RFSymptoms: Safety netting advice
ChildrenChest pain
DATE LAST REVIEWED: 05/11/2026
When to seek further review
- Get medical advice for unexplained or recurring chest pain, even if it stops between episodes.
- Get urgent assessment today if pain happens during exercise, there are palpitations, or your child has a known heart condition.
- Follow the review plan from the consultation; get help earlier for worsening pain or any new symptoms.
- Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
- If you need medical advice and are unsure which service can help, call NHS 111. This includes when your GP is closed or you cannot get the help you need. NHS 111 can direct you to an appropriate local service. You can call even if you are not sure whether symptoms are serious.
When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)
- Sudden chest pain or discomfort that does not go away, including tightness, pressure, squeezing, burning or a heavy feeling.
- Chest pain spreading to an arm, the neck, jaw, back or tummy.
- Chest pain with sweating, feeling sick, light-headedness or shortness of breath.
- Chest pain with fainting, collapse, severe breathing difficulty or coughing up a significant amount of blood.
- Severe difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, or the skin pulling in deeply under or between the ribs.
- Being very difficult to wake or unresponsive.
- Being unusually floppy, confused or not responding as usual.
- Blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.
How to spot sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.
An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.
Sources
- NHS - Chest painhttps://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/chest-pain/
- NHS - Fever in childrenhttps://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/
- NHS - Sepsishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
- NHS - When to use NHS 111https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/