A recent poll into home healthcare has revealed more than 80 per cent of parents are making potentially harmful mistakes when their children are ill.

National Child Health Poll director and Royal Children’s Hospital paediatrician says some common traditional treatments can actually make it harder to recover from sickness.

Press PLAY to hear more about the mistakes made with sick kids

“Of course we recommend getting your child reviewed and using medication when they appear to be delirious or confused, but in most instances [fever] is not what’s happening for children,” Dr Rhodes said.

“Giving medicine to lower the temperature doesn’t reduce the chances of it happening.”