Supporting your children’s ‘super bodies’ this winter
Illnesses like coughs, sore throats and ear ache are extremely common in young children, but did you know… our children’s ‘super bodies’ are designed to fight off many common illnesses, without the need for antibiotics?
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is sharing guidance for parents and carers on common winter illnesses like coughs, sore throats and ear ache. These common ailments and can be unpleasant for children and their caregivers, but are most often caused by viral infections and do not need to be treated with antibiotics.
Antibiotics rarely speed up recovery for these conditions and have no effect on viruses. Instead, our children’s ‘super bodies’ get to work, and most children with a normal immune system and up to date immunisations will recover in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics.
The ‘Super Bodies’ campaign shares a guide for parents and carers on the simple things they can do to treat these common ailments at home, as well as helping them to spot the signs of a more serious illness, and knowing when and where to go for medical help.
Dr Fiona Lemmens, GP and Deputy Medical Director at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:
“Children are likely to pick up common viruses at this time of year, especially while mixing in school and nursery environments, but they are usually nothing to worry about. Their ‘super bodies’ get to work, and most children with a normal immune system and up to date immunisations will fight off these common illnesses with a little TLC at home.
“The evidence shows that most children actually recover from these ailments in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics, which have no effect on viruses and so don’t actually help to fight off the infection.”
Susanne Lynch MBE, Chief Pharmacist at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, added:
“Antibiotics are not needed for common infections. They are often unlikely to speed up the healing process, they can cause unwanted side effects such as diarrhoea, and your child will usually get better without taking unnecessary medication.
“Overusing antibiotics can also contribute to ‘antibiotic resistance’, which means that these medications are becoming less effective at killing off bacteria. This is a very serious threat to the health of our population, but we can all help to fight back by only using antibiotics when they are needed.
“You know your children best, so do seek further help if you are concerned about their symptoms, or if their ‘super bodies’ need a bit more support because they are immunosuppressed or have other existing medical conditions.”
Parents and carers of young children can find information on treating coughs, ear aches and sore throats on the ‘Super Bodies’ website page, as well as finding a list of more serious signs and symptoms to look out for.
They can find out when they need to stay home, visit their GP, call NHS 111, or when to call 999 or attend A&E.
Visit: www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/Super-Bodies to find out more.
For more information and support when your child is unwell, you can also:
- Visit the Alder Hey symptom checker online: www.alderhey.nhs.uk/conditions/symptoms-checker
- Download the Healthier Together App: www.healthiertogether.app