Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 1.5: Understand how to support children who are unwell
Learning outcome: Know common childhood illnesses
Assessment criteria: Explain treatments for common childhood illnesses
In the previous section, we looked at the signs and symptoms of several common childhood illnesses.
Next, we will examine the available treatments.
| Illness | Treatments |
|---|---|
| Common cold | Rest, fluids, pain relief when needed |
| Flu (influenza) | Rest, fluids, pain relief when needed, keep warm |
| Whooping cough | Antibiotics, children under 6 months will need to go to hospital |
| Tonsilitis | Rest, fluids, pain relief when needed |
| Stomach bug/food poisoning | Rest, fluids |
| Chickenpox | Rest, fluids, pain relief when needed, cooling gels or lotions from pharmacy, wear loose-fitting clothes, trim fingernails and toenails to prevent scratching, younger children can wear mits or socks on their hands to prevent scratching, cool baths (pat dry) |
| Measles | Rest, fluids, pain relief when needed, clean crust on eyes with cotton wool and water |
| German measles\Rubella | Rest, fluids, pain relief when needed |
| Mumps | Rest, fluids, eating soft foods, pain relief when needed, warm/cold compress to neck |
| Scabies | Cream or lotion from the pharmacist (immediate family will also need to be treated) |
| Scarlet fever | Rest, fluids, eating soft foods, pain relief when needed, lotions to ease itching |
| Hand, foot and mouth disease | Rest, fluids, eating soft foods, pain relief when needed |
| Impetigo (bullous & non-bullous) | Antibiotics (cream or tablets), other creams (e.g. calamine lotion), antibiotics in more severe cases |
| Ear infections | Warm/cold flannel on the ear, keep ear clean, use pain relief if needed, antibiotics in more severe cases |
| Meningitis | Viral meningitis can be treated at home with rest, fluids and pain relief, when needed Bacterial meningitis will require a visit to the hospital so that the child can be closely observed and antibiotics can be administered intravenously. |
Although Early Years practitioners will understand common childhood illnesses, making a formal diagnosis is beyond the scope of their role. Practitioners should encourage parents/carers to consult with a suitably qualified medical professional, such as a GP or pharmacist, to ensure that a proper diagnosis is made and the child receives the most appropriate treatment.