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Common childhood illnesses

A quick-reference guide to 8 common childhood illnesses — croup, hand-foot-mouth disease, ear infections, chickenpox, tonsillitis, conjunctivitis, bronchiolitis and slapped cheek syndrome. Symptoms, home care and when to worry, sourced from the NHS.

Croup Mainly babies and young children Has 999 red flags Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease A common childhood illness — can affect adults too Ear Infections (Otitis Media) Very common in children, especially under 12 months Chickenpox Mostly affects children Tonsillitis A common childhood illness — teenagers and adults can get it too Has 999 red flags Conjunctivitis Common at any age; babies under 30 days need urgent review Bronchiolitis Babies and children under 2 Has 999 red flags Slapped Cheek Syndrome Common in children; rarer but can be more serious in adults

This is general information sourced from NHS.uk condition pages, not medical advice or a diagnostic tool. If you're worried about your child, contact your GP, call NHS 111, or in an emergency call 999 — don't rely on this page instead.