Children's Health 6-15

Is my child’s cold serious?

Colds aren't usually serious. However, babies, the elderly and anyone whose immune system is compromised can be at risk of developing more serious complications, such as a bacterial chest infection.

What are the differences between adult and child colds?

Children contract colds far more often than adults. Cold symptoms in a child may include a raised temperature (fever).

When should I take my child to the doctor?

Most colds get better on their own without treatment. Seek medical advice if:

• a baby aged less than three months develops a fever higher than 38°C
• cold symptoms last for more than 10 days, particularly if your child is coughing up green, yellow or brown sputum or has a fever – this could be a sign of a bacterial infection that needs treatment with antibiotics
• your child is finding it difficult to breathe – seek medical help immediately from your surgery or local hospital
• your child complains of pain in the nasal passages after two to four days of home treatment
• your baby or child has, or seems to have, severe earache (babies with earache often rub their ears and seem irritable) as they could have an ear infection that may need antibiotic treatment
• your child complains of throat pain for longer than three or four days, or their throat pain seems unusually severe, as they may have bacterial tonsillitis that needs antibiotic treatment
• your child develops other symptoms such as pain or swelling in the face or in the chest, a headache or a very bad sore throat
• your child seems to be getting worse rather than better

Why won’t my doctor prescribe antibiotics for my child’s cold?

Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Colds, however, are caused by viruses, which do not respond to antibiotics.

The overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance where symptoms don’t respond to treatment with antibiotics. The doctor is likely to prescribe antibiotics only if your child has developed a bacterial infection secondary to (on top of) a cold.

Read more information about antibiotic resistance.

Top tips for parents

The following tips may help your child cope with the symptoms of a cold.

• encourage your child to rest and make sure they drink plenty of fluids – water is fine but warm drinks can be soothing
• if they have a blocked nose you can make their breathing easier by raising the pillow end of your child’s bed or cot by putting books or bricks under the legs or placing a pillow under the mattress (although you should not put anything under the mattress of a baby younger than one year old)
• paracetamol liquid or ibuprofen liquid can help ease a fever and pain – check the dosage instructions on the packaging and never give aspirin to children under 16 years old
• a warm, moist atmosphere can ease breathing if your child has a blocked nose – take your child into the bathroom and run a hot bath or shower or use a vaporiser to humidify the air
• keep the room aired and at a comfortable temperature, and don't let your child get too hot – if a small child or baby has a temperature let them wear just a nappy or underwear

Atopic eczema can affect any part of the body, but the most common areas to be affected are:

• backs or fronts of the knees
• outside or inside of the elbows
• around the neck
• hands
• cheeks
• scalp

People with atopic eczema usually have periods when symptoms are less noticeable, as well as periods when symptoms become more severe (flare-ups).

Read more about the symptoms of atopic eczema and diagnosing atopic eczema.

What causes atopic eczema?

The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown, but it's clear it's not down to one single thing. It often occurs in people who get allergies – "atopic" means sensitivity to allergens.

It can run in families, and often develops alongside other conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.

The symptoms of atopic eczema often have certain triggers, such as soaps, detergents, stress and the weather. Sometimes food allergies can play a part, especially in young children with severe eczema.

Eczema triggers

There are a number of things that may trigger your eczema symptoms. These can vary from person to person.

Common triggers include:

• irritants – such as soaps and detergents, including shampoo, washing-up liquid and bubble bath
• environmental factors or allergens – such as cold and dry weather, dampness, and more specific things such as house dust mites, pet fur, pollen and moulds
• food allergies – such as allergies to cows' milk, eggs, peanuts, soya or wheat
• certain materials worn next to the skin – such as wool and synthetic fabrics
• skin infections

Some people also report their symptoms get worse when the air is dry or dusty, or when they are stressed, sweaty, or too hot or too cold.

Treating atopic eczema

There is currently no cure for atopic eczema, but treatment can help relieve the symptoms and many cases improve over time.

However, severe eczema often has a significant impact on daily life and may be difficult to cope with physically and mentally. There is also an increased risk of skin infections.

Many different treatments can be used to control symptoms and manage eczema, including:

• self care techniques, such as reducing scratching and avoiding triggers
• emollients (moisturising treatments) – used on a daily basis for dry skin
• topical corticosteroids – used to reduce swelling, redness and itching during flare-ups

Read more about treating atopic eczema and the complications of atopic eczema.

Who is affected?

About one in five children in the UK has atopic eczema. In 8 out of 10 cases, the condition develops before a child reaches the age of five. Many children develop it before their first birthday.

Atopic eczema can improve significantly, or even clear completely, in some children as they get older. About half of all cases improve a lot by the time a child reaches 11 years, and around two-thirds improve by the age of 16.

However, the condition can continue into adulthood and can sometimes develop for the first time in adults.

Other types of eczema

Eczema is the name for a group of skin conditions that cause dry, irritated skin. Other types of eczema include:

• discoid eczema – a type of eczema that occurs in circular or oval patches on the skin
• contact dermatitis – a type of eczema that occurs when the body comes into contact with a particular substance
• varicose eczema – a type of eczema that most often affects the lower legs and is caused by problems with the flow of blood through the leg veins
• seborrhoeic eczema – a type of eczema where red, scaly patches develop on the sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears and scalp
• dyshidrotic eczema (pompholyx) – a type of eczema that causes tiny blisters to erupt across the palms of the hands

Every child is different, so only do what you feel comfortable with and what you think will suit your child.

If your child won't go to bed

• Decide what time you want your child to go to bed.
• Close to the time that your child normally falls asleep, start a 20-minute "winding down" bedtime routine. Bring this forward by 5 to 10 minutes a week (or 15 minutes if your child is in the habit of going to bed very late) until you get to the bedtime you want.
• Set a limit on how much time you spend with your child when you put them to bed. For example, read only one story, then tuck your child in and say goodnight.
• Give your child their favourite toy or comforter before settling into bed.
• If your child cries, leave them for 5 to 10 minutes before going back in and settling them down again.
• Don't pick them up or take them downstairs. If your child gets up, put them back to bed again.
• Leave a drink of water within reach and a dim light on if necessary.
• If you keep checking to see if your child is asleep, you might wake them up, so leave it until you're certain that they're asleep.
• You might have to repeat this routine for several nights.
• If you try this, you will need to try to be firm and not give in.

If your child keeps waking during the night

By the time your child is six months old, it's reasonable to expect them to sleep through most nights. However, up to half of all children under five go through periods of night waking. Some will just go back to sleep on their own, while others will cry or want company.

If this happens, try to work out why your child is waking up.

• Is it hunger? If your child is a year or older, some cereal and milk last thing at night might help them sleep through the night.
• Are they afraid of the dark? You could use a nightlight or leave a landing light on.
• Is your child waking up because of night fears or bad dreams? If so, try to find out if something is bothering them.
• Is your child too hot or too cold? Adjust their bedclothes or the heating in the room and see if that helps.

If there's no obvious cause and your child continues to wake up, cry or demand company, you could try some of the following suggestions:

• Scheduled waking – if your child wakes up at the same time every night, try waking them 15 to 60 minutes before this time, then settling them back to sleep.
• Let your child sleep in the same room as a brother or sister. If you think your child may be lonely and their brother or sister doesn't object, put them in the same room. This can help them both sleep through the night.
• Teach your child to get back to sleep by themselves. First check that everything is all right. If it is, settle your child down without talking to them too much. If they want a drink, give them water but don't give them anything to eat. For this approach to work, you need to leave them in their cot or bed. Don't take them downstairs or into your bed. Let them cry for around 5 to 10 minutes before you check on them. Over the next few nights, gradually increase the amount of time you leave them before checking. It might take a week or two, but if you keep the routine going, your child should start falling asleep on their own.
• Tackle it together. If you have a partner, agree between you how to tackle your child's sleeping problems. You don't want to try to decide what to do in the middle of the night. If you've both agreed what's best for your child, it'll be easier to stick to your plan.

Is controlled crying safe?

In September 2012, several national newspapers advised controlled crying was the "best" way to get your baby to sleep. While researchers found that controlled crying was safe, the headlines did not accurately reflect the scientists' conclusions.

To get the full story, read the Behind the Headlines analysis of whether controlled crying is safe.

Children's nightmares

Nightmares are quite common. They often begin between the ages of 18 months and three years. Nightmares aren't usually a sign of emotional disturbance. They may happen if your child is anxious about something or has been frightened by a TV programme or story. After a nightmare, your child will need comfort and reassurance. If your child has a lot of nightmares and you don't know why, talk to your GP or health visitor.

Night terrors

Night terrors can happen before the age of one, but they're most common in children between three and eight years old. Usually, the child will scream or start thrashing around while they're still asleep. It usually happens after the child has been asleep for a couple of hours. They may sit up and talk or look terrified while they're still asleep. Night terrors aren't usually a sign of any serious problems and your child will eventually grow out of them.

Don't wake your child during a night terror. But if they're happening at the same time each night, try breaking the pattern by gently waking your child about 15 minutes beforehand. Keep them awake for a few minutes, then let them go back to sleep. They won't remember anything in the morning. Seeing your child have a night terror can be very upsetting, but they're not dangerous and won't have any lasting effects.

Extra help with kids' sleeping problems

It can take patience, consistency and commitment, but most sleep problems can be solved. If you've tried the suggestions on these pages and your child's sleeping is still a problem, talk to your GP or health visitor.

They may have other ideas or may suggest you make an appointment at a sleep clinic, if there is one in your area. Sleep clinics are usually run by health visitors or clinical psychologists who are trained in managing sleep problems. They can give you the help and support you need.

In the meantime, if you're desperate, try to find someone else to take over for an occasional night, or someone who your child could stay with. You'll cope better if you can catch up on some sleep yourself.

Coping with a disabled child's sleep

Some children with illnesses or disabilities may find it more difficult to learn to do things such as sleeping through the night or using a toilet. This might be linked to their medical condition or disability, and it can be challenging both for them and for you. Read more about children's learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.

Contact a Family can provide information, suggest further sources of support and put you in touch with other parents who have faced similar problems.

In the UK, it's estimated that about:

• 1 in 12 children wet the bed regularly at four and a half years old (regularly is defined as at least twice a week)
• 1 in 40 children wet the bed regularly at seven and a half years old
• 1 in 65 children wet the bed regularly at nine and a half years old

About 1 in 100 people continue to wet the bed into adulthood.

Bedwetting is slightly more common in boys than girls.

When to see your GP

Bedwetting is only really a problem if it begins to bother the children or parents. Only rarely will this be considered a problem in children under 5 years old. Many families first seek treatment when the bedwetting affects a child's social life (for example, preventing sleepovers).

Medical treatments aren't usually recommended for children under five (although exceptions can be made if a child finds bedwetting particularly upsetting).

If your child frequently wets the bed and finds it upsetting, speak to your GP for advice.

Read more about the symptoms of bedwetting.

Why does my child wet the bed?

There's usually no obvious reason why children wet the bed and it's not your child's fault. In many cases, the problem runs in families.

Bedwetting could be due to your child:

• producing more urine than their bladder can cope with
• having an overactive bladder, meaning it can only hold a small amount of urine
• being a very deep sleeper so they do not react to the signals telling their brain their bladder is full

Constipation is frequently associated with bedwetting, especially in children who do not wet every night. In these cases, bedwetting may occur during the night when the child has not passed any stool (faeces) during the day. Sometimes treating constipation is all that is required to treat bedwetting. Untreated constipation makes any treatment of bedwetting much harder.

Occasionally, bedwetting can be triggered by emotional distress, such as being bullied or moving to a new school.

In rare cases, bedwetting may be the symptom of an underlying health condition, such as type 1 diabetes.

Read more about the causes of bedwetting and diagnosing bedwetting.

Treating bedwetting

In most cases, the recommended plan is to first try a number of self-help techniques, such as limiting the amount of liquid your child drinks in the evening, making sure they go to the toilet before going to sleep.

Reassuring your child that everything is okay is also important, don't tell them off or punish them for wetting the bed as this will not help and could make the problem worse. It's important for them to know they're not alone and it will get better.

If self-help techniques alone don't help, a bedwetting alarm is often recommended. These are moisture-sensitive pads a child wears on their night clothes. An alarm sounds if the child begins to pee. Over time, the alarm should help train a child to wake once their bladder is full.

If an alarm doesn't work or is unsuitable, medication called desmopressin or oxybutinin can be used.

Most children respond well to treatment, although bedwetting can sometimes return temporarily.

Read more about treating bedwetting.

Signs and symptoms of a middle ear infection

Signs that a young child might have an ear infection include:

• pulling, tugging, or rubbing their ear
• a high temperature (fever)
• irritability
• poor feeding
• restlessness at night
• a lack of response to quiet sounds

Older children and adults may have earache, be sick and experience slight hearing loss.

Read more about the symptoms of middle ear infections.

When to seek medical advice

Most cases of otitis media pass within a few days, so there's usually no need to see your GP.

However, you should take your child to see a GP if their symptoms show no sign of improvement after two or three days, they seem to be in a lot of pain, or you notice a discharge of pus or fluid from their ear.

You should also contact your GP if your child has an underlying health condition, such as cystic fibrosis or congenital heart disease, which could make them more vulnerable to complications.

Read more about diagnosing middle ear infections.

How middle ear infections are treated

Most ear infections clear up within three to five days and don't need any specific treatment. If necessary, paracetamol or ibuprofen (appropriate for the child's age) should be used to relieve pain and a high temperature.

Antibiotics are not routinely used to treat middle ear infections, although they may occasionally be prescribed if symptoms persist or are particularly severe.

Read more about treating middle ear infections.

What causes middle ear infections?

The middle ear is located directly behind the eardrum. It contains three tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the hearing organ in the inner ear.

Most middle ear infections occur when a viral or bacterial infection such as a cold causes mucus to build up in the middle ear, which then becomes infected.

Younger children are particularly vulnerable to this type of infection because the tube that allows fresh air into the middle ear (the Eustachian tube) is smaller than it is in adults.

Read more about the causes of middle ear infections.

Can middle ear infections be prevented?

It's not possible to prevent middle ear infections, but there are some things you can do that may reduce your child's risk of developing the condition. These include:

• make sure your child is up-to-date with their routine vaccinations – particularly the pneumococcal vaccine and the DTaP/IPV/Hib (5-in-1) vaccine
• avoid exposing your child to smoky environments (passive smoking)
• don't give your child a dummy once they are older than 6 to 12 months old
• don't feed your child while they are lying flat on their back
• if possible, feed your baby with breast milk rather than formula milk

Avoiding contact with other children who are unwell may also help reduce your child's chances of catching an infection that could lead to a middle ear infection.

Further problems

Complications of middle ear infections are fairly rare, but can be serious if they do occur.

Most complications are the result of the infection spreading to another part of the ear or head, including the bones behind the ear (mastoiditis), the inner ear (labyrinthitis), or the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

If complications do develop, these often need to be treated immediately with antibiotics in hospital.

Read more about the complications of middle ear infections.

How common are head lice?

Head lice are a common problem, particularly in school children aged 4-11 years.

It's difficult to know exactly how common head lice are because the problem is often treated at home, with people only visiting their GP if treatment is unsuccessful.

However, it's thought that up to one in three children in the UK may get head lice at some point during the year.

Itching

Head lice often cause a person's scalp to itch. Itching isn't caused by lice biting the scalp, but by an allergy to the lice.

However, not everyone is allergic to head lice, so you or your child may not notice a head lice infestation.

Even if someone with head lice is allergic to them, itching can take up to three months to develop.

In some cases, a rash may appear on the back of the neck. This is caused by a reaction to lice droppings.

Life cycle of head lice

A female head louse lays eggs by cementing them to hairs (often close to the root), where they're kept warm by the scalp. The eggs are pinhead-size and difficult to see.

After seven to 10 days, the baby lice hatch and the empty eggshells remain glued in place. These remains are known as nits. Nits are white and become more noticeable as the hair grows and carries them away from the scalp.

Head lice feed by biting the scalp and feeding on blood. They take nine to 10 days to become fully grown. Head lice normally only crawl from head to head when they're adults or nearly mature juveniles.

A female head louse may start to lay eggs from nine days after she's hatched. Therefore, to break the cycle and stop them spreading, they need to be removed within nine days of hatching.

How to spot head lice

It's difficult to identify head lice simply by inspecting your child's head. Detection combing is a more reliable method.

Detection combing

Detection combing can be carried out on dry or wet hair. Less preparation is needed to comb dry hair, but wet combing is more accurate because lice remain motionless when wet.

You'll need to use a special fine-toothed detection comb that you can buy from your local pharmacy. The comb has a tooth spacing of 0.2-0.3mm to trap the smallest lice.

Nit combs aren't suitable for louse detection because the teeth are too close together. Lice can get trapped between the teeth and remain unseen.

Wet detection combing

Follow the steps below for wet detection combing.

• Wash hair using ordinary shampoo and apply plenty of conditioner. Use a wide-toothed comb to straighten and untangle the hair.
• Once the comb moves freely through the hair without dragging, switch to the louse detection comb. Make sure the teeth of the comb slot into the hair at the roots with the bevel-edge of the teeth lightly touching the scalp.
• Draw the comb down to the ends of the hair with every stroke, and check the comb for lice.
• Remove lice by wiping or rinsing the comb.
• Work methodically through the hair, section by section, so that the whole head of hair is combed through.
• Rinse out the conditioner and repeat the combing procedure in the wet hair.

Dry detection combing

Follow the steps below for dry detection combing:

• Use an ordinary comb to straighten and untangle the hair.
• Once the comb moves freely through the hair without dragging, switch to the louse detection comb. Comb the hair from the scalp to the ends, combing each section of hair three or four times before moving on to the next section.
• Look for lice as the comb is drawn through the hair. If you see a louse, trap it against the face of the comb with your thumb. This will stop the louse being repelled by static electricity as the comb is removed from the hair.
• Continue combing the hair section by section until the whole head has been combed through.

You can be confident of an active infestation if you find a live louse in the hair. If you're still unsure, you can attach any lice you find to sticky tape and take it to your pharmacist, GP or practice nurse for confirmation.

Checking the rest of the family

If you discover head lice in your child's hair you should check the rest of the family and alert close friends.

You should only treat hair after live head lice have been found. Don't treat "just in case". However, once confirmed, take immediate steps to treat head lice.

Treating head lice

Head lice can be difficult to treat due to the time-consuming and precise nature of treatment and high re-infestation rate.

In the past, traditional insecticides were used to treat head lice infestations but head lice would often develop resistance to them.

Therefore, these types of treatments have virtually been replaced with silicone and oil-based preparations which have a physical rather than a chemical action on lice.

After a head lice infestation has been confirmed you can treat the lice at home by wet combing the hair with a head lice comb or by using a lotion or spray that's designed to kill head lice (see below).

However, neither will protect against re-infestation if head-to-head contact is made with someone with head lice during the treatment period.

Wet combing

The wet combing method involves removing the head lice by systematically combing the hair using a special fine-toothed comb.

The comb's teeth should be spaced 0.2-0.3mm apart. Lice can be crushed or trapped between the teeth of nit combs with a tooth spacing of less than 0.19mm and remain unseen.

You can buy a fine-toothed comb from your local pharmacy or you can order one online.

Lotions or sprays don't need to be used for wet combing. However, to be effective, wet combing needs to be carried out regularly and thoroughly. The method you should use is described below.

• Wash the hair using ordinary shampoo and apply plenty of conditioner, before using a wide-toothed comb to straighten and untangle the hair.
• Once the comb moves freely through the hair without dragging, switch to the louse detection comb. Make sure the teeth of the comb slot into the hair at the roots, with the bevel-edge of the teeth lightly touching the scalp.
• Draw the comb down to the ends of the hair with every stroke, and check the comb for lice.
• Remove lice by wiping or rinsing the comb.
• Work methodically through the hair, section by section, so that the whole head is combed through.
• Rinse out conditioner and repeat the combing procedure.
• Repeat the procedure on days three, six, nine, 12 and 15, so that you clear young lice as they hatch, before they have time to reach maturity.

How long it will take to comb your child’s hair will depend on the type of hair they have and its length. For example, short, straight hair can be quickly prepared and can be fine-toothed combed in a few minutes. Longer, curlier hair will take longer to comb.

Lotion or sprays

Using a lotion or spray is an alternative method of treating head lice. However, to be effective they need to be used correctly. Your pharmacist will be able to recommend an over-the-counter lotion or spray and advise you about how to use it correctly.

A lotion or spray should only be used if a living (moving) head louse is found. Crème rinses and shampoos aren't thought to be effective and therefore aren't recommended.

Ensure you have enough lotion or spray to treat everyone in your family who's affected. Use enough to coat the scalp and the length of the hair during each application.

Follow the instructions that come with the lotion or spray when applying it. Depending on the product you're using, the length of time it will need to be left on the head may vary from 10 minutes to eight hours.

The normal advice is to treat the hair and repeat the treatment after seven days. Some products also supply a comb for removing dead lice and eggs.

Some products may be capable of killing eggs as well as lice, although there's no certainty of this. Check for baby lice hatching from eggs three to five days after using a product and again 10-12 days afterwards.

At least two applications of lotion are needed to kill lice over the hatching period because the lotions don't always kill louse eggs.

If the lice appear unaffected by the product, or if the problem persists, seek advice from your school nurse, health visitor, pharmacist or GP.

Cautions

Always read the instructions on the pack or leaflet that comes with a head lice treatment, particularly in relation to the following groups:

• young babies (under six months old)
• pregnant women
• people with asthma or allergies

If you're still unsure, seek advice from a healthcare professional before using the product.

It's recommended that pregnant women use either wet combing or 4% dimeticone lotion, which is licensed for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Afro hair

Afro (frizzy) hair or hair that's tightly curled can make treating a head lice infestation particularly difficult.

There's no evidence that keeping your child's hair short, or plaiting or braiding it, will make it easier to treat.

Afro hair should be treated in a similar way to straight hair. Methodically combing small sections of hair at a time with a lice comb, and/or using a lotion or spray, will usually prove effective.

Preventing head lice

It's difficult to prevent a head lice infestation because head lice are spread by head-to-head contact.

Regular detection combing – for example, on a weekly basis – is the best way to find new lice quickly.

Lotions and sprays don't prevent head lice infestations and should only be used if a live louse has been found on your, or your child’s, head.

Head lice can be effectively treated with medicated lotions or by wet combing using a specially designed head lice comb

ADHD can occur in people of any intellectual ability, although it is more common in people with learning difficulties. People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders.

Symptoms of ADHD tend to be first noticed at an early age, and may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as when they start school. Most cases are diagnosed in children between the ages of 6 and 12.

The symptoms of ADHD usually improve with age, but many adults who are diagnosed with the condition at a young age will continue to experience problems.

The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be categorised into two sets of behavioural problems.

These categories are:

• inattentiveness
• hyperactivity and impulsiveness

Most people with ADHD have problems that fall into both these categories, but this is not always the case.

For example, some people with the condition may have problems with inattentiveness, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness. This form of ADHD is also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), and it can sometimes go unnoticed because the symptoms may be less obvious.

Symptoms in children

The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are well defined, and they are usually noticeable before the age of six. They occur in more than one situation, such as at home and at school.

The main signs of each behavioural problem are detailed below.

Inattentiveness

The main signs of inattentiveness are:

• having a short attention span and being easily distracted
• making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork
• appearing forgetful or losing things
• being unable to stick at tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
• appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
• constantly changing activity or task
• having difficulty organising tasks

Hyperactivity and impulsiveness

The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are:

• being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
• constantly fidgeting
• being unable to concentrate on tasks
• excessive physical movement
• excessive talking
• being unable to wait their turn
• acting without thinking
• interrupting conversations
• little or no sense of danger

These symptoms can cause significant problems in a child's life, such as underachievement at school, poor social interaction with other children and adults, and problems with discipline.

Read more about the symptoms of ADHD.

Getting help

Many children go through phases where they are restless or inattentive. This is often completely normal and does not necessarily mean they have ADHD.

However, you should consider raising your concerns with your child's teacher, their school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) or GP if you think their behaviour may be different to most children their age.

It's also a good idea to speak to your GP if you are an adult and you think you may have ADHD, but you were not diagnosed with the condition as a child.

Read more about diagnosing ADHD.

What causes ADHD?

The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families, and research has identified a number of possible differences in the brains of people with ADHD compared to those who don't have the condition.

Other factors that have been suggested as potentially having a role in ADHD include:

• being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy)
• having a low birthweight
• smoking, alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy

Read more about the causes of ADHD.

How common is ADHD?

ADHD is the most common behavioural disorder in the UK. It's unknown exactly how many people have the condition, but most estimates suggest if affects around 2-5% of school-aged children and young people.

Childhood ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in boys than girls.

Girls with ADHD often have a form of the condition where the main symptoms relate to problems with attention rather than hyperactivity, which can cause less noticeable symptoms. It is therefore possible that ADHD could be underdiagnosed in girls, and could be more common than previously thought.

How ADHD is treated

There is no cure for ADHD, but it can be managed with appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and affected children, alongside medication, if necessary.

Medication is often the first treatment offered to adults with ADHD, although psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may also help.

Read more about treating ADHD.

Living with ADHD

Looking after a child with ADHD can be challenging, but it is important to remember that they cannot help their behaviour.

Some issues that may arise in day-to-day life include:

• getting your child to sleep at night
• getting ready for school on time
• listening to and carrying out instructions
• being organised
• social occasions
• shopping

Adults with ADHD may also find they have similar problems, and some may have issues with drugs, crime and employment.

Read about living with ADHD for information on ways to cope with these issues.