Is My Child Sick?

Key points about seeking help if your child is sick

• if you are worried about your child, whether or not there is a fever, you should take them to a health professional
• if your child is under 3 months old and you are worried about them, take them to a health professional - trust your instinct

Is my child very sick?

Healthy young tamariki (children) can have up to 8 to 12 colds or upper respiratory tract infections each year. These are a normal part of childhood. 

Sometimes whānau worry about missing a more serious illness. Knowing your child and seeing a change in their behaviour could be the most important clue to how sick they are.

What to do if you think your child is sick

If you are worried about your child, whether or not there is a fever, you should take them to a health professional.

You could:

• call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if you are unsure what you should do
• see your health professional
• go to an after-hours medical centre
• dial 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) for urgent medical help

You should stay calm and explain why you are worried about your child. 

If you are waiting to see your health professional and think that your child is getting sicker, calmly explain why you are worried.

If you have already seen a health professional but your child is getting worse, go back to a health professional. 

When to get medical help for your child

When to call 111

Dial 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for urgent medical help if your child:

• has blue lips and tongue
• has severe difficulty breathing
• has any episodes of irregular or stopping breathing
• has a worrying rash especially one that does not go away when you press on it (see a photo of a meningococcal rash)
• is unconscious or you can't wake them up properly
• has been in a serious accident

When to see a health professional urgently

You should see a health professional urgently if your child:

• is under 3 months old - young pēpi (babies) need a different and more cautious approach
• looks unwell and you are concerned
• is very pale or feels cold to touch
• is floppy, sleepy or drowsy
• is becoming less responsive
• has an unusual high-pitched cry
• has trouble breathing, has noisy breathing or is breathing fast
• complains of a stiff neck or light hurting their eyes
• has a severe headache
• refuses to drink - even small sips
• is not doing wee
• vomits a lot – and cannot keep sips of replacement drinks down
• vomits green fluid (bile)
• vomits blood – this may be red or brown or look like coffee grounds if it is not fresh
• has black tar like poo or blood in their poo
• is in severe pain
• is not interested in surroundings (lethargic)

When to see a health professional

You should see a health professional if your child:

• is under 3 months old - young pēpi need a different and more cautious approach 
• has a sore throat or joint pains
• is drinking less than half of their normal breastmilk or other fluid
• is having fewer than 4 wet nappies in 24 hours
• is doing wee that is very dark or has blood in it
• vomited half or more of their feed for the last 3 feeds
• has frequent and watery poo (diarrhoea)
• complains or cries when doing wee
• is in pain
• is getting sicker
• has a fever and is not improving after 2 days
• has had a fever for more than 5 days

When it's OK to look after your child at home

You can look after your child with a fever at home if they:

• are drinking and feeding well
• are still interacting with you
• do not look sick

When young babies are sick

Young pēpi (less than 3 months old) need a more cautious approach. If your child is under 3 months old and you are worried about them, take them to a health professional. Trust your instinct.

• if they have a fever, always take them to a health professional
• if you are worried about them, take them to your health professional even if they do not have a fever
• some pēpi may have an unstable temperature with an infection - they may be colder than normal - in a sick infant this is a worrying sign and is a reason to see a health professional urgently
• pēpi get fevers for the same reasons as older tamariki, but they are not as good at fighting off infections

Image

Healthline

Healthline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 611 116. Call Healthline if you need advice about a child of any age who is unwell, hurt, or has any symptoms of sickness. It's free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone.

Call Healthline 0800 611 116