There are a variety of illnesses and infections that can affect young people during childhood and adolescence. To reduce this risk, it is important to maintain effective personal hygiene (including hand washing), and to ensure your child’s vaccinations are up to date.

Go to immunisations / vaccines for further information and the immunisation schedule.

As well as ensuring your child is looked after and treated effectively, occasionally it might be necessary to keep your child off school to prevent the spread of infection. The guidance for individual conditions are explored below.

 

Derbyshire Handi App

The Derbyshire HANDi app provides advice and support to parents, carers and healthcare professionals looking after children with the most common childhood illnesses. 

Who was the app made by?

The HANDi app has been created by paediatric consultants. It gives access to home care plans, GP and hospital clinical guidelines, and information. This helps you give the best support to your child and gives you confidence in caring for them when they're unwell. 

The app describes care plans and guidance for the most common childhood health concerns, including:

  • Abdominal pain

  • Chestiness

  • Diarrhoea and vomiting

  • High temperature

  • Problems during the newborn period

Download the free app today

HANDi App for Android phones at Google Play.

HANDi App for iPhone and iPad in the App Store.

Infectious illnesses in children

  • Chickenpox

  • Measles

  • Mumps

  • Slapped cheek disease (also known as fifth disease or parvovirus B19)

  • German measles (rubella)

  • Whooping cough

NHS how to recognise illnesses and their symptoms

Colds, coughs and ear infections in children

  • Children's colds

  • Children's sore throats

  • Children's coughs

  • Croup

  • Children's ear infections

  • Glue ear in children