Child Sick on Holiday: What to Do About Fever, Diarrhoea & More

Day three by the sea, and your child is suddenly burning up with fever. Or their stomach turns after the buffet, the diarrhoea starts — and the nearest hospital is a foreign language and a mountain road away. That's exactly the moment when being a parent on holiday feels very lonely. But lonely doesn't mean helpless: for exactly these moments there is a clear plan. You'll find the key steps and red flags in the sections just below.

The most important thing first: the vast majority of illnesses away from home are harmless and pass on their own. Travellers' diarrhoea, a viral infection with fever, a cold — children's bodies know all of these from back home too. What matters is keeping your child drinking enough, knowing a handful of clear warning signs, and tracking how things unfold — even with no signal. That's what you'll get next, step by step.

What are the most common illnesses for children on holiday?

The most common things to catch away from home are travellers' diarrhoea, a feverish infection, or a cold — plus sunburn, insect bites, and travel sickness. Diarrhoea and fever are typical travel complaints in children. The trigger is usually a virus or unfamiliar food, not something exotic.

Travellers' diarrhoea mainly comes from germs in water and food. Children pick infections up faster and dehydrate faster than adults, because their fluid balance is more sensitive. A feverish infection, meanwhile, has the same causes on holiday as at home: crowded pools, air conditioning, new playmates, different viruses.

The confusing part on holiday isn't the illness itself — that's usually familiar. It's the context: a foreign language, no familiar GP, often no reliable internet. That's exactly why it pays to know, before you set off, what counts when things go wrong.

A travel first-aid kit for children — what to pack

A well-stocked travel first-aid kit takes enormous pressure off in a crisis. It's worth checking it with your GP or pharmacist before a long trip. A sensible base kit:

• Thermometer
• Children's fever and pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen) — as syrup, at your child's usual dose
• Ready-made oral rehydration salts (ORS) sachets from the pharmacy — against dehydration from diarrhoea
• Antiseptic, plasters, wound cream for the small mishaps
• Sun protection with a high SPF and insect repellent, depending on the destination
• Any regular medication in sufficient quantity

When does my sick child on holiday need a doctor?

See a doctor the same day if your child won't drink or keep anything down, has blood in their stool, runs a high temperature for several days, or grows increasingly floppy. Get urgent help — 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK — for breathing difficulty, reduced responsiveness, a stiff neck, or a baby under 3 months with a fever.

In babies and toddlers every hour counts, because they dehydrate quickly. The NHS advises early medical help for young children with diarrhoea and vomiting when they show signs of dehydration or can't keep fluids down. When in doubt, trust your gut: a child who just hangs limp in your arms needs to be seen — whatever the local language.

Fever on holiday follows the same rules as at home. For the age-specific thresholds and red flags, see Fever in children: when is it dangerous?. One rule of thumb: a baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or above needs medical advice straight away.

How do I know if my child is getting dehydrated?

Watch for a dry mouth and lips, fewer wet nappies or passing urine less often, sunken eyes, and crying without tears. The NHS lists these, plus drowsiness and a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on a baby's head, as signs of dehydration. A child who is unusually drowsy or won't drink needs to be seen.

Dehydration is the real danger with diarrhoea and vomiting — not the diarrhoea itself. Children lose a lot of fluid and salts through loose stools and being sick, and in the heat that can happen fast. The NHS advises starting oral rehydration early and seeking help if signs of dehydration don't improve, especially in young children.

What helps with travellers' diarrhoea and vomiting?

The key is to replace the lost water and salts. Offer frequent small sips rather than large amounts at once. Ready-made oral rehydration salts (ORS) from the pharmacy are the first choice — they replace exactly what diarrhoea drains away. If your child is being sick, offer a spoonful or syringe every few minutes.

ORS sachets are pre-measured and suitable for children — which is why they belong in every travel kit. Dissolve the sachet in clean (bottled or boiled) water as directed on the pack. Avoid home-mixed sugar-and-salt recipes for children: a measuring error can be dangerous in little ones. Once your child has an appetite again, they can eat normally — there's no need for a strict diet.

How to prevent travellers' diarrhoea

In countries with lower hygiene standards, the simple rule is "cook it, peel it, boil it — or forget it": only cooked, peeled, or boiled food. In practice:

• No tap water, no ice cubes — not even for brushing teeth. Use sealed bottled drinks or boiled water.
• Avoid raw items — salads, unpeeled fruit, raw meat or fish, loose ice cream.
• Wash hands before eating and after every toilet visit.
• Dummies and bottles rinsed only with clean water, never tap water.

How do I track the illness — even without internet?

Note it down from the start: when the fever began, when the last dose of fever medicine was, how much your child has drunk, and how often diarrhoea or vomiting happened. Over a multi-day infection these things blur fast — and they're exactly what any doctor asks first.

On holiday there's an extra hurdle: abroad, the internet is often expensive, slow, or simply absent. A diary that only works online is no help on the beach or in the mountains. That's why the Mona diary works offline — you record the course straight on your phone, with no signal at all. Tap in the temperature, fluid intake, and each dose as they happen, and you'll have everything ready for the doctor where you are, or at home.

If your child saw a doctor on holiday, a follow-up with your own GP after you get back is often sensible. A full record helps there too — more on that in Why your memory fails at the GP.

Common questions about sick children on holiday

My child has a fever on holiday — when do they need a doctor?

In babies under 3 months, a temperature of 38°C or above is always a reason to get medical advice straight away. In older children, the overall state matters most: are they drinking, responsive, playing in between? A high temperature lasting several days, increasing floppiness, or breathing trouble all need a doctor. See the linked fever article for age-specific thresholds.

What should my child's travel first-aid kit contain?

As a base: a thermometer, children's fever and pain relief, ready-made oral rehydration salts for diarrhoea, wound cream and plasters, sun and insect protection, and all regular medication. Check the kit with your GP or pharmacist before a long trip, and pack a UK GHIC or EHIC for medically necessary care in the EU.

How much should my child drink with diarrhoea?

As much as possible, in frequent small sips rather than large amounts at once. Ready-made oral rehydration salts (ORS) are ideal because they replace both water and salts. If your child is being sick, offer a spoonful every few minutes. If they barely drink despite your efforts or can't keep anything down, they need to be seen.

Can my child drink tap water on holiday?

It depends on the destination. In countries with lower hygiene standards: no tap water, no ice cubes, not even for brushing teeth. Use sealed bottled or boiled drinks. Rinse dummies and bottles only with clean water. This simple rule markedly lowers the risk of travellers' diarrhoea.

What if my child gets ill at night on holiday and no doctor is available?

Stay calm and check the red flags: is your child breathing normally, responsive, drinking? For breathing difficulty, reduced responsiveness, or a baby with a fever, call 112 in the EU (999 in the UK). Otherwise: offer fluids, bring fever down if needed, note the course — and find the nearest doctor in the morning.

Should I see the GP again after the holiday?

If your child was treated by a doctor abroad or doesn't fully bounce back after you return, a follow-up with your own GP is sensible. Bring your tracked record and any notes or results from the destination country. A check-up after treatment abroad is often the safe choice.

Summary: child sick on holiday — wait, doctor, or emergency?

The shortest decision rule looks like this:

Situation	What to do?
Baby < 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or above	112 (EU) / 999 — doctor now
Breathing difficulty, reduced responsiveness, stiff neck, non-fading rash	112 / 999
Blood in stool, child won't drink, clear dehydration, unresponsive	Local doctor now / 112
High fever for several days, persistent vomiting, increasing weakness	Local doctor / GP same day
Travellers' diarrhoea, child drinks and perks up in between	Observe, ORS, plenty of fluids
Mild cold, runny nose, good mood	Observe, rest, note the course