Mein Kind ist krank – Was tun?

English (Englisch)

My child is sick – where can I get help?

Hello! This notice is about the various centres available for sick children in Basel city and the Basel region. I will be using 4 questions to show you which centre will be available to provide the right help for your child.

Is your child sick and you’re not sure whether they need to see a doctor?

Go to a pharmacy. The staff there will be able to advise you on medical matters or medication queries. You don’t need to make an appointment. The pharmacists speak several different languages.
You can also call the parent counselling service. The advisors are medically trained and speak various languages. They will discuss with you how to provide the best support for your child. They can also help you with matters relating to child-raising and development. The telephone numbers and addresses of the parent counselling service can be found at www.meinkindistkrank.ch.

Do you want to take your child to see a doctor?

Then make an appointment at your paediatric medical centre. You can do this by telephone. You can also ask by telephone if the child even needs to come to the centre in the first place. If you still do not have a paediatrician, the parent counselling service can help you find one.

Not sure if your child needs to go to A&E and can’t get hold of your paediatrician?

You can call the Medizinische Notrufzentrale. This service provides free advice by telephone and is available 24/7. The number is 061 261 15 15.

Does your child have a medical problem that cannot wait?

Then go to the A&E department of the Universitäts-Kinderspital UKBB. If the problem is not that serious, call your paediatric medical centre.

Is your child in a life-threatening situation?

Then call an ambulance straight away on 144.

All addresses and information can be found in 16 languages at www.meinkindistkrank.ch

I wish you and your child all the best.

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My child has a fever

What can I do? When do I need to take them to a doctor?

Hello! This notice is about fevers in children. I will be giving you some tips on what you can do in the case of a fever, and when a child needs to see a doctor.

A child has a fever if their body temperature is above 38.5 degrees Celsius. And above 38 degrees Celsius if the child is less than 3 months old. Children with fevers will have red cheeks and a hot forehead. They will often also have a sniffle or other symptom. In most cases, however, fevers are not dangerous. They help the body get healthy again.

Here are 5 tips you can use to help your child if they have a fever:

  1. Give your child lots of water and tea to drink. For newborns, give them breast milk or powdered milk.
  2. Allow your child to sleep a lot.
  3. Only put the child in light clothing. Don’t cover them right up.
  4. There are special fever medications available for children. Ask your pharmacist which medications are advisable for your child.
  5. Give your child lots of attention. For example, read to them.

Unsure whether to take your child to a doctor? Your child will need to see a doctor in the following 8 situations:

  1. The child has a fever and is less than 3 months old.
  2. The fever has not improved after 4 days.
  3. Medications are not bringing the fever down.
  4. The child is very tired. They are not very responsive and are difficult to rouse.
  5. The child is not drinking and is not wetting their nappies.
  6. The child cannot bend their head forward or they react sensitively to touch.
  7. The child has a rash with red dots that cannot be got rid of.
  8. The child is having febrile seizures in which their muscles twitch and the child themselves is unconscious or their eyes have rolled back.

 

Not sure what to do? Ask the parent counselling service or at your paediatric medical centre. All addresses and telephone numbers can be found here.

I wish you and your child all the best.

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My child is coughing

What can I do? When do I need to take them to a doctor?

Hello! This notice is about coughs in children. I will be giving you tips on what you can do for coughs, and when a child needs to go to a doctor.

Coughing is a form of protection that keeps the airways clear. It irritates the throat and produces mucus in the nose. Children usually cough as a result of a cold or flu.

These 4 tips can help your child’s cough:

  1. Give your child lots to drink. Drinking can soothe the throat, dissolve mucus and ease throat irritation.
  2. Keep opening the window to let fresh air in. Humid air can also help. For example, you can wet towels and hang them over the heating.
  3. Allow your child to sleep a lot. Elevate their upper body, for example by placing something under the mattress. This makes it easier to breathe and sleep.
  4. Give your child lots of attention. For example, read to them.

Are you unsure whether to take your child to a doctor? You should take your child to see a doctor in the following 5 situations:

  1. The child has difficulty breathing, is breathing fast or has ‘whistling’ breathing.
  2. The child has had a cough AND fever for the last 4 days.
  3. The child has pain when breathing.
  4. The cough has lasted more than 14 days.
  5. The child is fatigued and no longer wants to play.

 

Not sure what to do? Ask the parent counselling service or at your paediatric medical centre. All addresses and telephone numbers can be found here.

I wish you and your child all the best.

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My child is sick but I need to work – what should I do

Hello! This notice relates to questions about looking after sick children. Having a sick child can require a lot of organisation and be very stressful for you as parents. Here you will find information on three topics.

  1. Dealing with illness at day-care centres and schools
  2. Your rights at work, and
  3. Support services available for childcare

My child is sick. Can they still go to day care or school?

Your child may only return to school or day care once they have been fever-free for 24 hours. However, special rules apply for certain illnesses. You can find an information sheet with specific recommendations for this at www.meinkindistkrank.ch

For Basel city: richtlinie-infekt-krankheiten-2024.pdf (bs.ch)

For Basel region: Richtlinien (webcloud7.ch)

My child is sick but I have to work. What do I need to know?

By law, you as a mother or father can only stay home to look after your child for a maximum of three days per case of illness. During these three days, you should try and organise a suitable childcare solution. If the child is sick for longer than three days and no other childcare option is available, you will have to speak with your employer and potentially use your holiday leave or overtime.

You may also need a doctor’s certificate. Ask your employer about the rules applicable at your workplace.

I need to work and have no one to look after my child. What are my options?

The Swiss Red Cross arranges trained and experienced staff to come to your house. Your child will be looked after and cared for. The staff prepare meals, play with your child and, following consultation with you, administer your child’s medication. This service is available free of charge for children aged 12 and under. Some health funds will cover these costs. Enquire with yours to find out more. The contact details for the Swiss Red Cross can be found at www.meinkindistkrank.ch.

Red Cross Basel city: 061 319 56 51, https://www.srk-basel.ch/entlastung-1/familienentlastung

Red Cross Basel region: 061 905 82 19, https://www.srk-baselland.ch/fuer-sie-da/entlastung/familienentlastung

I wish you and your child all the best!

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