All ages

There are a number of ways you can help your child if they are having healthcare treatment.

Tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) should be protected from physical and emotional pain, trauma and distress.

Whānau (families) need to be fully informed about their child or young person's condition so that they can participate in all aspects of their child or young person's care and support.

Tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) of all ages should have information provided in a manner appropriate to their maturity, understanding and culture. This includes participation in decisions that affect them, active involvement in their care and giving consent if competent.

As much healthcare and disability support as possible should be provided in the home and community. When tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) are admitted to hospital, this should be as close to home as possible within the bounds of quality and safety.

Healthcare and disability support services should provide culturally safe services to all tamariki (children), rangatahi (young people) and their whānau (families).

Warts are common, harmless skin growths caused by a virus. Warts will disappear within 2 years in most tamariki (children).

Chickenpox is a common childhood illness caused by a virus. Tamariki (children) with chickenpox need to stay home from school and daycare. Tamariki can have free chickenpox immunisation at 15 months of age.

Health and disability service providers should respect and be responsive to Māori and their cultural values and beliefs.

Tamariki (children) are part of a whānau (family) and are dependent on parents or primary caregivers for physical and emotional care and support. Whānau are a critical part of support and care for tamariki.

Tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) should be treated as thinking, feeling people who are members of a whānau (family) and who have a range of strengths and needs.

When tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) receive health or disability services, their needs should be the primary concern of the health provider.

Ear pain and concerns about hearing are one of the most common reasons parents take their young children to the doctor.

Sore throats are common in children. Sometimes children can get 'strep throat'. A rare complication of strep throat is rheumatic fever.

Allergies happen when your child's immune system mistakenly treats normally harmless substances as 'harmful'. The substances that trigger allergies are called allergens. The symptoms of an allergy vary according to what a child or young person is allergic to. 

It is important to know all the medicines your child is taking. Being well informed can help prevent mistakes with medicines.