Child Health
Childrens Health
There is a good guide on the NHS website which describes various conditions affecting children. There is advice on how to diagnose them, how to treat them and if further advice should be consulted.
When Should I Worry?
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
Children's Immunisation Schedule
Here's a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK for free on the NHS, and the age at which you should ideally have them.
Routine childhood immunisations
|
When to immunise |
Diseases protected against |
Vaccine given |
Site** |
|
Two months old |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) |
DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) |
Thigh |
|
Pneumococcal disease |
PCV (Prevenar 13) |
Thigh |
|
|
Rotavirus |
Rotavirus (Rotarix) |
By mouth |
|
|
Meningococcal group B (Men B) |
Men B |
Left thigh |
|
|
Three months old
|
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib |
DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) |
Thigh |
|
Meningococcal group C disease (Men C) |
Men C (NeisVac-C or Menjugate) |
Thigh |
|
|
Rotavirus |
Rotavirus (Rotarix) |
By mouth |
|
|
Four months old
|
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib |
DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) |
Thigh |
|
Pneumococcal disease |
PCV (Prevenar 13) |
Thigh |
|
|
Meningococcal group B (Men B) |
Men B |
Left thigh |
|
|
One year old
|
Hib/Men C |
Hib/Men C (Menitorix) |
Upper arm/thigh |
|
Pneumococcal disease |
PCV (Prevenar 13) |
Upper arm/thigh |
|
|
Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) |
MMR (Priorix or MMR VaxPRO) |
Upper arm/thigh |
|
|
Men B |
Men B booster |
Left thigh |
|
|
Two to six years old |
Influenza (each year from September) |
Live attenuated influenza |
Both nostrils |
|
Three years four months old or soon after
|
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio |
dTaP/IPV (Repevax) or DTaP/IPV (Infanrix-IPV) |
Upper arm |
|
Measles, mumps and rubella |
MMR (Priorix or MMR VaxPRO)(check first dose has been given) |
Upper arm |
Please note
Where two or more injections are required at once, these should ideally be given in different limbs. Where this is not possible, injections in the same limb should be given 2.5cm apart.
Immunisations for at-risk children
|
Target Group |
Age & Schedule |
Disease |
Vaccines required |
|
Babies born to hepatitis B infected |
At birth, four weeks, eight weeks |
Hepatitis B |
Hepatitis B vaccine |
|
Infants in areas of the country with |
At birth |
Tuberculosis |
BCG |
|
Infants with a parent or grandparent |
At birth |
Tuberculosis |
BCG |
NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments
See the NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.