By Dr Christie Cabral, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol
When a child develops a cough, parents often find themselves in a whirlwind of worry and uncertainty. Is this normal? Should I call the doctor? Could it be something serious? These questions are common and understandable.
Infectious illnesses, like respiratory infections that cause coughs, are among the most frequent reasons for childhood visits to the GP. While the vast majority of coughs in children get better without the need for any medical treatment, a very small number could be serious.
The challenge lies in helping parents distinguish between what’s normal and what needs to be checked by a GP. This is what we set out to do when creating the Caring for children with coughs materials.
Why we needed better information
Parents said they found most of the existing NHS resources on what to … Read more
