Respiratory Illness

For children and young people with learning disabilities, respiratory illness (trouble with airways and/or breathing) is the commonest cause of:

• Visits to the GP
• Visits to the Emergency Department
• Hospital admissions
• Admissions to intensive care

Best first step is prevention

• Always get the annual ‘flu vaccine for the whole family
• Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, as even smoke on clothes can be irritant
• Avoid exposure to vaping, as this can also be irritant to vulnerable airways

What to look out for and what to do

• Coughs and colds and sneezes need simple remedies, plenty of fluids and if need be paracetamol to address pain and fever.

Red flags to seek medical review: Ring GP or 111

• Significant increased work of breathing, drawing in of stomach or neck with breathing
• Raised rate of breathing
• Blue lips
• Pauses in breathing
• Getting worse despite simple measures at home