Physical health

Help and support for children and young people related to physical health issues.

Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that is hot or painful to touch. Acne is very common in teenagers and younger adults. About 80% of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by acne.

Acne is most common in girls from the ages of 14 to 17, and in boys from the ages of 16 to 19.

Find acne support, including treatments and self-help techniques:

A new asthma inhaler app has been launched called MySpira. It is the world's first reality asthma training game, developed in collaboration with healthcare professionals.

Suitable for children aged 6 to 13, the MySpira app aims to improve the training of correct inhaler technique, using a combination of augmented reality and game play.

For more information, please visit Healthy Suffolk.

You can find more asthma support at:

School nursing teams provide initial support for children and young people’s continence needs. We offer a ‘Continence’ workshop for parents/carers whose children are toilet trained but where there are concerns such as constipation, day time wetting or nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting). The aim of the workshop is for parent /carers to have an understanding of continence problems in children and young people and how some simple measures can be used to address these.

Watch the Continence Workshop video.

If your child is not yet toilet trained this workshop will be helpful for you to watch. There is also information on the website links below about helping your child to develop their toileting skills.

If you are still concerned about your child’s continence needs after you have watched the workshop and have tried the simple measures for 6 weeks please contact either your child’s GP or the school nursing service for more advice. Telephone the School Nursing Service on 0345 607 8866 or email childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk or contact us via our ChatHealth text service on 07507 333356.

Nocturnal Enuresis (bedwetting) service.

Children and young people aged 5 to 19 years may be referred to the Nocturnal Enuresis (bedwetting) service by your child’s GP, School Nursing service or Paediatrician.

Bedwetting (also known as 'nocturnal enuresis') affects around half a million children and teenagers in the UK. It's an issue families can find very isolating and difficult to talk about openly. Growing up with bedwetting can take a huge toll on family life and can affect your child's self-esteem and emotional well-being.

The good news is you don't need to wait until children grow out of bedwetting - support is now available and recommended from the age of 5 years.

Find out more about the Enuresis Service

If your child is age 4 to 18 years and already receives products for their continence needs & you would like to talk to us about these please contact the School Nursing Service on 0345 607 8866, email childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk .

If your child is over 18 years please contact the Bladder & Bowel Service via the Care Coordination Centre on 0300 123 2425.

Other useful websites include:

ERIC: the children's bowel and bladder charity offers a range of support and information for parents and carers, including a helpline
Bladder and Bowel UK
Stop Bedwetting

It is important to keep your teeth and gums healthy and pain free. Visiting an NHS Dentist is free for children. Click on the link below for some helpful information including how to find an NHS Dentist and what treatment you can expect:

Visiting a dentist

Dental Services (NHS)

How to find a NHS Dentist

Children's teeth (NHS)

Dental Check-ups (NHS)

Dental Treatments (NHS)

Taking care of your teeth and gums (NHS)

How to keep your teeth clean (NHS)

Diabetes is a condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.

There are 2 main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes – a lifelong condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
Type 2 diabetes – where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin properly

If your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, they'll be looked after by a children's (paediatric) diabetes care team until they're around 17 or 18.

The care team will help with the things needed to manage your child's type 1 diabetes, such as injecting insulin, testing blood glucose levels, and diet.

They can give advice on school or nursery, and talk to your child's teachers and carers.

For more information please visit:

DigiBete: for people under 18 with type 1 diabetes, their parents and carers.

Diabetes UK: children with diabetes.

Drugs and Alcohol

Alcohol misuse

Alcoholic drinks, when consumed sensibly and in moderation, can be enjoyable, but if you drink excessively you can put your health at risk. Unfortunately, there are too many young people who make this mistake every year. Being clear on the law around alcohol is important - for both parents and children. The law isn’t simply about knowing right from wrong. It’s a reminder of the potential consequence of drinking alcohol underage.

To find out more information about the law and alcohol misuse, please visit:

Drug and substance misuse

Taking drugs is dangerous and could affect your mental health. There are many myths and stereotypes surrounding drugs, so it is important that you get the right information.

If you or a family member or friend need advice about substance misuse (including drugs and alcohol), or would like to find out how to access support and treatment, get in touch with Turning Point in Suffolk.

Other helpful sites include:

Healthy Lifestyles

NHS Better Health - Healthy Steps Programme

As a child or young person you may not like being given an injection or as a parent you may not like seeing your child being given an injection. However, vaccination will help protect you against a range of serious and potentially fatal diseases.

Vaccines do

get safety tested for years before being introduced – they're also monitored for any side effects
protect you from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
reduce or even get rid of some diseases – if enough people are vaccinated

You can find information on the childhood immunisation schedule, including the ages at which they should ideally be given, reasons for vaccinating, and managing side effects on the NHS page about vaccinations.

If you're not sure whether you or your child has had all your routine vaccinations, ask your GP surgery to find out for you.

The School Age Immunisation Service co-ordinates immunisations and vaccinations for children and young people in Suffolk, excluding Waveney.

Vaccine Information

Useful websites with information about vaccinations:

Is it worth stopping smoking? Yes. Apart from saving a lot of money you will feel better and healthier, enjoy food and have more energy for exercise.

After stopping smoking you'll quickly notice you're breathing easier, have more energy, and your stress levels will be lower. Among other things, quitting also helps save the planet. Deforestation because of tobacco production accounts for nearly 5% of overall deforestation in the developing world!

You can get help to quit from your school nurse, as well as:

Physical health

Acne

Asthma

Continence Needs

Dental Health

Diabetes

Drugs and Alcohol

Immunisations

Smoking