Family health A-Z - W

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The process of introducing foods other than milk into a baby’s diet. Government advice is to begin weaning when a baby is no younger than six months and to introduce foods gradually and in small amounts.

An infectious disease of childhood which is now rare in the UK thanks to the immunisation programme. Also known as ‘pertussis’, whooping cough is characterised by violent bouts of coughing followed by a ‘whooping’ intake of breath.

Also known as: Threadworm

Tiny parasitic worms that resemble cotton threads and thrive in the intestines. Children commonly pick up threadworms from each other through contact with skin or objects contaminated with the eggs. These can then be ingested and grow into adult worms in the gut. The main symptom is itching around the anus, made worse at night when the worms surface to lay more eggs. Treatment is by anti-parasitic drugs.