Full body

A lumbar puncture is a procedure to collect and look at the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. 

A bone marrow aspirate is a test to see if blood cells in your child's bone marrow are healthy. The test will also show whether cancer cells have spread to the bone marrow from another part of the body.

Your child's healthcare team will order regular blood tests to check for a low blood count and to know when it is safe to give the next dose of chemotherapy.

Your child will need to have some tests if your doctor thinks they may have cancer.

If your child has had a recent cancer diagnosis, you'll probably want answers to some general questions - about how cancer develops, how it is treated and what terms like 'remission' actually mean.

Child cancer care is coordinated across New Zealand so that all tamariki (children) get the best available treatment wherever they live.

The flu (influenza) is not the same as having a bad cold. The flu can be a serious infection. Flu immunisation every year gives the best protection.

Cerebral palsy (CP) affects children in different ways. If you have found out your child has CP, your journey might be different from what you had planned. There are services to help your child with CP to reach their potential. Each child and family's journey is different. 

Autism-takiwātanga is a difference in development that affects communication, social skills and behaviour. If your child does have autism-takiwātanga, there are services available to support your child, you and your whānau. 

Fevers are common in tamariki (children). Fever by itself does not tell you whether your child is seriously sick. Even an ordinary cold can cause a high fever.

Nuclear medicine kidney scans check on kidney size, function and signs of kidney scarring which may be caused by repeated urinary tract infections.

Ultrasound is very useful for looking at soft parts of the body such as the kidneys and bladder.

A micturating cysto-urethrogram (MCU) is an x-ray test of the bladder as it fills and empties.

Activity is just as important for your baby or young child as it is for older tamariki (children) - it helps them to learn and grow. Check out some resources to support young tamariki to sit less, move more and sleep well.

Nitrous oxide is also known as happy or laughing gas. It is a gas that can be used to help tamariki (children) with small scans or procedures that might be stressful or painful.

A morphine infusion is a pain relieving medicine your child receives continuously through a pump. Tamariki (children) usually have it after an operation. They can also have it for other reasons.