All Conditions

Acne is a common skin condition that usually starts in the teenage years. It usually clears up after several years, but for some people, it can last a lot longer.

Anxiety is a common and natural feeling that everybody experiences. If anxiety is significantly impacting your child's everyday life, then it is important to get help for them. 

Appendicitis can be serious. Go first to your family doctor or after-hours medical centre if you think your child has symptoms of appendicitis. If you cannot get an appointment straight away, go to your hospital's accident and emergency department.

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. 

A breath-holding spell may happen after a child has an upset or sudden startle, such as a minor bump or a fright.

Bronchiolitis is a chest condition that causes breathing problems in pēpi (babies). It's caused by a virus. Bronchiolitis is very easy to catch so wash your hands before and after handling your baby.

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. 

There are many childhood cancer topics and pages available on this website. Check out some quick links to the main sections.

Coeliac disease is common and can run in families. If your child has coeliac disease, they may have some symptoms or none at all. They'll need to follow a strict gluten-free diet.

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a very common condition in children. It causes red, irritated and sticky eyes. A viral or bacterial infection or allergic reaction are the most common causes of conjunctivitis.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It can affect your lungs, airways and other organs. If you or your child have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay at home. Call your GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice. 

Croup is a viral illness in young tamariki (children) which causes narrowing of the upper airways. Croup is often a mild illness but can quickly become serious, so don't hesitate to get medical help.

Daytime wetting happens in about 3% of healthy tamariki (children). All tamariki with daytime wetting should see a doctor who has experience with children's problems.

Depression is a serious illness that can make it hard to do everyday activities. It is important to get help if you are concerned about your child's depression. Depression can be treated effectively.

Meet Mel and her family in a series of video clips. Mel is mother to 3 boys - Jamie, Ryan and Ethan. Her middle son Ryan was diagnosed after birth with Down syndrome.

Eczema is a dry skin condition. You can easily manage most eczema at home but it needs care every day. There is no cure for eczema - just good management.

Epilepsy is the name of a group of disorders. Tamariki (children) with epilepsy have epileptic seizures. But not all children with epileptic seizures have epilepsy.

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

Growing pains are common in tamariki (children). They usually happen in the legs and come on at night. Learn more about growing pains and how to manage them.

There are many different types of fractures. Your child's treatment will depend on the type of fracture, and where it is.

If your child has glue ear, it means there is fluid in the space behind the ear drum. The main symptom of glue ear is hearing difficulty. Hearing loss for long periods during the early years may affect speech and language development.

If your child has Henoch-Schonlein purpura, you may first notice a rash. This is caused by inflammation and swelling of the small blood vessels in the skin. 

At-a-glance information on a range of childhood infections - how they are spread, early symptoms, time between exposure and sickness, exclusion from school and day care.

An insect bite is usually a red itchy bump. There may be a blister in the middle. Sometimes insect bites are painful (especially spider bites) as well as itchy.

Intussusception is a rare condition where one part of the bowel slides inside the next (like a telescope) and causes a blockage.

Irritable hip is one of the most common causes of limping in tamariki (children). The medical name for irritable hip is transient synovitis. Irritable hip is not serious and your child will get better with rest and time. 

Kawasaki disease is a rare but serious illness affecting young tamariki (children). The most striking feature is a high fever that comes and goes for at least 5 days. If you think your child might have Kawasaki disease, you should take them to your doctor straightaway.

Knee pain is common in tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people). It can happen for many different reasons. Learn more about the different causes of knee pain in tamariki and rangatahi.

Lichen sclerosus is an uncommon skin condition. It affects males and females of all ages but mainly affects tamariki before puberty.

Babies and children with meningococcal disease can get sick very quickly. Call 111 in New Zealand if your child seems very ill, especially if there is a rash.

In the 5 hours between waking at 3am with a headache and 8am when her family had gathered at Palmerston North Hospital, 18-year-old Letitia (Tesh) Gallagher's body had battled meningococcal C disease and lost.

Nightmares are bad dreams that are usually related to worries your child may have. Night terrors happen when children are only partly aroused or woken from deep sleep. They can be very frightening for parents and carers.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It causes cough, fever and problems with breathing. Most tamariki (children) make a complete recovery from pneumonia.

Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is a kidney disease. The main symptoms are blood in your child's wee and swollen ankles or puffy eyes.

Helpful resources and services if your child has a genetic or rare disorder.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is one of many viruses that cause infections of the respiratory tract - the parts of the body related to breathing. 

Watch animated videos to find out about sore throats, rheumatic fever and the importance of keeping a healthy heart.

Scabies is caused by a tiny mite which digs under the skin and lays eggs. Small blisters grow on the skin above each egg and the skin gets very itchy.

Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep may be a sign that your child is having difficulty breathing. The medical name for this is obstructive sleep apnoea.

Some parents worry that a sore red bottom may be caused by sexual abuse.  Although that is a possibility, it is not the usual reason and there are lots of other things that are much more likely causes of a sore red bottom.

An abnormally fast heart rhythm (tachycardia) can arise from the upper or lower chambers of the heart. Tachycardias that involve the upper chambers are called supraventricular tachycardias (SVT). Supraventricular tachycardias are usually not dangerous.

Threadworms are tiny worms that infect the digestive tract. They're common in children and spread easily. They commonly cause an itch around the bottom and genitals.

Typhoid fever is an infection that can make your child very ill. If your child has typhoid, you need to see a doctor urgently. Without immediate treatment, your child could have serious complications or even die.

A urinary tract infection is an infection in the wee (urine). It is a common cause of fever in young children. 

Vulval conditions are common in tamariki. They can cause symptoms such as itch and discomfort. Read to find out about some of the common conditions that can affect the vulva in tamariki. 

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