Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) usually occurs for a few weeks in the winter and is the most common cause of infections in the airways and lungs (lower respiratory tract infection) in children. For most children, RSV causes only mild illness that doesn’t need treatment. However, some children are at risk of severe infection that may need treatment in hospital.
Support for young people moving from children's to adult healthcare services
TIER is an international team of healthcare professionals who have developed the ‘Ready Steady Go’ programme. This programme aims to support patients and their carers through the process of transitioning from children’s to adult services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for the thousands of parents and families across the UK who look after children with complex health needs. Many doctors have not been able to see their patients regularly during lockdown and are keen to know how they can better help and support family carers.
Updated guidance on valproate use has been produced by the Royal College of General Practitioners, Association of British Neurologists and Royal College of Physicians, and endorsed by RCPCH among other professional bodies.
Some families might be finding it more difficult to get their regular medicines because of the need for physical distancing and shielding. However, it is very important that your child still continues to have their medicine as normal.
The COVID-19 outbreak is a challenging time for parents and carers who want to make sure they are looking after their children's physical and mental health. Our partner organisations have developed useful information that you can be confident is reliable and accurate.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have issued advice to parents and carers on how to access medical care for their child during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Medicines for Children team have updated our guidance on how to relieve symptoms of COVID-19 in children. Previously we had advised against giving ibruprofen but new advice from experts concludes that there is currently not enough evidence to establish a link between the use of ibuprofen and worsening the symptoms of COVID-19.
A medicine called ranitidine, which is used to treat conditions such as acid reflux in children, has been recalled by some manufacturers because of concerns that it may contain low levels of an impurity called NDMA. This is a voluntary precautionary measure whilst the MHRA – the organization responsible for the safety of medicines in the UK – assesses the situation.
