If your child’s healthcare professional thinks they can be looked after at home, there are things you can do to help them get better.
Check on your child regularly
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Check on your child throughout the day and night. If at any point you’re worried about them, or their symptoms get worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Let your child rest
Let them rest until they feel better. Try to keep them at home and away from other people until they feel well enough to do everyday activities again.
Keep your child hydrated
Give your child lots of water and fluids so they stay hydrated.
The NHS has more advice about managing dehydration in children and babies, including what to do if you’re breastfeeding.
Do not smoke, or let other people smoke, around your child
Cigarette smoke can make your child’s pneumonia symptoms worse and increase their chance of getting pneumonia again.
We have more advice about how cigarette smoke can harm your child’s lungs and support to help you stop smoking.
Use medicines
If your child is in pain or has a high temperature (fever), you can give them painkillers.
If your child has asthma, speak to a healthcare professional before giving them painkillers like ibuprofen, aspirin, or other anti-inflammatory painkillers. These medicines could trigger their asthma symptoms. Their healthcare professional can suggest different painkillers instead, like paracetamol.
Do not give your child cough medicine. Coughing will help them recover from pneumonia. If their throat is sore from coughing, give them warm water mixed with honey and lemon to help soothe it.
Manage their temperature
If your child has a fever, do not undress them or use a sponge to cool them down. The NHS has more advice about managing a high temperature (fever) in children.
If your child has asthma or another lung condition
Make sure your child continues using any medicines or treatments they use to manage their lung condition unless a healthcare professional tells you otherwise. We have more information about managing lung conditions in children.
date: 2026-02-11 01:23:00
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