Symptom:
Remedy: Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and maintain this until the pain subsides - this may take as long as 15 minutes. If the skin is unbroken but blistered, apply a loose dry dressing. If the burn is larger than 4 or 5 inches in diameter. or if the skin is broken, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Symptom: This is a common problem and causes 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year. If symptoms persist for more than a week, despite adequate treatment, you should contact your doctor.
Remedy: Many acute strains will respond to painkillers to relieve the discomfort, aspirin or paracetamol being the best. Be sensible but it is important to keep active and carry on as normally as possible. Visit www.workingbacksscotland.com for further information.
Symptom: Even in this day and age, there is no cure for the common cold! Colds are caused by viruses, and no cures for viral illnesses exist. Do not be surprised if you feel "under the weather" for a week or more following a simple cold - your body has suffered an assault, and it takes time for you to fully recover.
Remedy: Rest, take plenty of fluids, and if you have a headache or are feverish, take aspirin or paracetamol. Don't bother to take any antibiotics you may have in the house - these will have no effect.
Symptom: On the first day a rash appears as small red patches 3-4mm across. Within a few hours of these developing, small blisters appear and the earlier ones will turn "crusty" and fall off. The most infectious period is from 2 or 3 days before the rash appears and up to 5 days after this date. Children may return to school as soon as the last "crusts" have dropped off.
Remedy: Oily calamine lotion may be applied to soothe the often severe itching and anti-histamines, available from your pharmacy, can also help. Cool baths can ease the itch also.
Symptom:
Remedy: Wash the wound thoroughly with water and a little soap. To stop bleeding apply a clean handkerchief or dressing firmly to the wound for 5 minutes. Cover with a clean dry dressing.
Symptom: In adults, this is usually caused by a viral infection, and is thus impossible to treat directly. In those returning from abroad, however, diarrhoea is not infrequently due to a bacterial infection. Diarrhoea in babies and very young children needs careful attention. Most babies have loose bowel movements during their first 6 months due to their predominantly liquid diet.
Remedy: In adults, the symptoms of diarrhoea can usually be eased somewhat by over-the-counter medicines, and your pharmacist will be able to advise. In children, sudden bouts of unusually watery diarrhoea should be treated by taking the baby off solids and feeding it frequent small amounts of cooled boiled water. Ready-prepared sugar and salt sachets are available over the counter at your pharmacy.
Symptom: Sickness is often caused by a virus or by eating or drinking too much.
Remedy: Do not eat but drink water or squash at regular intervals. do not drink milk or hot fluids. When sickness has passed eat a dry biscuit, bread or breakfast cereal without milk.
Symptom: The rash appears during the first day and usually covers the body, arms and legs in small pink patches about 2-4mm and doesn't itch. No other symptoms are usually present apart from occasional aching joints. It is infectious from 2 days before the rash appears until the rash disappears in about 4 or 5 days from that date.
Remedy: The only danger is to unborn babies and, therefore, it is important that all contacts are informed in order that anyone who may be pregnant can contact their doctor.
Symptom: The rash is blotchy and red and appears on the face and body around the fourth day of the illness. It is at its most infectious from 2 or 3 days before the rash appears until 8 or 10 after that date.
Remedy: Immunisation can prevent this disease.
Symptom: Symptoms are swelling of the glands in front of one or the other ear often followed, after a couple of days, by swelling in front of the other ear. It is infectious from 2 or 3 days before the swelling appears until 8 or 10 days after that date.
Remedy: If the pain is severe you should consult your doctor.
Symptom: Nose bleeds in a child are very rarely more than an inconvenience, but in an elderly person can be quite serious.
Remedy: Sit in a chair, leaning forward with your mouth open, and pinch your nose just below the bone for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not be tempted to release your grip before the time is up "to see if the bleeding has stopped". If the bleeeding continues after this, contact your doctor.
Symptom: Swelling and pain in a joint after an obvious injury are the most common signs.
Remedy: First apply a cold compress, containing ice if possible for 10 to 15 minutes to reduce the swelling. A pack of frozen peas from the freezer, wrapped in a towel, is ideal! This should be repeated every 1 to 2 hours. Apply a firm crepe bandage, and give the sprain plenty of rest until all the discomfort has subsided. Further strain will inevitably lead to more swelling and a longer recovery.
Symptom: Children are particularly susceptible to sunburn, and great care should be taken to avoid over-exposure to the harmful effects of the sun. Remember- prevention is better than cure, so use sunblocks.
Remedy: Treat as for other burns, with cold water to remove the heat. Calamine lotion will relieve the irritation, whilst paracetamol will also help.
Symptom: The vast majority of sore throats are caused by viruses, and will thus not be helped by antibiotics.
Remedy: In both adults and children, over- the- counter medicines containing paracetamol will relieve symptoms somewhat until nature effects a cure.
Symptom: Most earache in children, although distressing, does not have a serious cause and is usually secondary to a viral illness. Large studies have shown that the use of antibiotics in earache does not relieve symptoms any quicker than simple treatments. There is also no increased risk of later problems if antibiotics are not used. If the ear is leaking or smells you should consult a doctor.
Remedy: Paracetamol and fluids are usually all that are needed. If the child is particularly distressed, decongestant nosedrops from the pharmacist, or simple steam inhalations, may help.
Symptom:
Remedy: Antihistamine tablets or syrups can be obtained from your chemist without prescription, and will usually relieve troublesome symptoms.
Symptom: Fevers, or raised body temperature, occur as a natural reaction of the body to many infections. In small children it is important to avoid the temperature rising too quickly. A child or adult with a raised temperature will come to no harm by being wrapped up and brought by car or pram to the surgery.
Remedy: They should be given paracetamol which may be bought from the chemist. If children still appear hot, they should be stripped naked, placed on a bed, and gently sponged down with tepid water. if this is still unsuccessful, you should contact your doctor.
Symptom: Coughs are common symptoms, and are usually caused by viral illnesses such as colds. They are nature's way of clearing the chest.
Remedy: Over-the-counter medicines will often relieve the complaint, but if symptoms persist, or if the cough produces yellow/green phlegm or blood, you should consult your doctor.
Symptom: Viral illnesses are probably the most common diseases in the community, and include colds, influenza, most sore throats, most of the infectious rashes and gastroenteritis. Usually you feel terrible, but fortunately most of these common conditions are self-limiting, not at all serious, and will get better without any treatment. Antibiotics are of no help whatsoever, and indeed in some conditions such as gastroenteritis may be positively contraindicated, although in some people whose resistance to infection is reduced due to conditions such as asthma or heart disease, antibiotics may be given prophylactically when they develop a cold to prevent the onset of serious bacterial infection to which they would otherwise be susceptible.
Remedy: Keep yourself warm and comfortable, and drink plenty of fluids. Take paracetamol or soluble aspirin, both of which help aches and pains and will reduce fever. After a day or two you should be beginning to feel better, but if you think you may be developing a complication such as chest infection or sinusitis you should ask your doctor for more advice.
[ History ] [ Charter ] [ Treatments ] [ How To... ] [ Health Centre Team ] [ Surgeries ] [ Useful Numbers ] [ Medicine Chest ] [ Links ] [ Pharmacies ] |