How can I tell if my child is sick?

The best guide to your child’s health is their behaviour. If they are happy, active, playing and eating as they usually do, they are probably not very sick.

A sick child may:

• be unsettled or irritable
• lose interest in playing
• be unusually quiet and inactive
• not want to eat
• feel hot to the touch
• look tired, flushed or pale
• shiver or complain of feeling cold

Read more about your newborn’s health.

What symptoms should I look out for?

Symptoms you should look out for when your child seems sick are:

• fever
• drowsiness
• breathing changes
• dehydration

Fever

A fever is a temperature over 38⁰C.

Most of the time, fever itself is not harmful. It means your child’s body is fighting an infection. How high the fever is doesn’t tell you how serious the infection is.

If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever, take them to the doctor straight away, even if they have no signs of being sick. Young babies are at higher risk of complications from infections. The signs of a serious infection may not be obvious.

If your child has a seizure during a fever, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Fever-related seizures are usually not harmful. However, your child needs to be checked at the hospital.

Drowsiness

If your child is sick, they may be sleepy and not interested in playing. Take them to the doctor straight away if:

• they seem very drowsy and don’t wake up easily
• they don’t have enough energy to cry loudly
• they seem floppy when you pick them up

Breathing changes

If you notice any changes in your child’s breathing, take them to the doctor straight away. You might notice:

• fast or noisy breathing
• grunting sounds with each breath
• the skin between their ribs sucking in with each breath

Dehydration

Dehydration happens when your child doesn’t have enough fluid in their body. They may become dehydrated if they:

• have a fever
• don’t want to drink
• are vomiting
• have diarrhoea

See a doctor if your child is drinking less than half their usual amount or if they are weeing less than usual.

Other symptoms

A child who is sick may also have:

• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• pain
• a cough
• low appetite
• tiredness
• pale skin or a rash

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

How do I check my child’s temperature?

Feeling your child’s forehead is not a reliable way to check their temperature. Always use a thermometer.

How can I tell if my child has a serious illness?

Watch for changes in how your child looks and acts. They may have a serious illness if they:

• are unusually drowsy or floppy
• have pale, purplish or bluish skin
• have difficulty breathing — are breathing fast or shallow or are grunting while breathing
• show signs of dehydration
• have severe pain that doesn’t go away
• have a seizure
• are vomiting repeatedly or if the vomit has a green tinge or contains blood

Signs of meningococcal disease

It’s important to know the symptoms of meningococcal disease. This is a medical emergency and early treatment is important. Think about meningococcal disease if your child is unwell and has a:

• bad headache
• stiff neck when moving
• purple or red rash that does not turn skin-coloured when pressed
• bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on top of your baby’s head)
• high-pitched cry
• difficulty looking at light

When should I take my child to the doctor?

Your child should see a doctor straight away if they look unwell and have any symptoms of a serious illness. If you’re worried, that’s a good enough reason to take them to the doctor.

Your child should also see a doctor if they:

• are less than 3 months old and have a fever
• have had a fever for more than 2 days
• have pain that doesn’t go away with pain-relieving medicine
• are drinking less than half their usual amount or are not feeding well
• are not passing some urine every 6 hours
• refuse to use their arm or leg or have a swollen joint
• have vomiting that is frequent, has a green tinge or contains blood

Urgent care clinic

In some parts of Australia, you can visit a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic when your child needs medical attention but doesn’t need to go to the emergency department.

These clinics provide urgent care if you can’t get a regular appointment with your doctor or GP. During hours when your doctor is unavailable, take your child to a Medicare urgent care clinic.

Find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

When should I call an ambulance for my child?

You should call an ambulance if your child:

• becomes unwell very quickly
• is very drowsy or not responding
• has difficulty breathing, is breathing fast or shallow, grunting or their lips turn blue
• stops breathing for short periods
• has a seizure
• has symptoms of meningococcal disease

Resources and support

Visit the Royal Children's Hospital for more information about:

• fever in children
• dehydration children
• meningococcal infection
• sepsis

Find your closest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

If you’re unsure if your child’s illness is serious, call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.

Other languages

You can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 if you speak a language other than English and need help finding out where your nearest Urgent Care Clinic is.