It is not usually hard to tell if your child is ill. Any change in his normal pattern of behavior—lack of energy or a sudden loss of interest in food, for example—will put you on the alert. In addition, there are the obvious signs of illness: hot, flushed, and dry skin; unusual pallor and coldness; aches and pains; watery eyes, runny nose, or coughing; swollen glands; rashes and bumps; nausea or diarrhea. Or your child may just seem generally irritable, listless and off-color.
At this stage, you may not be able to tell whether he is suffering from some minor upset or "sickening for something" more serious. So, play safe, and put him to bed or keep him quiet, away from other children, and watch how things develop.
In the meantime, offer your child plenty of liquids —water, fruit juice, milk, or soup—as often as he wants it, but if he doesn't feel like eating, don't press him to do so. If he is vomiting or has diarrhea, stop all feeding for an hour or so to give his insides a chance to recover. Then, try offering him a teaspoonful or two of plain water. If this stays down, repeat the dose three or four times, about every 15 minutes, and then gradually increase the water to around half a glassful, sweetened with fruit juice or glucose.
A jug or Thermos by the bed will save too many journeys to the kitchen. If he vomits again, go back to square one: offer him nothing for a further hour or two and gradually work your way up again. Continue with the half-glasses about once an hour until he seems better.
1. Breathing difficulties, including croup (a rough, barking cough) with fever. And any undue coughing or hoarseness associated with breathing difficulties.2. Nose bleeds or any other bleeding that doesn't stop within an hour.3. Severe abdominal or any other pain that lasts for more than an hour.4. Loss of consciousness—when the child can't be wakened.5. Convulsions.6. Vomiting and diarrhea together, particularly in a baby.7. In a baby lack of interest in food with a weak cry or unusual quietness or apathy.8. Emergency accidents—poisoning, bleeding that won't stop, head injury that doesn't seem better after 15 minutes, severe burns, scalds, stings.9. A sudden very high rise in temperature, if accompanied by other signs of illness.
