What to do if your child gets sick this summer

Most years, infection rates for common childhood illnesses, like colds and flu, follow a very predictable pattern. The first flurry begins in September, when schools go back after the summer break. Then as the temperature drops the numbers go up, reaching a peak in around January or February.

Normally, when the sun comes out and children are spending more time outdoors, rather than together in centrally-heated rooms, infection rates start to fall. So by the summer they’ve slowed down to a tiny trickle.

2021, however, is something of a special case. Across May and June, Accident and Emergency staff across the UK were reporting a dramatic rise in the number of children being brought in for treatment. So, what should you do if your child gets sick?

No cause for alarm

A total 23,661 children attended A&E in May – the highest number for years. But hospital reports state that more than 70% of those patients were able to wait to see a doctor. So their attendance at A&E was unnecessary.

The appearance of cold and flu-like symptoms in a child at this time of year can be worrying. And particularly in light of rising Covid infections. But experts say the best course of action in the first instance is to book an appointment with your GP, or call 111.

We can help when your child gets sick

Here at The Mayfair GP we offer comprehensive paediatric care as part of our private GP services.

We know that when it comes to your child’s health, you need help and reassurance as quickly as possible. With this in mind, we offer telephone consultations as well as home visits, to ensure that you don’t need to wait to be seen.

We are highly experienced in treating common childhood illnesses, as well as rarer and chronic conditions.

Lifestyle medicine

We can advise you and your child on small lifestyle changes that you can make to your everyday life to offer the best protection against illness. This can range from dietary changes to exercise, to making sure you are getting enough sleep, and everything in between.

The Mayfair GP is available 24/7 offering private GP appointments for children, from ages 0-18. Your child’s health is our priority and we will work with you as a family to ensure that we support you in every aspect of looking after your child’s wellbeing.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us.