Eczema - Children - Safety netting advice

When to seek further review

Arrange a GP or pharmacist review if the prescribed creams are not controlling the eczema, it affects sleep or daily life, or it keeps flaring.
Get urgent assessment today if eczema suddenly becomes painful, hot, swollen, crusted, weeping or covered in pus-filled spots, especially with fever.
Painful blisters or small open sores that spread quickly need urgent assessment today, particularly near the eyes. This can be a serious skin infection.
Follow the review time agreed for steroid creams and any infection treatment; do not simply keep increasing the strength or duration yourself.
Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
Contact your GP when the surgery is open. If it is closed, you cannot get the help you need, or you are unsure what to do, call NHS 111. You can call even if you are not sure whether the symptoms are serious.

When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)

Rapidly spreading painful or blistering skin with severe illness or rapid deterioration.
Eye swelling with reduced sight, a bulging eye or painful eye movements.
Severe blistering or peeling of skin together with sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals.
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.

Adult sepsis signs: slurred speech or confusion; extreme shivering or muscle pain; no urine in a day; severe breathlessness; feeling extremely unwell; mottled or discoloured skin. — Adults

Child sepsis signs: very fast breathing; a fit or convulsion; mottled, bluish or pale skin; a rash that does not fade under pressure; very difficult to wake; abnormally cold. Under-5 warning signs also include not feeding, repeated vomiting or no urine for 12 hours. — Children

Sources

NHS - Eczemahttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atopic-eczema/
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/

When to seek further review

When to get emergency help(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)

How to spot sepsis

Sources

When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)