Kids Health
Tummy-ache (abdominal pain) is a common complaint in children. To learn more about the sorts of things that cause abdominal pain and what you can do to help your child, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Allergic reactions are common in children. To learn about allergic reactions including causes, signs and symptoms and ways to prevent them have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Asthma is a common condition. Approximately one in four children have wheezing at sometime during childhood. To learn more about asthma, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
A blood nose (nosebleed/epistaxis) is common in children. Do you know how to manage a blood nose correctly? To learn about the causes of a blood nose, how to give first aid and when to seek help, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Bronchiolitis is a common chest infection in young children caused by a virus. It usually occurs in those under six months but can occur up to 12 months of age. To learn about the signs and symptoms, when to seek help and how to care for a child with bronchiolitis, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
To learn about Chickenpox, how it is treated and when to seek help, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Conjunctivitis is common in children and can be caused by bacteria, viruses or allergy. To learn more about the different types of conjunctivitis, how it is treated and when to seek help, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Constipation is a common complaint in children. To learn about the different causes of constipation and the things you can do to to help prevent constipation in your child, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
At Night Doctor, we review many children who have coughs. The most common cause is a viral respiratory tract infection. To learn more about coughs in children, including what you can do to help and when to seek review, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
We often get asked by parents if they should be giving their children cough medicine. The Australian Government Therapeutic Goods Administration latest recommendation is that cough medicine should not be given to children younger than 6 years old and should only be given to children aged 6 to 11 years on the advice of a doctor, pharmacist or nurse practitioner. To understand why, watch this short video:
At Night Doctor, we recommend giving honey to children before bed if they are older than 12 months of age, as this has been shown to reduce the frequency of coughing. Do not give honey to children less than 12 months of age as it has not been tested for cough in this age-group and there are concerns about the risk of botulism from some honey products. This is recommended by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and you can read more about the RACGP advise here:
Croup is more common in the winter months and usually affects children up to 5 years old. To learn about croup, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Unsettled behaviour in a baby can be a cause for concern for parents. Sometimes there is a medical reason but most of the time no medical cause is found. The following resource provides a great overview for parents and answers many common questions that we get asked:
At Night Doctor, we see many children with ear infections. Most often the cause is a middle ear infection. To learn about the different types, and how to care for a child with an ear infection, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Have a read of this excellent overview of eczema from the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. It answers many of the common questions we get asked at Night Doctor and offers some really good tips about how to care for a child with eczema:
Most febrile convulsions happen between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. They can be very upsetting and concerning for parents, however they are not harmful to your child. To learn about what causes febrile convulsions, what to do when your child has one and when to seek help, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
What causes fever? What is a normal temperature? When should my child see a doctor? To learn about fever and how to care for a feverish child, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Gastro is a bowel infection and when mild can be looked after at home. Medicine is not normally required and avoiding dehydration is the focus of treatment. To learn about the causes of gastro, how to care for your child at home and when to seek help from a doctor, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Hand foot and mouth disease is a very common condition that we review at Night Doctor. To learn more about the condition, have a read of this info sheet:
If your child has suffered a head injury they should see a doctor. To learn about different severities, symptoms and signs of head injury and when you need to ask for help, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Headaches are common in children and are generally not serious, most commonly being a tension headache or a migraine. To learn about the common causes of headache, and how to avoid and manage headaches in children, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Impetigo (school sores) is a skin infection caused by bacteria. It is easily spread, however with the right care and treatment the risk of spread can be reduced. To learn about the signs and symptoms of impetigo and how to manage the condition, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Influenza (The Flu) is an infection caused by a virus which mainly affects the nose, throat and lungs. The influenza vaccine (the flu-shot) can be given to children over six months of age to reduce the chance of them becoming sick with influenza. Please arrange to see your regular GP if you wish to consider giving your child the flu-shot. To learn more about influenza and when you should seek review from a doctor, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Insect bites are common and most are not poisonous. The bite results in an allergic reaction which in most children is not severe. Very occasionally, a severe reaction, called anaphylaxis, can occur. Anaphylaxis is an emeregency and needs urgent treatment. To learn more about insect bites/stings, including how to treat them and things you can do to prevent them, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Meningitis occurs when the covering of the brain and spinal cord becomes inflamed. It is normally caused by a virus or bacteria. Meningitis can get worse quickly and therefore it is good for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms that can occur. If you think your child could have meningitis, it is important that you see a doctor without delay. To learn about the condition and what to look out for, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
For helpful tips on treating nappy rash, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Some of the most common questions we get asked at Night Doctor are about giving paracetamol (eg. Panadol) and ibuprofen (eg. Neurofen) to children. To learn about when to give these medications, we recommend reading this RCH info sheet:
To learn about how best to care for your son's penis and foreskin and for answers to common questions about problems that can occur, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Pnuemonia is a chest infection. If you think your child has prnuemonia you should see a doctor. To learn about the signs and symptoms, and how it is treated, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Viral infections in children can often cause a rash which is frequently referred to as a "viral rash" by doctors. They are normally harmless and go away without any specific treatment. To learn about viral rashes, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Ringworm is a fungal infection that can affect the scalp, face, body, feet and nails. The name ringworm comes from the circular apperance that infection forms on the skin. To learn more about ringworm and how to treat it, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Staphylococcus aureus (commonly known as "Staph") is a bacteria that is found on the skin of many healthy people. Normally it causes no problems, however sometimes the bacteria can multiply and result in infections. To learn about the infections Staph can cause and how to treat them, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
At Night Doctor we sometimes use stitches or glue to treat wounds. To learn about how to look after a wound that has been treated with stitches or glue, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
To learn about Threadworms and how to treat them, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
We see quite a few children with Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) at Night Doctor. To learn about the signs and symptoms, and how your doctor will investigate and treat your child's UTI, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
At Night Doctor, most infections we see in children will have a viral cause. Antibiotics cannot treat viruses. To learn about common viral illnesses in children and what you can do to care for you child if they have a viral illness, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
Warts are very common in children. Warts are best reviewed and treated by your regular GP. To learn about the signs and symptoms of warts, what causes them and how they are treated, have a read of this RCH info sheet:
This information is general and may not apply to you or another person. If you have any concerns about your health or the health and wellbeing of a child, consult a doctor or other healthcare professional. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.