If your child has cold or flu symptoms

Viral infections like cold and flu are very common in babies and children and most will make a full recovery without needing treatment. There are some things you can do to help them feel better.

Phone 999 or go to A&E if your child:

has lips or skin that are turning pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of their hands
has severe difficulty breathing – they may make grunting noises or suck their stomach in under their ribcage
is breathing fast or stops or pauses
is pulling in at their throat area (tracheal tug) or their windpipe is more prominent
is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do – they may find it difficult to focus on you or are more difficult to wake up than usual
is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 38°C (101°F) or above and has not had a vaccination in the past 2 days
is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 36°C (97°F) or less and has not had a vaccination in the past 2 days

Always trust your instincts and phone 999 if you think there’s an emergency.

Contact your GP practice urgently if your child:

is more short of breath than usual
has pain when breathing in or coughing
is feeling confused, dizzy or lightheaded
feels sick or is being sick – for example, they can’t keep food or fluids down
is coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more, or is showing other signs of dehydration
has a very high or low temperature – for example, they feel either hot or cold to touch or are shivering

If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.

Cold and flu symptoms in babies

The most common cold and flu symptoms in babies are:

fever of 37.5°C or above
breathlessness
rapid breathing
cough
not taking usual feeds
not having their usual wet or dirty nappies

Cold and flu symptoms in children

The most common cold and flu symptoms in children are:

fever of 37.9°C or above
breathlessness
rapid breathing
cough
runny nose
blocked nose
sneezing

If your child is alert and playing and behaving normally it’s unlikely that they’re seriously ill.

Treatment of cold and flu symptoms

There’s no specific treatment for a cold or flu but there are some things you can do to make your child more comfortable.

Do

use infant paracetamol or ibuprofen
only use over the counter remedies recommended by your pharmacist
encourage your child to drink more fluids

Don’t

try to reduce your child’s fever by undressing them
sponge your child with water
give aspirin to children under 16
give honey to babies under 1

Most children will make a full recovery without any medical treatment.

More about fever in children

Possible causes of cold and flu symptoms

The most common causes of cold and flu symptoms in children are viral infections including:

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
influenza (flu)
rhinovirus
adenovirus

There are several others but these are the most common. Most of the time these viruses don’t lead to serious illness.

There are some conditions which can cause cold and flu symptoms and may require further treatment, such as:

pneumonia
tonsillitis in toddlers and older children

Who’s most at risk?

Babies and children born with the following health conditions may be more at risk of serious infection:

congenital heart disease where a baby is born with a heart condition
babies born with narrowing of the airways or other respiratory disease
babies born prematurely

Preventing the spread of colds and flu

To reduce the risk of getting or spreading cold or flu you should:

make sure you wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water
clean surfaces (such as your telephone and door handles) regularly to get rid of germs
put used tissues in a bin as soon as possible
keep your child at home until they’re feeling better (without fever for 24 hours without infant paracetamol or ibuprofen)