This is for breathing difficulty in children 5-16 years. For children under 5 please contact NHS 24 on 08454 242424.
CALL 999 if any of the following are present
- Your child lips are tinged blue
- Your child’s tongue is swollen
- Your child finds it difficult to speak or swallow or complains of feeling like their throat is tightening
- There is severe wheezing
- The difficulty started after taking a medicine or being bitten/stung by an insect.
- The breathing difficulty followed some food like bread or peanuts going ‘down the wrong way’
CALL 111 OR SEE YOUR EMERGENCY GP if any of the following are present
- There a cough, headache or stuffy nose.
- Your child has a temperature that is over 38 C (100 F). You can buy an infant/child’s thermometer from your local pharmacist. They are relatively cheap and always worth having.
IF NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY…
- Breathing difficulties in children should not be ignored.
- If your child has asthma, make sure they take their inhalers as prescribed and call 111 (or see your emergency GP) who will help to determine the urgency of your child’s condition.
- If the condition gets worse or new symptoms develop, please call 111 or see your emergency GP.
- If you are generally worried, simply call 111.