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The common cold is usually mild and self-limiting in adults. However, in children, even a common upper respiratory tract viral infection should be cautioned. From nasal stuffiness to running noses, sneezes, sore throats, coughs and fevers, your child may be irritable and face difficulty with feeding.

Seek medical help when:

• Symptoms last more than 10 days.
• Your child has a rash with a fever.
• Your child is not waking or interacting.
• Your child faces difficulty in breathing.

If your child or infant has inflamed eyes, it could be a highly infectious bacterial or viral condition. If the discharge present is yellow, it is usually bacterial in nature; if it is clear and sticky, it is viral. Their eyes may swell, feel sore, and become red and itchy with sticky eyelids and water more than usual.

Though loose stools in children can happen on occasion, diarrhoea however is when your child passes unformed and watery stools on a frequent basis. They may have food allergies, but most of the time, this is caused by an infection or a stomach bug.

Called gastroenteritis, the most common causes are usually viruses like the rotavirus. In younger children, diarrhoea and vomiting may be more serious, especially babies as they can easily lose too much fluid from their bodies and become severely dehydrated.

Seek medical help when:

• Your child has passed six or more diarrhoea stools.
• Your child has vomited three or more times within 24 hours.
• Your child has not been able to hold down fluids for at least 8 hours.
• Your child is floppy, irritable and has no appetite.
• Your child is experiencing stomach pain.
• Your child has a headache and/or a stiff neck.

Ear infections are common in infants and toddlers and tend to be caused by viruses after a cold. They can be painful, causing a fever, and your child may be rubbing or pulling at their ears. Young babies cannot always describe where the pain is coming from and react by being irritable or crying.

Seek medical help when:

• Symptoms last longer than 4 days.
• Pain becomes more severe.
• Your child develops a high temperature.
• Your child experiences breathing difficulties.

A mild disease and a rite of passage for many, chickenpox is a disease that most children will catch at some point. Older children and adults are at higher risk the later they catch the virus.

Seek medical help when:

• The victim of chickenpox is a pregnant woman.
• The victim of chickenpox is an infant.
• The victim of chickenpox has a weakened immune system.

It is important to note that chickenpox can be passed on to others about 2 days before any symptoms have shown. It is best to keep your child away from public areas if they have chickenpox.