious signs of dehydration can include:

• dark urine 
• fewer wet nappies or trips to the toilet than usual 
• sunken eyes 
• skin that looks more pale than normal 
• dry lips or tongue 
• in young babies - a sunken fontanelle, the soft spot in the head.

Other serious signs include:

• blood in urine or poo
• green or yellow-coloured vomit.

These signs are a medical emergency. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency department. 

Fever is a body temperature higher than 38°C.

Fever is usually a general sign of illness, but can be more serious depending on:

• how old your child is
• how long the fever goes for
• other symptoms that your child has, like shivering.

If your child has a fever and is:

• under 3 months old – go to your nearest emergency department
• up to 12 months old and you are concerned - see your local doctor.

See your local doctor if your child is over 12 months old and the fever lasts for more than 4 days.

Seizures are short, sudden, uncontrolled changes in your child’s movement and behaviour.

They can be caused by:

• high fever, also known as febrile seizures
• trauma to the head
• illness
• conditions like epilepsy.

During a seizure, you will need to:

• move away any objects your child could hit or fall onto
• place something soft under their head
• try rolling them onto their side.

Seek medical attention if your child:

• has a seizure for the first time
• has a seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes
• has a seizure in water and has trouble breathing
• has an injury during or after the seizure
• inhales liquid or food during the seizure
• doesn’t breathe normally after the seizure 
• stays blue around the lips
• is not recovering normally.

• If your child is hot to touch, take their temperature with a thermometer, preferably under the arm. See fever factsheet. 
• Children with fever should not be under or over-dressed. If your child is hot to touch, remove a layer of their clothing
• Sponging is no longer recommended for the treatment of fever
• Offer your child regular drinks. Fever increases sweating and fluid loss from the body. If a baby is breastfed, the most appropriate fluid is breast milk/formula
• Read about fluids to give your child
• Keep a diary of symptoms including what your child is eating/drinking and when they are passing urine
• If your child is due for immunisations, please consult your doctor for advice, there may be no need to delay their appointment. 
• If you need to keep your child away from childcare or school whilst they are unwell, please notify the childcare or school. Your doctor will be able to advise you if you are unsure.
• Check your child during the night to monitor symptoms.

Medications that can help If your child is distressed, or unwell (do not use if your child has any allergies or contraindications to these medications): 

• Paracetamol (e.g. Panadol, Dymadon) if more than 1 month old
• Ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen, Advil) if more than 3 months old 
• Don’t give both Paracetamol and Ibuprofen at the same time — use one first and if your child has not improved 1-2 hours later, you may want to try giving the other medication. 
• Please read the instructions on the medication bottle first for dose and frequency. 
• Be aware of the maximum dose which can be given over a 24-hour period. 
• Never give Aspirin to a child unless prescribed by their doctor. 
• You can ask your local community pharmacist for more advice about medication. 
• Most children handle fever well. You can use medications to help your child feel better if they are uncomfortable and irritable.