Children's health

ADHD affects focus, impulsivity and organisation in children and adults. How UK assessment works and what helps meanwhile. Reviewed by UK doctors.

Autism spectrum disorder — signs in children and adults, assessment pathway on the NHS, and support for communication and sensory needs.

A plain-English guide to bronchiolitis in babies — symptoms, home care, and when to seek urgent help.

A plain-English guide to chickenpox in children and adults — symptoms, treatment at home, and when to seek medical advice.

A plain-English guide to croup in children — the barking cough, home treatment, and when to seek urgent help.

A plain-English guide to ear infections — outer, middle and inner ear symptoms, treatment, and when to see a GP.

A plain-English guide to hand, foot and mouth disease — symptoms in children, home treatment, and when to see a GP.

How to recognise head lice and nits, treatment options, and how to stop them spreading in children and adults.

A plain-English guide to impetigo — a contagious skin infection — its treatment and how to stop it spreading.

A plain-English guide to lazy eye (amblyopia) in children — how it is found at eye tests and how it is treated, reviewed by a consultant eye surgeon.

Measles — symptoms, highly contagious spread, MMR vaccine, complications, and when to seek urgent medical help.

How to recognise meningitis and septicaemia — symptoms in babies, children and adults, and when to call 999.

Mumps — swollen parotid glands, symptoms, MMR prevention, complications including orchitis, and when to see a GP.

A plain-English guide to RSV — symptoms in babies and adults, home care, and when to seek medical advice.

A plain-English guide to scarlet fever — symptoms, treatment with antibiotics, and when to seek urgent advice.

A plain-English guide to slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease) — the rash, how it spreads, and when children need medical advice.

A plain-English guide to a squint (strabismus) in children and adults — why the eyes turn, and the treatments that help, reviewed by a consultant eye surgeon.

A plain-English guide to threadworms — a very common childhood infection — and how to treat the whole household.

A plain-English guide to tonsillitis — symptoms, causes, treatment and when to seek help.

Whooping cough (pertussis) — symptoms in babies and adults, vaccination in pregnancy, antibiotics, and when it becomes an emergency.

Earache is often caused by ear infections, earwax build-up or a cold and usually settles in a few days with pain relief; see a GP if pain lasts over three days.

A fever in children is a temperature of 38°C or higher — most settle in a few days, but any fever in a baby under 3 months needs prompt medical assessment.

Most rashes in babies and children are caused by viral infections, eczema or irritation and clear on their own. Call 999 if a rash does not fade when pressed.

Oral rehydration salts are pharmacy sachets that replace fluids and salts lost to diarrhoea and vomiting; how they work, dosing, and dehydration warning signs.

Paracetamol is a painkiller that eases mild to moderate pain and fever; how to take it safely, and why never exceeding the recommended dose matters.

How squint surgery straightens the eyes in children and adults, what to expect, recovery and risks — reviewed by a consultant eye surgeon.