Please click on the link below to download a leaflet explaining about common childhood illnesses and what action is necessary.  Here is the introduction to the leaflet.

Every parent or carer wants to know what to do when a child is ill - use this handbook to learn how to care for your child at home, when to call a Doctor and when to contact Emergency Services. Most of the problems you will come up against are simply an everyday part of growing up, often helped with a chat with your Midwife, Health Visitor or Pharmacist.

Almost all babies, toddlers and children will get the most common childhood illnesses like chickenpox, colds, sore throats and ear infections. While these are not very nice at the time they are easy to treat by your GP or at home with the support from a GP or Health Visitor rather than an unnecessary trip to Accident & Emergency.

This handbook helps point you in the right direction and explains what you can do at home to help, or where you need to go to get assistance and advice. It has been put together with help from healthcare professionals.

If you are worried you must get further advice. Trust your instincts, you know your child better than anybody else. This handbook also contains general welfare information which will help you keep you and your child safe and healthy.

If you require this booklet in another language please contact East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group on 01282 644700.

There are also common emotional, behavioural and developmental problems that happen in childhood, such as sleep, tantrums, hearing problems, fears and worries in your child.  Sleep problems for instance can be very stressful for everyone in the family and often can be sorted out fairly easily for most familes.

For more information about common behavioural and sleep problems you can visit the following.

Developmental milestones

Sleep and common nightime problems

Mental Health problems

For medical conditions, some of which are very uncommon, here are some sites that may be useful