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On this page

What to do when your child has a skin infection

Every day:

  1. Check
  2. Clean
  3. Cover
  4. Eat well
  5. Sleep

Step by step instructions for washing hands

Wash hands for 20 seconds.

Dry hands for 20 seconds.

Always wash and dry your hands ...

Before 

  • eating or preparing food

After

  • sneezing, coughing or blowing nose
  • playing outside
  • touching animals
  • going to the toilet

Wash and dry hands before and after touching infected skin.

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Poster about checking skin infections
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Questions to ask the health professional

Questions to ask:

  • What type of infection is it?
  • How often do I change the plaster or dressing?
  • When can my child play sport?
  • Are there any side effects from the medicine?
  • What sort of medicine is it (pills, liquid, cream) and how do I use it?
  • How do I stop my child from getting this infection again?
  • How do I clean it?
  • What do I do if it gets worse?
  • When can my child go back to school?
  • How do I tell if the infection is getting better or worse?
  • Do I need to treat the rest of the family - or how do I stop them getting this infection?
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Poster about questions you can ask your child's doctor when your child has a skin infection
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Acknowledgements
Last reviewed
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