When you come in for your appointment, the GP will examine your child & discuss their symptoms with you. In many cases we will be able to treat your child at our clinic. If specialist care or opinion is warranted, the GP will write you a referral letter for a consultant paediatrician, & offer you some recommendations of specialists in our area or near to your home where possible.
The doctor will discuss with you whether antibiotics are appropriate in your child’s case. Antibiotics will only be prescribed in the case of bacterial infection. Colds are caused by viruses & as such do not respond to antibiotic treatment, so if there is no evidence of infection, anbitiotics will not be prescribed. Overuse of antibiotics can create resistant infections.
Symptoms
Colds & flus are common in young children & often not serious, but it can of course be a worrying time for parents. It is recommended that you bring your child in for a consultation with a GP if you are at all concerned. Children have no immunity, & are constantly being exposed to new viruses & bacteria. It is through getting sick that they build immunity. Each time your child contracts a cold or flu, it teaches their immune system how to deal with that specific virus.
A cold is a viral infection of the nose, throat, & sinuses. It may also be accompanied by a fever. Common symptoms include:
a blocked or runny nose (congestion)
clear, thick, yellow, or green nasal discharge
sneezing & coughing
hoarse voice
generally feeling unwell
Flu, or influenza, is caused by different viruses to those which cause colds. Flus are highly contagious, & are more common in late autumn & early winter. Common flu symptoms in children include:
high temperature (up to 104F/40C)
aches & pains
chills
vomiting
diarrhea
headache
sore throat
cough
In babies, the indicators of influenza are less pronounced. Your baby may be irritable, have a lack of interest in food, difficulty nursing & sleeping, or poor circulation.
In general, the following are reasons to seek medical advice as quickly as possible:
a high fever in a baby younger than three months
breathing difficulties
inability to swallow saliva or fluid
severe earache
soreness in the throat for more than a few days
other symptoms such as swellings, headaches, or any serious pain
symptoms that have gone on for longer than ten days
signs of bacterial infection, such as green or brown mucus
Please note that it is not advised to give over-the-counter remedies to very young children. If your child is unwell, it is important to seek medical advice.”
FAQs
How do I know when my child needs emergency care?
Why do children get so many colds & flus?
How can I prevent my child from having repeated colds & flus?
Pricing
Consultations
Consultation Rates |
£Prices from | |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor - telephone consultation | £85 | |
| Nurse - 30 minutes | £85 | |
| Doctor - 30 minutes | £175 | |
| Doctor - 60 minutes | £275 |
| Consultation Rates | Prices from |
| Doctor - telephone consultation | £85 |
| 15-minute telephone or video consultation with senior doctor | |
| Nurse - 30 minutes | £85 |
| In-person or telephone consultation with a senior specialist nurse (family planning, UTIs and symptomatic sexual health) | |
| Doctor - 30 minutes | £175 |
| In-person consultation with senior doctor | |
| Doctor - 60 minutes | £275 |
| In-person consultation with senior doctor | |
