How to tell if your child is sick
14-minute read
Take your child to the nearest hospital or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if they:
- are drowsy and not responding
- have difficulty breathing
- have a seizure
- have a fever and a purple rash or other symptoms of meningococcal disease
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 doesnt go away with medicine, is passing less urine than normal or if they wont drink.
- If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever, they should see a doctor straight away.
- If you are worried, get them checked by a doctor.
How can I tell if my child is sick?
The best guide to your childs 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 newborns health.
What symptoms should I look out for?
Symptoms you should look out for when your child seems sick are:
- fever
- drowsiness
- breathing changes
- dehydration
Fever
A is a temperature over 38蚓.
Most of the time, fever itself is not harmful. It means your childs body is fighting an infection. How high the fever is doesnt 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.
If your child has a seizure during a fever, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Fever-related seizures are usually not harmful. However, your child needs to be checked at the hospital.
Some children with a fever have sepsis. This is a life-threatening infection that may cause body organs to stop working properly. Most children with fever do not have sepsis. If your child becomes very sick quickly, go straight to the hospital.
If your child is under 3 months old and has a fever, your child has had a seizure 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 dont wake up easily
- they dont have enough energy to cry loudly
- they seem floppy when you pick them up
Breathing changes
If you notice any changes in your childs 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
happens when your child doesnt 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 are weeing less than usual.
Other symptoms
A child who is sick may also have:
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- pain
- a
- tiredness
- pale skin or a
How do I check my childs temperature?
Feeling your childs forehead is not a reliable way to check their temperature. Always use a thermometer.
There are and the results may vary depending on what you use.
- Digital or mercury thermometers are placed under the tongue or in the armpit. Dont 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.

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 doesnt go away
- have a seizure
- are vomiting repeatedly or if the vomit has a green tinge or contains blood
Signs of meningococcal disease
Its important to know the symptoms of . This is a medical emergency and early treatment is important. Think about meningococcal disease if your child is unwell and has a:
- 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 babys head)
- 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 they:
- are drowsy and not responding
- have difficulty breathing
- have a seizure
- have a fever and a purple rash or other symptoms of meningococcal disease

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 youre worried, thats a good enough reason to take them to the doctor.
Your child should also see a doctor if they:
- are less than 3 months old and have a fever
- have had a fever for more than 2 days
- have pain that doesnt go away with pain-relieving medicine
- are drinking less than half their usual amount or 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, has a green tinge or contains blood
Urgent care clinic
In some parts of Australia, you can visit a when your child needs medical attention but doesnt need to go to the .
These clinics provide urgent care if you cant get a regular appointment with your doctor or . During hours when your doctor is unavailable, take your child to a Medicare urgent care clinic.
Find your nearest .
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 a seizure
- 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 .
If youre unsure if your childs illness is serious, call the 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 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 窪蹋勛圖, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: February 2025