26/03/2026
Super Bodies – what to do when your child has a common illness
Illnesses like coughs, sore throats and earache are extremely common in young children, but did you know… our children’s ‘super bodies’ are designed to fight off many common illnesses, without the need for antibiotics?
These common ailments can be unpleasant for children and their caregivers, but are most often caused by viral infections and do not need to be treated with antibiotics.
Antibiotics rarely speed up recovery for these conditions and have no effect on viruses.
Instead, our children’s ‘super bodies’ get to work, and most children with a normal immune system and up-to-date immunisations will recover in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics.
Take a look at the usual recovery times for coughs, sore throats, and earaches:
Cough 😮💨
How to feel better at home:
Try to stay home and avoid contact with others if they have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do their normal activities
Rest and drink plenty of water
Try hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old)
Think 'Pharmacy First' for advice
When to visit your GP:
Their cough lasts for more than 3 weeks
They have a weakened immune system (for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes)
They are losing weight for no reason
When to call NHS 111:
They are coughing up blood
They find it hard to breathe
If their cough is very bad or quickly gets worse – for example, they have a hacking cough or cannot stop coughing
If they feel very unwell or have chest pain
The side of their neck feels swollen and painful (swollen glands)
Earache 👂
How to feel better at home:
Treat pain with age-appropriate painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen
Place a warm or cold wet cloth on their ear
Think 'Pharmacy First' for advice
When to visit your GP:
They have earache for more than 3 days
If they keep getting earache
When to call NHS 111:
If they become generally unwell
They have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery
There is swelling around the ear
There is fluid coming from their ear
They have something stuck in their ear
Hearing loss or a change in hearing
If they are under 2 years old and have earache in both ears
Sore Throat 🥵
How to feel better at home:
Rest and drink plenty of water
Try lolly ices to soothe painful throats
Think 'Pharmacy First' for advice
When to visit your GP:
If their sore throat doesn’t improve after a week
If they often get sore throats
When to call NHS 111:
They have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery
They have a weakened immune system (for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes)
When to call 999 or visit A&E: 🚨
They have difficulty breathing or are unable to swallow
If they are drooling – this can be a sign of not being able to swallow
They make a high-pitched sound as they breathe (called stridor)
If their symptoms are severe or worsening quickly
You know your children best, so do seek medical help if you are concerned about their symptoms, or if their ‘super bodies’ need a bit more support because they are immunosuppressed or have other existing medical conditions.
Keeping antibiotics working for those in need:
Common illnesses such as coughs, earache and sore throats don’t usually need treating with antibiotics, and your child will get better without taking unnecessary medication.
In fact, antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat most infections, because:
Many infections in children are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are not effective
Antibiotics are often unlikely to speed up the healing process
Antibiotics can cause unwanted side effects for your child, such as rash and diarrhoea
The more often antibiotics are used to treat minor conditions, the more likely they are to become ineffective for treating more serious conditions
Antibiotic resistance:
Overuse of antibiotics means they're becoming less effective against bacteria and this has led to the emergence of ‘super bugs’. These are strains of bacteria that have developed resistance to many different types of antibiotics.
They can be serious and challenging to treat, and are becoming an increasing cause of disability and death across the world.
Find out more about antibiotic resistance and 'super bugs' here.
Super bodies preventing super bugs:
Our children’s ‘super bodies’ do amazing work against common illnesses like coughs, sore throats and ear ache.
By preparing ourselves with the information and knowledge to care for them at home, spot more serious symptoms, and know when and where to get help, we can support them to feel better sooner, and without unnecessary use of antibiotics.
