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Colds and Flu |
These usually start with a sore throat, runny nose and / or cough. You may
well develop a temperature and aches in your body. These illnesses are caused by
viruses and antibiotics will have no effect. Treatment consists of taking the
recommended doses of paracetamol and drinking plenty of fluids. Your chemist may
suggest other symptom relieving remedies. Do not worry if you do not feel like
eating for a few days, you will come to no harm so long as you keep up you
intake of fluids.
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Diarrhoea and Vomiting |
In adults and older children these will usually get
better on their own. Drinking clear liquids is the treatment
required to replace the fluid that is lost. Rest the digestive
system by avoiding milk and solids until the symptoms ease. Sachets
of Dioralyte or Rehidrat powder may be bought from the chemist and
made into drinks. Taken with other fluids these help to minimise
dehydration and actually reduce the diarrhoea. Imodium is also
available from the chemist, but this is only suitable for older
children and adults. It slows the bowel’s contractions, thereby
reducing colic as well as the diarrhoea. If there is blood in the
diarrhoea, severe pain or high fever, then the problem should be
discussed with your doctor.
Diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies and young children should be
treated with caution and the doctor will be happy to give advice
over the telephone and arrange a visit if necessary.
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Backaches, Sprains and Strains |
These will often respond to a few days’ rest with pain relieving
medicines such as paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Gentle movement and
local warmth may also help with backache. If symptoms continue you
should consult your doctor. With an acute sprain, of an ankle for
example, apply a cold compress for 15 to 30 minutes (a pack of
frozen peas makes a good compress). Then apply a crepe bandage and
elevate the affected limb above the level of the heart to further
reduce the swelling. This may be the only treatment required, but if
in doubt, contact you doctor to do to the casualty department of the
local hospital.
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Head Lice |
They prefer clean hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene. Special
shampoos can be purchased from a chemist without a prescription. It
is important to treat all members of the family.
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Insect Bites and Stings |
Most require not treatment. Calamine lotion, mild hydrocortisone
cream and antihistamine creams and tablets can be bought from a
local chemist and will settle most symptoms.
NB: Bee stings should be scraped away rather than plucked in order
to avoid squeezing the contents of the venom sac into the wound.
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Nosebleeds |
These should be treated by sitting in a chair, leaning slightly
forward and breathing with your mouth open. Firmly pinch the soft
part of the nose below the bone. Wait a full 10 minutes, during
which time the bleeding will usually stop. Do not try to blow your
nose to clear a clot. Contact you doctor if bleeding continues.
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Sunburn |
This is avoidable - prevention is the best cure.
You should minimise your exposure to the harmful effects of strong
sunlight. This is not just because of the unpleasantness of sunburn
but because of the relationship between long term exposure to ultra
violet light and increased skin ageing and some skin cancers.
Children are particularly susceptible to sunburn and should be kept
in the shade as much as possible, using clothing, hats and high
factor sun cream for protection as appropriate. If you are in the
sun, protect yourself with a suitable sun cream. The chemist will
advise you on the correct factor for you skin type. Should sunburn
occur, treat with cold water, calamine lotion and take paracetamol.
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Burns and Scalds |
These should be treated immediately by applying large quantities of
cold water to reduce the temperature of the burnt area and
continuing until the pain settles. If the skin is unbroken but
blistered, cover with a clean light dressing. Do not attempt to
burst the blisters. Apply a loose, dry dressing. Usually no further
treatment is needed. If the burn is larger than three to four
centimetres across or if the skin is broken, consult a nurse or
doctor. With skin loss or a large burn, it is important to seek
advice on the day of the injury.
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Gastroenteritis |
Gastroenteritis describes a group of sicknesses affecting the
stomach or part of the intestine. Symptoms are often diarrhoea,
sickness and stomach ache. Because the lining of the stomach is
likely to be inflamed, medicines are often immediately vomited up.
Large quantities of water should be taken to counter the effects of
dehydration. Consult your doctor if symptoms persist for more than a
day or in the case of babies or young children, six hours.
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Stomach Ache |
Most attacks are not serious and are usually caused by indigestion
or wind. A hot water bottle will often relieve the symptoms and, in
the case of indigestion, a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in half a
glass of water will help. If the pain lasts for more than eight
hours or increases in intensity you should consult your doctor.
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Fever |
Fever, or a ‘temperature’ is common with many mild infections in
childhood. It is most important always to have paracetamol, of a
type suitable for the ages of your children in the house. This is
the only medicine that is effective in lowering fevers in children.
A child or an adult with a fever will not come to any harm by being
wrapped up and brought to the surgery. If you are in doubt or a
child seems particularly unwell, contact you doctor for further
advice.
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Chickenpox |
This usually starts with a fever and a headache. There is a rash of
small red spots about 4mm across, which, as the days pass, develop a
central blister. This later dries to a crust and eventually falls
off. The rash can be very itchy and with each rise in the fever, a
new crop of spots will appear. The most infectious time is from two
to three days before the rash appears until the last crust has
dried. Calamine lotion and antihistamine medicines are helpful in
relieving the itching. Remember, the hotter the skin, the more it
itches, so keep it cool and use paracetamol for the fever. Children
may return to school as soon as the last crust has fallen off.
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For further information on various
illnesses please go to our
Useful Links page. |
