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How to tell if your child is sick

Take your child to the nearest hospital or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if they:

  • are less than 3 months old and have a fever of 38.0ºC or more
  • have a fever and a purple rash or other symptoms of meningococcal disease
  • are drowsy and not responding
  • have difficulty breathing
  • have signs of severe dehydration
  • are vomiting repeatedly or if their vomit is green or contains blood
  • Severe pain that doesn't go away or if they becomes unwell very quickly

Key facts

  • If your child is unwell but playing, eating and acting normally, they are usually OK.
  • Common symptoms of childhood sickness include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, pain, rash and cough.
  • See a doctor if your child has a fever for more than 2 days, pain that doesn't go away with medicine, is passing less urine than normal or if they won't drink.
  • If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever, they should see a doctor straight away.
  • You know you're child best, if you are worried, get them checked by a doctor.

    • How can I tell if my child is sick?

    The best guide to your child's health is their behaviour. If they are happy, active, playing and eating as they usually do, they are probably not very sick.

    A sick child may:

    • be unsettled or irritable
    • lose interest in playing
    • be unusually quiet and inactive
    • not want to eat
    • feel hot to the touch
    • look tired, flushed or pale
    • shiver or complain of feeling cold

    Read more about your newborn's health.

    What symptoms should I look out for?

    Symptoms you should look out for when your child seems sick are:

    Fever

    A fever (Opens in new tab) is a temperature over 38⁰C.

    Most of the time, fever itself is not harmful. It means your child's body is fighting an infection. How high the fever is doesn't tell you how serious the infection is.

    If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever, take them to the doctor straight away, even if they have no signs of being sick. Young babies are at higher risk of complications from infections. The signs of a serious infection may not be obvious.

    Some children with a fever may have sepsis. This is a life-threatening infection that causes body organs to stop working properly. Most children with fever do not have sepsis. If your child has an infection and you are worried they are becoming more unwell, go straight to the hospital.

    If your child has a seizure during a fever, they should be checked by a doctor. If it is your child's first seizure, the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or your child does not wake up or looks very unwell after the seizure, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

    Promotional tile for the infographic on Fever in babies and children.

    A handy guide on what to do if your baby has a fever.

    If your child is under 3 months old and has a fever or becomes very sick quickly, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

    Find out more about what to do if your baby has a fever.

    Drowsiness

    If your child is sick, they may be sleepy and not interested in playing. Take them to the doctor straight away if:

    • they seem very drowsy and don't wake up easily
    • they don't have enough energy to cry loudly
    • they seem floppy when you pick them up

    Breathing changes

    If you notice any changes in your child's breathing, take them to the doctor straight away. You might notice:

    • fast or noisy breathing
    • grunting sounds with each breath
    • the skin between their ribs sucking in with each breath

    If your child has difficulty breathing or becomes very sick quickly, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

    Dehydration

    Dehydration (Opens in new tab) happens when your child doesn't have enough fluid in their body. They may become dehydrated if they:

    See a doctor if your child is drinking less than half their usual amount or if they have less than 4 wet nappies in 24 hours.

    Other symptoms

    A child who is sick may also have:

    CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

    How do I check my child’s temperature?

    Feeling your child's forehead is not a reliable way to check their temperature. Always use a thermometer.

    There are different types of thermometers and the results may vary depending on what you use.

    • Digital or mercury thermometers are placed under the tongue or in the armpit. Don't place it under the tongue in children younger than 4 years.
    • Digital ear thermometers can be used in children older than 3 months.
    • Plastic tape or infrared thermometers (used on the forehead) are not reliable.

    Some thermometers are better for certain age groups. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to get an accurate reading or ask your doctor or child health nurse for advice.

    Types of thermometers promo tile image: Choosing the right thermometer is important for monitoring your child's health.

    For more information on Types of thermometers.

    How can I tell if my child has a serious illness?

    Watch for changes in how your child looks and acts. They may have a serious illness if they:

    • are unusually drowsy or floppy
    • have pale, purplish or bluish skin
    • have difficulty breathing — are breathing fast or shallow or are grunting while breathing
    • show signs of dehydration
    • have severe pain that doesn't go away
    • have a seizure
    • are vomiting repeatedly or if the vomit has a green tinge or contains blood
    • if they develop a new lump or swelling

    Parents are often the first to notice when something isn't quite right with their child. You know your child best. If you're worried about their health, see your doctor or seek medical care straight away.

    Signs of meningococcal disease

    It's important to know the symptoms of meningococcal disease (Opens in new tab). This is a medical emergency and early treatment is important.

    Think about meningococcal disease if your child is unwell and has one of more of the following:

    • fever
    • bad headache
    • stiff neck when moving
    • purple or red rash that does not turn skin-coloured when pressed
    • bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on top of your baby's head)
    • is irritable or has a high-pitched cry
    • difficulty looking at light

    Take your child to the nearest hospital or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if you suspect meningococcal disease.

    When to go to emergency for childhood illness infographic, a visual version of the article text.

    If your child has any of these symptoms, you should go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

    When should I take my child to the doctor?

    Your child should see a doctor straight away if they look unwell and have any symptoms of a serious illness. If you're worried, that's a good enough reason to take them to the doctor.

    Your child should also see a doctor if they:

    • have had a fever for more than 2 days
    • have pain that doesn't go away with pain-relieving medicine
    • are not feeding well
    • are not passing some urine every 6 hours
    • refuse to use their arm or leg or have a swollen joint
    • have vomiting that is frequent

    Urgent care clinic

    In some parts of Australia, you can visit a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Opens in new tab) when your child needs medical attention but doesn't need to go to the emergency department (Opens in new tab).

    These clinics provide urgent care if you can't get a regular appointment with your doctor or GP (Opens in new tab). During hours when your doctor is unavailable, take your child to a Medicare urgent care clinic.

    Find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Opens in new tab).

    FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

    When should I call an ambulance for my child?

    You should call an ambulance if your child:

    • becomes unwell very quickly
    • is very drowsy or not responding
    • has difficulty breathing, is breathing fast or shallow, grunting or their lips turn blue
    • stops breathing for short periods
    • has symptoms of meningococcal disease

    Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if you notice any of these signs.

    Resources and support

    Visit the Royal Children's Hospital for more information about:

    Find your closest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Opens in new tab).

    If you're unsure if your child's illness is serious, call the healthdirect helpline (Opens in new tab) on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.

    Other languages

    You can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) (Opens in new tab) on 131 450 if you speak a language other than English and need help finding out where your nearest Urgent Care Clinic is.

    Speak to a maternal child health nurse

    Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 (Opens in new tab) or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

    Last reviewed: February 2025

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    As of 1 July 2023, children under six years of age with developmental delay and children under nine years of age living with disability can receive support through the NDIS early childhood approach. The early childhood approach is delivered via local providers funded by the NDIS known as early childhood partners. Early childhood partners have clinical expertise in supporting young children who are experiencing developmental delay or living with disability.
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