Why the anaesthetist wants to know
A general anaesthetic affects breathing. The Royal Children’s Hospital explains that the medicine that puts a child to sleep makes it harder for them to protect their airway, and during the procedure the anaesthetist supports your child’s breathing. A cold or a cough affects the same nose, throat and chest.
That is why ANZCA lists a current cough, cold or fever among the first things anaesthetists ask about, to reduce the risk of complications. healthdirect lists breathing problems among the possible complications of a child’s anaesthetic, and says a child may get a minor breathing problem, such as a wheeze or cough, that settles. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists simply asks families to tell the anaesthetist about any new coughs or colds.
None of this means a sniffle is dangerous. It means the anaesthetist needs to know, so they can weigh it up for your child.
Go ahead or wait: how the decision is made
There is no single rule that suits every child. The anaesthetist weighs how unwell your child is against why the procedure is needed and how soon. Monash Children’s Hospital’s information for families gives a useful picture:
Often still goes ahead
- a cold, such as a runny nose, in a child who otherwise feels well
- a child who is eating, drinking and playing much as usual
The hospital notes that colds are very common in children and that there is often no increase in the risk of serious problems. The anaesthetist still makes the call.
May be better to wait
- a fever
- breathing difficulties
- loss of appetite
- a child who is generally unwell
For these, the hospital says postponing may be preferable, and recommends seeing your local doctor before the appointment.
If the procedure is urgent, the balance is different. ANZCA’s position on consent says that, where relevant, the risks of the alternatives, including modifying the procedure or not doing it, should be discussed. Ask the anaesthetist to explain their reasoning either way.
Other illnesses and infections
Colds are not the only reason to phone. The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network asks families to call before the day if their child is feeling sick or has been exposed to an infectious disease, and lists:
- fever, diarrhoea or vomiting
- a chest infection
- whooping cough
- measles, chickenpox or shingles.
It says a new surgery date may be needed, and to call the number on your admission letter or the hospital switchboard.
Asthma and a cold together
If your child has asthma, a cold is worth mentioning even if it seems mild. When you phone, say how often your child has needed their reliever in the past few days compared with usual. The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network says usual medicines and puffers should be taken on the day of surgery unless a nurse or doctor advises otherwise. More on asthma is in children with extra needs.
When you phone: have this ready
Call the hospital or the surgeon’s rooms, ideally the day before and certainly before you set out. ANZCA’s guideline on children’s anaesthesia (PG29(A), section 10.1.8) says families should be told before the day what to do if their child becomes unwell, so check your paperwork for the right number. Be ready to say:
- what the symptoms are, and the day they started
- your child’s temperature, if you have measured it, and the time
- whether they are eating, drinking and playing as usual
- any cough: dry or chesty, and whether it keeps them awake
- whether they have needed their reliever inhaler more than usual
- any medicine you have given, and when
- whether anyone at home, school or childcare has been unwell or has an infectious illness.
Write the answer down, including the name of the person you spoke to. If you are asked to come in, the anaesthetist will see your child and decide on the day.
If the anaesthetic is postponed
A new date can feel like a setback after all the preparation, for you and your child. A few things help:
- Tell your child honestly and simply. “The doctors want your cough to get better first, so we’ll go on another day.” Younger children may feel relieved; older ones may be disappointed or worried that they did something wrong.
- Keep what worked. The preparation is not wasted. The same words, toys and plans will be useful next time.
- Ask what happens next. Who will contact you with a new date, whether your child should see the GP in the meantime, and whether anything else needs to change.
- Expect new instructions. Follow the fasting times and arrival time given for the new date, not the old ones.
If it goes ahead
If the anaesthetist decides to go ahead with a mild cold, ask what to watch for afterwards, and whether recovery might take a little longer. Then follow the usual advice in waking up, and phone the number on the discharge papers if a cough, fever or breathing gets worse at home.
Common questions
My child seems to have a runny nose all winter. Will the anaesthetic ever go ahead?
Tell the anaesthetist or the surgeon’s rooms early, rather than on the morning. One Melbourne children’s hospital tells families that colds are very common in children, and that a child who does not feel unwell may still have the anaesthetic. Ask what the anaesthetist would want to see, or hear from your GP, before going ahead.
Should we see our GP first?
If your child is unwell, off their food, has breathing difficulties or a fever, Monash Children’s Hospital recommends seeing your local doctor before the appointment. Phone the hospital as well, because only the team doing the procedure can decide whether it goes ahead.
A child at childcare has chickenpox. Does that matter?
It can. The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network asks families to call if their child has been exposed to an infectious disease, and lists chickenpox, measles, shingles and whooping cough. A new date may be needed, so phone the number on your admission letter before the day.
Can I give paracetamol for a temperature on the morning?
Phone the hospital first. Tell the team about the temperature, and about any medicine you give and the time you gave it. A fever is one of the things the anaesthetist needs to know about, so it should not be treated and left unmentioned.
Sources
- ANZCA. Anaesthesia and children (patient information). Page modified 26 Oct 2026.
- Monash Children's Hospital (Monash Health). Children's anaesthetics: frequently asked questions (consumer-reviewed family information). Last reviewed Apr 2022.
- Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. Preparing for surgery and anaesthesia (Surgery and anaesthesia handbook). Updated 9 Jun 2026.
- healthdirect Australia. General anaesthetic (child). Last reviewed Jan 2026.
- Australian Society of Anaesthetists. Anaesthesia for children (pamphlets in English, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Vietnamese). Pamphlet last reviewed 12 Mar 2024; page modified 22 May 2026.
- The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Anaesthesia and Pain Management: information about your child's anaesthetic. Accessed 2 Nov 2026.
- The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Preparing your child for surgery: fasting (Kids Health Info). Reviewed Jul 2026.
- ANZCA. PG29(A) Guideline for the provision of anaesthesia care to children (sections 9.1.1, 9.4.3, 10.1.4, 10.1.6, 10.1.8). November 2020; links reviewed March 2025.
- ANZCA. PS26(A) Position statement on informed consent for anaesthesia or sedation (sections 5.2, 5.3, 8.2). April 2021.
- Written by
- Altitude Creative, health content team, on behalf of Dr Walid Aly
- Clinical reviewer
- In progress
- Review date
- Clinical review in progress
- Next review due
- Set at clinical review
How this guide is written, sourced, reviewed and corrected: editorial policy.
In an emergency, call 000. This information is general and does not replace advice from your treating practitioner. Your child's anaesthetist, surgeon, dentist or hospital knows your child, and their instructions come first.