When a child is unwell, it’s completely natural to feel worried, especially during winter, when coughs, fevers and viruses are more common. Knowing where to turn for trusted advice can make all the difference.
If you’re unsure what to do, the Alder Hey Children’s Symptom Checker is a simple and reliable place to start. It has been developed by children’s health specialists and guides parents and carers through a series of questions about their child’s symptoms. Based on your answers, it will tell you what to do next — whether that’s caring for your child at home, contacting your GP, seeking urgent help or going to A&E.
The symptom checker helps you make confident decisions and ensures children get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
You should always call 999 or go to A&E immediately if your child is very unwell, has difficulty breathing, is unresponsive, has a seizure or you are seriously concerned.
Using trusted online tools like the Alder Hey Symptom Checker can provide reassurance, reduce uncertainty and help families get the right support quickly when they need it most.