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Child and family health

Babies and children are not small adults. This is not true just for the typical diseases of childhood. Children will recover from many illnesses without any medical help, while other problems will require specialist help. Childhood and the years of adolescence are also important for establishing future health, and healthy lifestyles.

Feature: Bedwetting in children and young people

Patient's story

Feature: Migraines in children and young people

Some children or teenagers have such bad migraine attacks that they cannot go to school and also miss out on many fun activities. The good news is that there is a lot that can be done so that the attacks are less frequent and less of a problem. Read our information for young people to find out how to prevent migraine attacks and how best to cope with them when they happen.

Feature: Preventing depressions in children and young people

Young people often feel sad, down or distressed. That's normal. Sometimes, though, it is more than normal blues: many children and young people get depressed. But depression can be prevented or at least recognised early.

Feature: Prevention in babies and small children

Which children have a higher risk of allergy? Can pregnant women do anything that will reduce the risk of allergy in their child? Is childhood immunisation the cause of the increase in allergies? We let you know what parents can do to try to prevent their children getting allergies.

Research summaries

Allergy and food intolerance: Can soya baby formulas prevent them?

Soy formula has not been shown to protect high-risk babies from developing allergies or food intolerance. more...

Common colds: Can antibiotics help?

The adverse effects of antibiotics probably outweigh the benefits of antibiotics for uncomplicated colds. They might be worthwhile only when a cold does not get better as fast as usual or there is bacterial infection. more...

Common colds: Can vitamin C prevent or relieve them?

Taking vitamin C every day does not prevent colds for most people. People will not recover from a cold more quickly if they start to take vitamin C when the symptoms of a cold start. Taking vitamin C every day could shorten the amount of time you are sick with colds by a very small amount. more...

Common colds: Does echinacea work?

It is not clear whether echinacea extracts can prevent colds. Taking some echinacea products when a cold starts might help to reduce the cold's length and severity. Because the available products are very different to one another, more research is needed to be sure. Adverse effects are rare. more...

Common colds: Should we follow the "drink more fluids" advice?

There is no medical reason to drink more than you feel like drinking when you have a cold. more...

Common colds: What happens if you wait before trying antibiotics?

If there does not appear to be any medical need for antibiotics to treat a simple cold, waiting one to two days can avoid unnecessary adverse effects. more...

Dental caries: Do fluoride tooth products prevent tooth decay in children and young people?

Fluoride tooth products, especially toothpaste, protect children against plaque and tooth decay. more...

Dental caries: Do fluoride toothpaste, mouthwashes or gels reduce more tooth decay?

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste every day protects children and young people from tooth decay just as effectively as fluoride mouthwashes and gels applied directly to the teeth. more...

Dental caries: Do teeth sealants prevent tooth decay in children and young people?

The application of sealants to the molars or back teeth can result in a major reduction in the risk of tooth decay or cavities. more...

Pre-surgery: How long do children need to fast before an operation?

Some hospitals do not let children have anything to drink for two hours before an operation. Others do not allow them to drink for more than five hours, but such a long fast has not been proven necessary. Children who are allowed to drink water or clear juice up to two hours before an operation feel better and stay calmer than children who have to fast longer. more...

Sore throats: Do antibiotics help?

Antibiotics can shorten sore throats caused by infections by less than day. There are adverse effects, though, so that weighing up the pros and cons is an individual exercise. more...

Babies with high risk of allergy: Could prebiotics in infant formulas make a difference?

Infant formulas containing prebiotics might be able to prevent the development of eczema in babies who are at high risk of allergies, but they have not been tested enough to be sure. So far, none of the breast milk substitutes has been shown to provide better protection than breastfeeding. more...

Eczema: Does eliminating particular foods reduce the symptoms?

There is no strong proof that elimination diets in babies or children can reduce their eczema if they do not have established food allergies. There has been very little research on elimination diets for adults with eczema. more...

Migraine in children and teenagers: Are there ways of preventing migraines without using medication?

Relaxation training plus biofeedback or behavioural training might be able to reduce migraines in children and teenagers. No specific diet has been shown to definitely prevent migraines in children, although eliminating some foods that trigger migraines might help. more...

Migraine in children and teenagers: Can taking medications or herbal products prevent attacks?

There is some research showing that several medications or herbal products might be able to prevent migraines in children and young people. However, there is not enough data on their safety and effectiveness for them to be licensed for use by children and teenagers in Germany. more...

Migraine in children and teenagers: Which drugs can relieve the symptoms?

The painkillers ibuprofen and acetaminophen (paracetamol) can relieve migraine attacks in children and teenagers and only rarely cause adverse effects. Sumatriptan nasal spray is also effective for children over the age of 12, but it causes more adverse effects. more...

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