Pediatric Clinic Online — trusted specialist care for children and adolescents

Typical age

All childhood ages, most common in younger children.

Background

Very common, viral.

Symptoms

Runny nose, cough, mild fever.

What the doctor looks for

Breathing pattern, general condition.

Investigations

Rarely needed.

Diagnosis

Clinical picture.

Management

Symptom relief, fluids, rest.

Follow-up

If worsening or no improvement.

Prognosis

Excellent.

What you can do yourself

Fluids, rest and fever relief as needed. A runny nose and cough lasting one to two weeks is normal after a cold.

When should you book?

For fever beyond five days, breathing difficulty, or a child who won't drink.

Typical age

Most common in young children.

Background

Infection of the middle ear, often after a cold.

Symptoms

Ear pain, fever, distress (in young children).

What the doctor looks for

Fever, general condition; the eardrum itself requires a physical exam.

Investigations

Physical ear examination needed for certain diagnosis.

Diagnosis

Often requires an in-person visit.

Management

Pain relief, sometimes antibiotics.

Follow-up

If symptoms persist.

Prognosis

Good, often resolves on its own.

What you can do yourself

Pain relief matters most in the first day or two — many ear infections settle without antibiotics.

When should you book?

For ear pain that hasn't eased within two days, discharge from the ear, or a child under two with fever.

Typical age

Children and adolescents with known asthma.

Background

Chronic airway disease with periods of worsening; the distinction between daily maintenance treatment and quick-relief treatment matters because using them interchangeably is a common source of poor control.

Symptoms at follow-up

Cough, wheezing with exertion.

What the doctor looks for

Symptom control, medication use.

Investigations

Review of symptom diary, sometimes previous lung function values.

Diagnosis

Already established, this concerns follow-up.

Management

Adjustment of maintenance treatment.

Follow-up

Regular, per plan.

Prognosis

Good control possible with proper treatment.

What you can do yourself

Check inhaler technique regularly — poor technique is the most common reason treatment isn't working.

When should you book?

If your child needs reliever medication more often, or wakes at night coughing.

Typical age

Most common in young children, can persist.

Background

The immune system reacts to certain foods.

Symptoms

Rash, itchy mouth, in severe cases swelling or breathing difficulty.

What the doctor looks for

Reaction pattern linked to specific foods.

Investigations

May require allergy testing via in-person care.

Diagnosis

Symptom history plus possible testing.

Management

Avoidance, emergency plan for severe allergy.

Follow-up

Regular.

Prognosis

Varies, some allergies are outgrown.

What you can do yourself

Write down what was eaten, how long afterwards the reaction came, and what it looked like — the timing is what separates allergy from intolerance.

When should you book?

For a reaction with hives, swelling or vomiting after food. With breathing difficulty or facial swelling — emergency care.

A severe allergic reaction with facial/throat swelling or breathing difficulty is an emergency — see the safety box. If you have an adrenaline auto-injector, use it first, before calling. Then call your local emergency number even if symptoms improve.

Typical age

Common in young children.

Background

Chronic skin inflammation.

Symptoms

Dry, itchy, red skin.

What the doctor looks for

Extent, signs of infection.

Investigations

Clinical assessment, often via image.

Diagnosis

Clinical picture.

Management

Moisturizers, sometimes steroid cream.

Follow-up

If worsening.

Prognosis

Good, often improves with age.

What you can do yourself

Moisturise every day, even when the skin looks fine — this prevents flare-ups better than only treating them.

When should you book?

For eczema that doesn't improve with moisturiser within a couple of weeks, or signs of infection.

Typical age

All childhood ages.

Background

Common, often linked to diet or habits.

Symptoms

Infrequent/hard stools, abdominal pain.

What the doctor looks for

Duration, other symptoms.

Investigations

Rarely needed.

Diagnosis

Clinical picture.

Management

Diet, fluids, sometimes medication.

Follow-up

If symptoms persist.

Prognosis

Good.

What you can do yourself

Regular toilet times after meals, plus fibre and fluids. Try not to let toilet visits become a conflict.

When should you book?

For constipation lasting more than two weeks, or if your child is in pain or avoiding the toilet.

Typical age

All childhood ages.

Background

Often viral.

Symptoms

Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain.

What the doctor looks for

Signs of dehydration.

Investigations

Rarely needed digitally.

Diagnosis

Clinical picture.

Management

Fluid replacement.

Follow-up

If signs of dehydration — seek care, see safety box.

Prognosis

Good, usually resolves within a few days.

What you can do yourself

Small amounts of fluid often works better than large amounts rarely. Use nappies or toilet visits as your measure of hydration.

When should you book?

For a child who won't drink, has had no wet nappy for six hours, or has blood in the stool.

Typical age

School-age and up.

Background

Usually benign, can relate to stress, vision, or sleep.

Symptoms

Recurrent headache.

What the doctor looks for

Warning signs for more serious causes.

Investigations

Rarely needed.

Diagnosis

Clinical picture.

Management

Targeted at cause.

Follow-up

If pattern changes.

Prognosis

Good in most cases.

What you can do yourself

Map sleep, screen time, meals and school days — the pattern often emerges clearly.

When should you book?

For recurring headache that affects school, or headache that wakes your child at night.

Typical age

All childhood ages.

Background

Parents often wonder if their child's growth is normal.

Symptoms

Concern rather than symptoms.

What the doctor looks for

Growth chart if available, eating habits.

Investigations

Review of previous measurements.

Diagnosis

Assessment based on available data.

Management

Guidance, possible referral onward.

Follow-up

As needed.

Prognosis

Usually normal variation.

What you can do yourself

Bring the growth chart from child health services or the school nurse — the slope of the curve over time is what matters, not a single measurement.

When should you book?

If your child flattens off or deviates from their own earlier curve.

Typical age

From around 8–9 years and up.

Background

Questions about pubertal development are common.

Symptoms

Concern rather than symptoms.

What the doctor looks for

Developmental pattern from description.

Investigations

Rarely needed digitally.

Diagnosis

Clinical assessment.

Management

Information and support, referral onward if the pattern is atypical.

Follow-up

As needed.

Prognosis

Good, usually normal variation.

What you can do yourself

Note when the first signs appeared and in what order — the sequence tells you more than age alone.

When should you book?

For signs of puberty before eight in girls or nine in boys, or no signs by thirteen and fourteen respectively.

Typical age

Most common between one and six years.

Background

One of the most common reasons for parental worry — and one of the conditions where reassurance is most often the right answer. Many children go through periods of fussiness, particularly around two to three years, without it affecting growth or health.

Common symptoms

Refusing certain foods, eating little, drawn-out mealtimes, mealtimes turning into a conflict.

What the doctor looks for

The growth chart above all — a child following their own curve is eating enough, however it feels at the dinner table.

Investigations

Review of the growth chart; blood tests (iron, blood count) where deficiency or abnormal growth is suspected.

How the assessment is made

By separating normal fussiness from genuine feeding difficulty with an effect on growth.

Management

Usually advice about the mealtime situation rather than medical treatment.

Follow-up

Where growth is abnormal or worry persists.

Risk factors to know

Swallowing difficulty, strong selectivity about texture, a coexisting developmental difference — these point to genuine feeding difficulty rather than fussiness.

Common misconception

That the child must clear the plate. Pressure at mealtimes almost always makes things worse — the child decides how much, the parent decides what and when.

What you can do yourself

Serve without pressure, let your child decide the amount, and avoid turning food into a negotiation.

When should you book?

If your child loses weight, deviates from their growth curve, or if mealtimes have become a daily conflict.

Prognosis

Very good — most children grow out of it.

Typical age

Most common between four and twelve years.

Background

Functional abdominal pain is one of the most common causes of recurring stomach ache in children. The pain is entirely real, but has no structural cause — often linked to stress, worry or the school situation.

Common symptoms

Pain around the navel, often in the mornings or before school, rarely at night, with the child otherwise well between episodes.

What the doctor looks for

Warning signs that argue against a functional cause — weight loss, night-time pain, blood in the stool, fever, effect on growth.

Investigations

Blood and stool tests to exclude other causes; often nothing further where the picture is typical.

How the assessment is made

By systematically excluding warning signs, rather than ordering more and more tests.

Management

Confirming that the pain is real, regular routines, and working with any underlying worry.

Follow-up

For new symptoms or if warning signs appear.

Risk factors to know

School stress, bullying, changes in the family, high performance expectations.

Common misconception

That “it's in their head” means the child is pretending. The pain is experienced exactly as real — it's the mechanism, not the experience, that differs.

What you can do yourself

Note when the pain comes — the pattern linked to school days or specific situations is often revealing.

When should you book?

For stomach pain recurring over several weeks, and always with weight loss, night-time pain or blood in the stool.

Prognosis

Good — most improve, particularly once any underlying worry is addressed.

Typical age

Most common from preschool age upwards.

Background

Many parents wonder whether their child's difficulty concentrating, impulsivity or outbursts fall within normal variation or need investigating. It's a legitimate question that deserves a structured answer rather than “wait and see”.

Common symptoms

Difficulty sitting still, frequent interrupting, difficulty finishing tasks, conflicts at school, emotional outbursts.

What the doctor looks for

Whether the difficulties appear in more than one setting (home AND school), how long they have been present, and how much they affect daily life.

Investigations

Structured review; formal neurodevelopmental assessment takes place in specialist care and requires input from both home and school.

How the assessment is made

We make an initial assessment and advise whether further investigation is warranted — the investigation itself is not done here.

Management

Depends entirely on what the assessment shows; often support measures at school as a first step.

Follow-up

According to the onward assessment plan.

Risk factors to know

Family history of ADHD or autism spectrum conditions, sleep deprivation (which often produces ADHD-like symptoms in children), hearing loss.

Common misconception

That you have to wait until the child is older. Early support at school can be put in place long before a formal diagnosis exists.

What you can do yourself

Ask the school for their observations — difficulties that appear only at home, or only at school, point in different directions.

When should you book?

When the difficulties affect your child's schooling, friendships or daily life across more than one setting.

Prognosis

Good with the right support — early measures make a real difference whatever the final diagnosis.

Typical age

All childhood ages, with different patterns at different ages.

Background

Sleep difficulties in children affect the whole family and are commonly overlooked as a medical question. Most have behavioural causes that can be addressed, but some conceal underlying conditions that matter not to miss.

Common symptoms

Difficulty falling asleep, repeated night waking, early waking, daytime tiredness or irritability.

What the doctor looks for

Sleep routines, screen habits, snoring and breathing pauses (which can indicate enlarged tonsils), and whether the child is unusually tired during the day.

Investigations

A two-week sleep diary; an ENT assessment may be needed where there is snoring with breathing pauses.

How the assessment is made

By separating behavioural sleep problems from medical causes.

Management

Sleep routines and behavioural strategies work well; medication is rarely used in children.

Follow-up

Once measures have been started.

Risk factors to know

Screens late in the evening, irregular bedtimes, snoring with breathing pauses, worry or anxiety.

Common misconception

That children “grow out of” all sleep problems. Many do, but snoring with breathing pauses should always be investigated — it affects both sleep quality and daytime concentration.

What you can do yourself

The same bedtime routine every evening and no screens in the last hour often gives a noticeable effect within two weeks.

When should you book?

For sleep problems lasting over a month, or for snoring with breathing pauses regardless of how long it has gone on.

Prognosis

Good — most sleep problems in children respond well to changes in routine.

Typical age

All childhood ages, most relevant for preschool children.

Background

One of the most common questions parents have, and one of the least often answered in healthcare — even though it affects daily life every infection season. The uncertainty leads both to unnecessary absence and to sick children being sent in.

Common symptoms

Fever, runny nose, cough, general listlessness.

What the doctor looks for

The child's general condition — how the child is between fever peaks says more than the temperature reading.

Investigations

Rarely needed; the question is usually about judgement, not diagnosis.

How the assessment is made

From the child's energy, appetite, fluid intake and behaviour rather than temperature alone.

Management

Not applicable — this is guidance.

Follow-up

If things get worse.

A good rule of thumb

A child who has the energy to play, eats and drinks reasonably well and is themselves between fever peaks usually copes with nursery better than a child who is listless without a fever.

Common misconception

That the fever has to be completely gone. What matters is that the child can manage the day — a fever-free day is a common nursery rule, but general condition carries more medical weight.

What you can do yourself

Assess your child an hour after fever medication — if they're lively then, their general condition is good.

When should you book?

When you're unsure and want an assessment, or for a fever lasting more than five days.

Prognosis

Not applicable — but the right assessment saves both worry and unnecessary absence.