My three-year-old suffers from frequent colds and coughs. Is this normal? I worry that these illnesses may develop into something more serious.

How do I take care of her when she is poorly and how do I know when to ask for help?

ILLNESS is a natural and normal part of childhood. On average young children have a cold at least eight times a year as they build up their immunity to a host of different viruses. These illnesses, though minor, can be very upsetting and stressful for parents. I clearly remember the first cold my eldest had as a baby, I was convinced she had pneumonia.

Signs and symptoms to look out for Colds cause a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, mild fever and tiredness, lasting two to four days.

Flu is more severe with a high fever (usually 39 degrees Centigrade or above), chills, headache, intense muscle pains, exhaustion, loss of appetite, cough and sometimes a blocked nose and sore throat. It may take a week or more for the symptoms to improve.

When to ask for help Always consult your doctor or health visitor if:

Your child's temperature has remained high for over 48 hours.

Any symptoms last for longer than three days and the child's health has not improved.

The temperature is over 39 degrees Centigrade - normal temperature ranges from 36.6 to 37.2.

There are any breathing difficulties, stomach pains, or difficulty in passing urine.

Your child develops a sudden high fever with a stiff neck, vomits, is sensitive to light and in some cases develops purplish red coloured spots.

These symptoms could be an indication of meningitis and urgent medical aid needs to be sought. Do not wait for the spots to appear, they are not always present.

Looking after your sick child As well as providing comfort and reassurance (often the best tonic a parent can give), there are many overthe-counter medicines available for children. These will help reduce your child's temperature and make her feel more comfortable. Your pharmacist can give you advice on these.

There are a number of other things a parent can do to make their child more comfortable. These will also reduce the fever and prevent it from getting any higher.

Sponging Sponging your child down with tepid water (not cold) will help reduce her temperature at least temporarily.

Fans can also be very useful.

Lots of fluids Sweating can cause an increased loss of fluids and may lead to dehydration.

It is very important to prevent this, particularly in babies. Encourage your child to drink lots of fluids. Oral rehydration solutions can also be bought from your pharmacist - these are specially mixed solutions of salts and sugars, which will replace the nutrients lost through sweating.

Eating Care should be taken to encourage your child to eat light nutritious food but don't force it, especially if they feel nauseous.

Room temperature Do not have the room too hot or cold - a temperature of around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, 21 degrees Centigrade.

Cover your child in light layers that can easily be removed or replaced as necessary.

Remember if you are at all worried when your child is ill, always speak to your GP or health visitor.

Published: 08/03/2005