HEALTH bosses have shared guidance for parents and carers on common illnesses that start circulating during the festive period.

Illnesses like coughs, sore throats and earache are extremely common in young children, but healthcare leaders are asking parents and carers to think twice before treating them with antibiotics, as they rarely speed up recovery for these conditions, which are most often caused by viral infections.

Instead, the Superbodies campaign is sharing a guide for parents and carers on the simple things they can do to treat these common ailments at home, as well as helping them to spot the signs of a more serious illness and knowing when and where to go for medical help.

Dr David Crichton, medical director at NHS South Yorkshire, said: “Many children will pick up common viruses at this time of year, especially as they are mixing in school and nursery environments, but they are usually nothing to worry about and self limiting.

“Their ‘super bodies’ get to work, and most children with a normal immune system and up to date immunisations will fight off these common illnesses on their own.

“The evidence shows that most children recover from these illnesses in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics, which have no effect on viruses and don’t actually help to fight off the infection.”