Paediatric Specialist Clinics

Kidneys and Urine (Nephrology)

Urine infections that keep coming back, blood or protein in the urine, swelling of the face or legs (which can be nephrotic syndrome), high blood pressure, kidneys that looked different on a pregnancy scan, and children whose kidneys are not working well. Ask for a referral if your child has had more than one urine infection, a urine infection with a high fever under six months, puffy eyes in the morning, or blood pressure that is high. Read about urine infections.

Brain and Nerves (Neurology)

Fits (seizures and epilepsy), fits with fever that keep happening, headaches that wake a child or come with vomiting, weakness, clumsiness that is getting worse, and children with cerebral palsy. Ask for a referral if your child has had a fit without a fever, staring spells that interrupt play or school, or headaches that are getting more frequent. A first fit, or one lasting more than five minutes, needs emergency care: see first aid for fits.

Blood (Haematology)

Sickle cell disease, anaemia that does not get better with iron, easy bruising or bleeding, and low blood counts. For children with sickle cell disease, clinic visits focus on preventing crises: vaccines, daily medicines as prescribed, fluids, malaria prevention, spotting problems early, and knowing when to come in. Ask for a referral if your child has sickle cell disease and is not yet in regular follow-up, or has unexplained bruising, long nosebleeds or paleness. Read the sickle cell guide.

Hormones and Growth (Endocrinology)

Children who are much shorter or taller than expected, or who stop growing; puberty that starts very early or very late; thyroid problems; type 1 diabetes; and weight problems with a medical cause. Ask for a referral if your child's height is dropping across the growth chart, there are signs of puberty before eight in a girl or nine in a boy, or no signs by thirteen in a girl or fourteen in a boy. A child who is very thirsty, weeing a lot and losing weight may have diabetes and needs a blood sugar test today — and needs to come in now if they are also vomiting, drowsy or breathing fast.

Chest and Breathing (Pulmonology)

Asthma that is not controlled, a cough lasting more than four weeks, chest infections that keep coming back, noisy breathing, and children with long-term lung problems after being born early. Ask for a referral if your child uses a reliever inhaler more than two or three times a week, wakes at night coughing, or has needed emergency treatment for wheeze. Read the asthma guide.

Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT)

Ear infections that keep returning, glue ear and hearing problems, a runny ear, large tonsils and adenoids, loud snoring with pauses in breathing at night, nosebleeds, and objects stuck in the ear or nose. Ask for a referral if you think your child does not hear well, their speech is late, they snore loudly most nights, or they have had many bouts of tonsillitis. Read about ears and hearing.

Tummy, Bowels and Liver (Gastroenterology)

Tummy pain that keeps coming back, constipation that has not settled with simple measures, long-lasting diarrhoea, blood in the stool, reflux that affects feeding or growth, and liver problems, including jaundice beyond the newborn weeks. Ask for a referral if your child is losing weight, not growing, has pain that wakes them at night, or has blood in the stool. A baby with pale stools or dark urine needs to be seen the same day.

Skin (Dermatology)

Eczema that is hard to control, fungal infections of the scalp and skin, birthmarks that are growing, acne that is upsetting a teenager, patches of lighter skin, hair loss and warts. Ask for a referral if eczema keeps your child awake, a rash does not clear with the treatment given, or a birthmark is near the eye or growing fast. Avoid bleaching creams and steroid creams bought without a prescription. Read the eczema guide.