# Child Behaviour Symptom or Complaint - Category: chronic - Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page) - Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - no medicine is given for this in primary care · Temper Tantrums - StatPearls - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544286/ - Verified date: 2026-08 ## Verified against - No dose - no medicine is given for this in primary care ## Treatment metadata - No drug therapy in primary care (Assessment & Advice) ## Complete treatment card ```text CHILD BEHAVIOUR SYMPTOM OR COMPLAINT Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - no medicine is given for this in primary care · Temper Tantrums - StatPearls - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544286/ Review status: REVIEWED against the source listed above (2026-08) IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination RED FLAGS (4) - Refer for formal assessment if there is suspicion of autism, or developmental regression - Refer for prematurity, especially under 28 weeks' gestation or a birth weight under 1500 g - Refer for an abnormal neurological examination, chromosomal abnormality, or hearing or vision abnormality - Refer for a failed screening test, major risk factors, or significant parental concern that persists despite routine observation SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (3) - Temper tantrums are normal development and peak at 2 to 3 years, as the child learns to control emotions and become independent - Behaviours in a tantrum: hitting, screaming, waving the limbs, falling to the floor, headbanging, throwing or kicking things, and breath-holding [temper tantrum] - A tantrum is often the only way the child can say they are hungry, unwell or frustrated [temper tantrum] SIGNS - what you find (3) - A tantrum lasting more than 15 minutes is outside the normal pattern [temper tantrum] - So is a tantrum in a child over 5 years old, or one persisting past 3 years without coping skills developing [temper tantrum] - Also abnormal: the child injures themselves or another person, destroys something, has another behaviour alongside the tantrum such as urinary incontinence, or does not return to their baseline behaviour between tantrums [temper tantrum · urinary incontinence] IF NOT THIS - what else fits (6) - Parental concern is the most reliable method of early detection of a developmental problem and should never be ignored - The reverse is not true - no parental concern does not mean development is normal, and recall of milestones is biased towards normality - Biological risk factors: chronic illness, abnormal hearing or vision testing, prematurity and low birth weight - Environmental risk factors: poverty, which carries the highest association with mild to intermediate developmental delay, social isolation, parental mental illness and low parental education - A delay in one milestone often catches up; the risk rises when several milestones are delayed - Screening tests such as the Denver Developmental Screening Test are not diagnostic, and clinical judgement alone is not a reliable method either Source StatPearls "Child Development" (NBK564386) - the development chapter; its temper-tantrum and developmental-surveillance sections are what this card covers, and it is not a general behavioural-disorder chapter Status traced to the source above 1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (ASSESSMENT & ADVICE) [1st line] Adult Broad symptom code covering delayed milestones, overactivity, temper tantrums, jealousy, or speech delay in children; the GP screens development and behaviour, offers parenting advice, and refers to paediatrics or child psychiatry if a specific disorder such as ADHD or autism is suspected. - Assessment and advice Peds Children follow the same pathway: assessment, explanation and follow-up. No primary-care medicine is implied. Source No dose - no medicine is given for this in primary care Why Broad symptom code covering delayed milestones, overactivity, temper tantrums, jealousy, or speech delay in children; the GP screens development and behaviour, offers parenting advice, and refers to paediatrics or child psychiatry if a specific disorder such as ADHD or autism is suspected. Caution RED FLAG - Severe self-injurious behavior or violent outbursts risking harm: assess urgently and refer. No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care. The value of the consultation is recognition, explanation and follow-up, and referral if the red flags above appear. RED FLAG - Loss of previously acquired skills (developmental regression), significant delay across multiple developmental domains, or signs of abuse or neglect: assess urgently and refer. Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy. ``` --- Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement. [Privacy policy](/privacy)