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Childhood health - Independent medicine & health information for consumers & professionals Childhood health
Show health professional infoLatest independent medicine and non-drug treatment information for childhood, written and reviewed by experts in Australia.
Childhood health is also known as child health or kids' health.
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| Title | Description | Type | Audience  |
Date* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How do I treat a fever? - Independent Australian health & medicines information | What to do if your child has a fever because of a respiratory tract infection (RTI) or vaccination, including when to seek medical advice & when to give paracetamol or ibuprofen. |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-05-11 00:00:00 |
| Medicines and treatments for children with pneumonia - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Pneumonia in children younger than 4 months and older than 5 years is usually treated with antibiotics. Learn more about pneumonia treatment in children here. |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-05-08 00:00:00 |
| Children & depression | Children with depression can seem down & irritable & may have behaviour problems. Read about the symptoms of depression in children, available treatments & the risk of suicide. |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-05-01 00:00:00 |
| 1 in 5 Australians expect antibiotics for coughs or colds: new NPS campaign | 1 in 5 Australians expect their doctor to prescribe antibiotics for themselves and/or their child when they have a cough or cold, new research from NPS has found |
Media release | Others | 2012-04-19 19:00:00 |
| Chickenpox vaccine - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Find out about the chickenpox vaccine, varicella zoster, including who should be vaccinated & the vaccine’s side effects. |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Vaccines for children & teenagers - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Vaccinations for children & teenagers protect them from infectious diseases. Find out more about the childhood immunisation program |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Ibuprofen for fever - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Ibruprofen can be used if you have a fever after a vaccination. Learn about the active ingredient ibruprofen in brands such as Nurofen. This includes who can take it, side effects & possible interactions |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Fevers in children after vaccination - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Learn what to do if your child has a fever after a vaccination, including symptoms that require immediate medical advice. |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Do children’s vaccines contain mercury (thiomersal)? - Independent Australian health & medicines information | None of the vaccines in Australia for children under 5 years of age contain mercury (thiomersal). Read more about thiomersal & its use in vaccines |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) protects against meningitis & pneumonia. Find out what the vaccine is, who should be vaccinated & what the side effects are |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| What vaccine & when - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Detailed information on when your child or teenager should receive National Immunisation Program vaccines, including hepatitis B, chickenpox & whooping cough vaccines. Information includes regional variations & at-risk groups |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Measuring liquid medicines for children | Whether it’s prescription or an over-the-counter medicine, it is critical that medicines for children are measured accurately. Find out how to measure and give medicines to children. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2011-05-20 00:00:00 |
| MedicinesTalk No. 36 Summer 2010 | Safe medicine use during pregnancy, the use of pain relief and their side effects and instructions on how to accurately measure medicines for children. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2011-07-29 00:00:00 |
| Febrile convulsions - definitions written & reviewed by Australian experts | Febrile convulsions are fits or seizures that occur when a child's temperature rises suddenly. Learn more |
Glossary item | Health Professionals,Consumers,Members & Stakeholders,Others,Research & Evaluation community | 2012-01-01 00:00:00 |
| Putting a stop to head lice | Children often catch head lice at school. There are a number of treatments & methods available to treat live head lice infestations. |
Campaign | Consumers | 2012-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Exercise and healthy bones throughout your life | Exercise, calcium & vitamin D are vital for healthy, strong bones. Read how strong bones are built in childhood & learn about the exercises adults can do to maintain healthy bones |
Campaign | Consumers | 2011-11-22 00:00:00 |
| Being medicinewise when you are not there | The first time you leave your child with a friend to go to Playgroup, baby sitting by grandparents, pre-school or day care or starting school can be nerve wracking for every parent — but even more so if your child has a health condition or needs to take medicines with them |
Web page | Consumers,Others | 2012-01-27 00:00:00 |
| Kids' medicine | Small mistakes with medicines can cause big problems in little bodies. Knowing how to accurately measure and administer medicines to children will help to avoid accidental overdosing or underdosing |
Campaign | Consumers | 2011-02-27 00:00:00 |
| Off label ... off limits? | Off-label prescribing is when a doctor prescribes a medicine for a condition that is not listed in the medicine’s consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2012-01-17 00:00:00 |
| Be medicinewise in the media | Events and media for the Be Medicinewise campaign and Be Medicinewise Week |
Campaign | Consumers | 2011-01-20 00:00:00 |
| Additional content — Asenapine (Saphris) for schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder (acute mania or maintenance) | Child–Pugh classification of liver disease |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Web only item | Health Professionals | 2011-12-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS News 35 (INSERT): Choosing antidepressant drugs | Table of antidepressants for special patient groups including suicidal patients, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly, and those with cardiovascular disease or anxiety |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2004-08-01 00:00:00 |
| Video: Being medicinewise with children's medicines | A mother talks about how she decides about new medicines for her children. |
Multimedia - Video | Consumers | 2011-02-04 00:00:00 |
| Atomoxetine (Strattera) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder | Reviews use of atomoxetine for ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults, and compares atomoxetine with methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, and other psychostimulants. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2007-07-01 00:00:00 |
| Rotavirus vaccines (Rotarix and RotaTeq) for prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis | Reviews use of oral rotavirus vaccines for prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants and children, including immunisation schedule, adverse effects, and contraindications. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2007-07-01 00:00:00 |
| Smaller dose volume of influenza vaccine PBS listed for children aged 6-35 months | A smaller dose volume (0.25 mL) of influenza vaccine has been PBS listed for children aged 6-35 months who are at risk of adverse outcomes from lower respiratory tract infections. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Brief item | Health Professionals | 2008-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Methylphenidate extended-release (Concerta) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | Reviews use of extended-release methylphenidate, including comparison with immediate-release formulation and risk of cardiovascular adverse effects. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2007-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen) for acute allergic anaphylaxis | Reviews change to PBS listing allowing immediate prescription of adrenaline autoinjectors after hospital treatment for acute allergic anaphylaxis, and describes management plans and patient education. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2006-08-01 00:00:00 |
| Interstate transfers and rotavirus vaccination of infants: practical advice | Reviews use of oral rotavirus vaccines for prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants and children, including immunisation schedule, adverse effects, and contraindications. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Brief item | Health Professionals | 2007-09-01 00:00:00 |
| Indicators of Quality Prescribing: 17 | Indicators of Quality Prescribing: Indicator 17 Good Prescribing (Children). This indicator asks practices what percentage of children had a prescription written, but not a current weight recorded. |
Tool - Health Professional | Health Professionals | 2006-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 46 report: Antibiotic therapy for animal bites | Child presents with puncture wounds and scratches to his arm and hand after being bitten by a cat. |
Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2007-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 37 report: Antibiotic use in urinary tract infection | A child presents with a history of fever, irritability, urinary frequency and dysuria. |
Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2005-09-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 46: Antibiotic therapy for animal bites | Child presents with puncture wounds and scratches to his arm and hand after being bitten by a cat. |
Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2007-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 37: Antibiotic use in urinary tract infection | A child presents with a history of fever, irritability, urinary frequency and dysuria. |
Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2005-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 2: Otitis media | Child presents with bilateral earache, a cold for three days and a slight fever. |
Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 1999-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Otitis media and the role of antibiotics | An information leaflet answering important questions that parents or carers may have on the management of middle ear infections in children. |
Professional tool - Patient leaflet | Health Professionals,Consumers | 2005-05-01 00:00:00 |
| Managing the common cold | Pharmacy letter on managing the common cold including symptom management, the benefits and risks of medicines and when to refer. Includes self-audit information. |
Professional publication - Pharmacy Letter | Health Professionals | 2002-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Depression in children and adolescents | Reviews prescribing of antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -SSRIs) in children and adolescents, and the role of psychological and behavioural therapy |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2004-08-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 30: Antibiotics in primary care | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections, community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2005-06-24 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 32: Managing depression in primary care | Information on the diagnosis of depression along with advice on assessing suicide risk, the role of non-drug therapy, and the use of antidepressants. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2005-11-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 30: Antibiotics in primary care | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections, community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2005-06-24 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 19: Pharmacotherapeutic management of asthma | Information on initial asthma drug therapy, what to do if control not achieved, and the asthma 3+ plan. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2002-08-30 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 12: Are you under pressure to prescribe newer antibiotics? | Information on how to evaluate studies comparing antibiotics, along with advice on judicious use of these agents in respiratory tract infections and acute otitis media. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2001-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotics in general practice | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections and advice on illness prevention through immunisation. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2007-03-01 00:00:00 |
| Montelukast (Singulair) in asthma | Reviews use of montelukast for frequent episodic or mild persistent asthma in children and adults as monotherapy or in combination with other antiasthmatic agents. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2003-01-01 00:00:00 |
| Moxifloxacin (Avelox) for community-acquired pneumonia | Reviews use of moxifloxacin for community-acquired pneumonia in patients with immediate penicillin hypersensitivity. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2003-11-01 00:00:00 |
| Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in child and adolescent depression | Reviews evidence-based guidelines for use of SSRI antidepressants in children and adolescents and warns of increased risk of suicidality. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2005-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Methylphenidate (Ritalin) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder | Reviews use of methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, including drug control issues and combination with non-drug interventions. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2005-08-01 00:00:00 |
| Common colds need common sense, especially for our children, Poster NMS 2010 | The NPS antbiotics program is the only national strategy aimed at reducung the use of antibiotics for viral respiratory tract infections. Travers-Mason P, Artist M, Vajda J, Trinh L, Azam R. National Medicine Symposium, 26-28 May 2010, Melbourne, Australia |
Event - Conference poster | Health Professionals,Research & Evaluation community | 2010-05-28 00:00:00 |
| Parents / carers of children 2-9 years managing colds | What NPS can offer parents and carers of children 2-9 years – what they can do, articles they might find interesting. |
Web page | Consumers | 2008-02-12 00:00:00 |
| Cough and cold medicines can cause serious side effects in young children | Coughs and colds in young children can be a major burden on many families. In the latest edition of Australian Prescriber, Dr Valerie Sung and Dr Noel Cranswick from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne consider the evidence against cough products for children and suggest alternative remedies that parents can try. |
Media release | Others | 2009-10-01 19:00:00 |
| Simple measures prevent travel sickness in children | Motion sickness affects about 30% of people, with 5% suffering heavily, and is particularly common in children around 10-12 years of age. Children under the age of two do not tend to get motion sickness. |
Media release | Others | 2009-06-01 19:00:00 |
| Pertussis immunisation boosters important for all | Booster immunisation against pertussis (whooping cough) is necessary to protect adolescents and adults against the disease especially during epidemics, according to respiratory experts |
Media release | Others | 2009-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Whooping cough boosters to protect all | Booster immunisation against whooping cough (pertussis) is necessary to protect adolescents and adults against the disease especially during epidemics, according to respiratory experts. |
Media release | Others | 2009-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Harvey says no to antibiotics | Harvey the wombat promotes the message that common colds in children and others can't be treated using antibiotics. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2005-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Medicines and young children | Learn about the differences in giving medicines to children, and the need for careful selection of prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary medicines. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2005-12-01 00:00:00 |
| Measuring children’s medicines | Learn about the importance of measuring children's medicines accurately (especially due to their small body size) and the best measuring devices to use. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2005-12-01 00:00:00 |
| Keep medicines out of reach of children | Learn about causes of accidental poisoning of children, and how to avoid this by safely storing medicines out of reach of children at all times. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2005-12-01 00:00:00 |
| What vaccinations should children have? | Learn about the vaccinations children should have from the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule, and the records you should keep. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2003-12-01 00:00:00 |
| Children and suicide: views on antidepressants | Contrasting views about the risk of suicide in children given antidepressants. |
Media release | Others | 2005-09-27 00:00:00 |
| Children who are seizure-free may be able to stop taking antiepileptic drugs | Children with a history of epilepsy may be able to stop their treatment if they have had no seizures for at least two years, according to Australian Prescriber. |
Media release | Others | 2006-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Vaccines listed on the National Immunisation Program reviewed in NPS RADAR | Vaccines for prevention of rotavirus-caused gastroenteritis and some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are reviewed in NPS RADAR. |
Media release | Others | 2007-07-01 00:00:00 |
| Infants should start and finish on the same rotavirus vaccine | Rotavirus vaccines are not interchangeable. |
Media release | Others | 2007-07-02 00:00:00 |
| NPS campaign needs volunteer health presenters to commit this month! | NPS is calling on the expertise of doctors, pharmacists andnurses to volunteer as guest presenters at child care centres across the nation in Autumn 2008. |
Media release | Others | 2008-02-15 00:00:00 |
| Analgesics for children: benefits and harms | While paracetamol and ibuprofen are equally effective analgesics for children, paracetamol is generally still first line therapy because it may have fewer adverse effects. So says Dr Sean Beggs, General Paediatrician and Paediatric Clinical Pharmacologist from Royal Hobart Hospital, in the current issue of Australian Prescriber |
Media release | Others | 2008-06-10 00:00:00 |
| Pain relief for children: check the dose | Paracetamol and ibuprofen are equally effective for relieving pain in children, but paracetamol may have fewer side effects so is generally the preferred treatment. Always check the correct dose. |
Media release | Others | 2008-06-10 00:00:00 |
| Tips to prevent and manage common colds in children | Provides advice for parents on preventing common colds and treating cold symptoms in children using over-the-counter products and non-drug interventions. |
Media factsheet | Consumers,Others | 2005-05-01 00:00:00 |
| Cold hard facts: antibiotics and the common cold | Lists facts about common colds, discouraging use of antibiotics. |
Media factsheet | Consumers,Others | 2005-05-01 00:00:00 |
| MedicinesTalk No. 18 Winter 2006 edition | MedicinesTalk No. 18 Winter 2006 edition, containing older italians hungry for information, diabetes explained, managing diabetes, don't let your medicines trip you up, and kids and the common cold. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2006-06-01 00:00:00 |
| I've got a cold! | Educates adult ESL patients on home care for the common cold, including appropriate use of antibiotics and prevention of disease transmission. |
Consumer resource - Kit - ESL teaching resource | Consumers | 2010-11-17 00:00:00 |
| I've got a cold! activity book | Provides activities for teaching adult ESL patients about home care for the common cold, including appropriate use of antibiotics and prevention of disease transmission. |
Consumer resource - Kit - ESL teaching resource | Consumers | 2010-11-17 00:00:00 |
| Caring for kids with colds | Advice on preventing the spread of colds, and managing colds without the use of antibiotics. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2006-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Community language schools teaching students about medicines in Queensland | Learn about programs teaching young people in after-hours ethnic schools about medicines, so they can go home and share the knowledge with their families in 'kitchen table' discussions. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2006-12-01 00:00:03 |
| Common colds: Information for children's services | Common colds can make you feel lousy, but do you actually know what causes them? On this site you will find useful tips and resources for prevention and treatment of the common cold for children's services. |
Web page | Consumers,Health Professionals | 2008-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Common colds: Information for parents and carers of children | Common colds can make you feel lousy, but do you actually know what causes them? On this site you will find useful tips for prevention and treatment of the common cold for parents and carers of children. |
Web page | Consumers | 2008-07-01 00:00:00 |
| Sudafed for Children Oral Liquid | Consumer information from the manufacturer about the use of Sudafed for Children Oral Liquid (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride). |
Consumer publication - Consumer medicine information leaflet (CMI) | Consumers | 2008-02-29 00:00 |
| Weigh kids today to avoid overdosing | Parents and carers are being urged to weigh their children today, as part of a new campaign to help people be medicinewise when it comes to kids’ medicines |
Media release | Others | 2011-03-22 19:00:00 |
| Measure liquid medicines accurately | Use an oral syringe to accurately measure and give the right dose. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon — this is not an accurate way to measure the right dose. |
Campaign | Consumers | 2011-02-27 00:00:00 |
| Know the child's weight | Giving the right dose (or amount) of a medicine based on a child’s weight is important so that they receive the safest and most effective dose. |
Campaign | Consumers | 2011-02-27 00:00:00 |
| Read the medicine labels and packaging | Calculating the correct dose for a child usually requires their weight. |
Campaign | Consumers | 2011-02-27 00:00:00 |
Information on this website is published by NPS — an independent, evidence based, not-for-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
NPS develops its information under the guidance of experts in their field, editorial panels, expert reviewers and consumers. Find out more about how we develop our content.
Date published: 2010-12-17 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
