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Common Conditions - Treating Minor Illnesses | SORE THROATS | Most sore throats are caused by a virus infection which antibiotics cannot cure. With
simple treatment the patient normally gets better in four or five days.
Tonsillitis usually starts with a sore throat, which causes pain on swallowing. There may bea fever, it might be possible to see white spots on the tonsils and glands in the neck maybe swollen and painful. A hoarse voice, dry cough and sore throat indicates a viral laryngitis.
TREATMENT Adults: Soluble aspirin - 2 x 300mg, gargle and swallow four times a day.
Drink plenty and take steam inhalations.
Children: Paracetamol liquid (Calpol or Disprol) plenty of drinks.
Make an appointment to see the doctor if the sore throat is getting worse after two days, orif the patient complains of earache.
| | STUFFY OR RUNNY NOSE | The common cold usually starts with a hot feeling in the back of the throat. The patient feels unwell and aches, and the nose starts running with a clear liquid which becomes a thick yellow discharge after three to four days. ANTIBIOTICS DO NOT HELP.
TREATMENT As for sore throat. Add menthol or Friar’s Balsam to the steam inhalations. Inhale for ten minutes three times a day. Babies and young children often have repeated colds. This helps them build up their resistance to infection. They cough because of the discharge running from the nose down the back of the throat. Do not give cough linctuses.
Try 1/2% Ephedrine nose drops, two drops in each nostril before bed.
| COUGHS | If dust or food enters the air passages, coughing acts as a protector. It also prevents mucus from causing infection on the chest. To suppress this action with cough mixtures can cause more harm than good.
TREATMENT Simple humidification may help. For dry coughs without mucus a sedative linctus can be brought from the chemist.
Make an appointment to see the doctor if coughing continues for more than a week or two after a common cold has cleared up, if coughing produces a yellow or green sputum - it may mean the lower air passages are infected, if breathing is accompanied by a pain in the chest or shortness of breath, or if coughing produces blood.
| | VOMITING | Vomiting may be caused by a virus infection of the stomach, food poisoning and by eating or drinking too much. It normally stops within 24 hours and may be followed by diarrhoea. Some children will vomit when they have a temperature.
TREATMENT Rest. Eat nothing for 24 hours. Drink small sips of water regularly. As the
stomach settles try bread or clear soup before - gradually returning to a normal diet.
Children and Infants try Dioralyte sachets made up with boiled water to replace body fluids. Make an appointment to see the doctor if vomiting is accompanied by continuous stomach pain, if vomiting lasts for longer than 24 hours, or if a vomiting child has a temperature of more than 38°C (100°F), or if the child has a rash | | DIARRHOEA | Diarrhoea is unpleasant but rarely dangerous. It may be due to change of diet, food
poisoning or travel abroad. It is often accompanied by colicky (cramp-like) pains and
usually begins to get better in 48 hours. TREATMENT as for vomiting (see above).
Make an appointment to see the doctor if it does not start to settle after 48 hours, if an
attack comes shortly after a visit abroad, or if there is continuous pain.
| | FEVERISH CHILD | Children often develop feverish illness which settle spontaneously in 24 - 48 hours. Give paracetamol (Calpol, Disprol) liquid. Remove the child’s clothing and offer sips of cool water. Sponging with tepid water may also help to reduce the temperature. Do not give aspirin to children under 12.
Make an appointment to see the doctor if the temperature does not fall after a paracetamol (although it may rise again later) or if the child becomes drowsy or obviously unwell.
If you are unsure about these or any other medical matters feel free to contact your doctor for advice.
| THINKING OF STARTING A FAMILY?
RUBELLA IMMUNITY
Have a blood test to ensure you are immune to Rubella (German Measles). If you are not
protected and you have contact with Rubella, your baby may be severely affected. It is
worth a blood test to save a lot of heartache later.
CERVICAL SMEAR
It is best to have a smear to ensure the cervix (neck of the womb) is healthy before
pregnancy as it might be difficult to treat some conditions of the cervix during pregnancy.
WEIGHT
Try and get to your correct weight as you will have less problems with conditions such as backache during pregnancy, and it will be easier to regain your figure afterwards.
DIET
Eat healthily - certain soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert and Blue Vein cheese can
sometimes be contaminated by Listeria bacteria and should be avoided during pregnancy.
Avoid eating raw eggs and cook your eggs thoroughly, because of the risk of Salmonella.
Follow the instructions on cook/chill foods carefully, thaw foods thoroughly and microwave foods carefully observing the recommended standing times.
Liver and vitamin A supplements are also not recommended.
Folic Add and Spina Bifida
Recent evidence has led to the recommendation that all women planning a pregnancy
should increase their intake of the B vitamin, folic acid, to prevent the birth of a baby with spina bifida.
Extra folic acid should be taken both before and during the pregnancy by taking a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid, available from your pharmacy. You may also increase the intake of foods which naturally contain it, e.g. fresh and frozen vegetables, yeast extract, wholemeal bread and bananas or by eating cereals enriched with folic acid,e.g. branflakes, weetabix, cornflakes.
| CHILDREN’S IMMUNISATION
When to immunise What is given How it is given
Two, three and Polio four months old
Diptheria, tetanus, One Injection pertussis and Hib
(DTP-Hib)
MenC One injection
Around 13 months old Measles, mumps and One injection
rubella (MMR)
Three to five years old Polio
(pre-school) Diptheria, tetanus One injection
and acellular pertussis
(DTaP)
Measles mumps and One injection
Rubella (MMR)
10 to 14 years old BCG (against Skin test, then
(and sometimes tuberculosis) if needed,
shortly after birth) one injection
13 to 18 years old Diptheria and One injection
Tetanus (Td)
Polio | GOING ABROAD
Travel abroad is so common nowadays that it is often easy to forget the necessary
precautions. Make sure you don’t turn befoyour holiday into a horror story. Consult your doctor or practice nurse at least two months re departure (the receptionist can advise you as to who you should see). They will advise you what vaccinations are required and what medications you may need. Make sure you have adequate medical insurance. If you are visiting an EEC country you will need form E111.
• Take a small first aid kit
• Personal hygiene is essential
• Beware bites from insects and animals. Many diseases are insect borne and rabies is
widespread
• Be careful with raw vegetables, salads, fruit, shellfish and ice-cubes
• Respect the power of the sun, use sun creams regularly
• Sexually transmitted diseases (including AIDS) are a major health threat throughout
the world. Condoms offer some protection
If your doctor advises you to take anti-malarial tablets remember you need to start one week before departure and continue for four weeks after your return.
RECOMMENDED HOME FIRST AID KIT
• Soluble Aspirin 300mg tablets (not for those with a history of stomach ulcers or
asthma)
• Paracetamol mixture (Calpol or Disprol) good for pain and reduces fever
• Cough linctus (pholcodine) for dry coughs
• Menthol crystals or Friar’s Balsam for steam inhalations
• Antiseptic solution for cleaning cuts and grazes
• Calamine lotion for dabbing on insect bites, sunburn and chicken pox
• Thermometer- Feverscan forehead thermometers are very quick and easy for children
• Cotton wool for cleaning cuts and grazes
• An assortment of dressings
• Tweezers for removing splinters | FIRST AID TECHNIQUES
BURNS AND SCALDS
1. Immediately put the burn or scald under running cold water to reduce the heat in the skin. Do this for at least 10 minutes. If running water is not possible, immerse the burn or scald in cold water.
2. Cover the burn or scald with a clean, non-fluffy cloth like a linen tea towel.This cuts
down the danger of infection.
3. If clothes are stuck to the skin, don’t try to take them off.
4. Call an ambulance or take the patient to hospital. You should take a child to hospital for anything other than a very small burn or scald.
Don’t put butter, oil or ointment on a burn or scald. It only has to be cleaned off again
before treatment can be given.
CHOKING
1. Don’t waste time trying to pick the object out with your fingers, it will probably be too far back and too slippery.
2. For babies and small children, quickly turn them upside down, holding them firmly by the legs. Slap the back firmly between the shoulder blades. If the object doesn’t come out, do it again.
3. If after several tries this hasn’t worked, place 2 fingers on the lower half of the breast bone and press down sharply 5 times. If the obstruction has still not cleared, repeat the process and call an ambulance.
4. For bigger children, bend the child over the back of a settee or arm of a chair and
give a good thump on the back, between the shoulder blades. If after several tries this
hasn’t worked, squeeze the stomach sharply by giving a quick, hard hug from behind.
This can also be used for adults.
Further information including courses and books are available from The British Red Cross. Contact your local office.
CUTS
1. Press firmly on the wound using a clean cloth or your fingers, until the bleeding stops. This may take 10 minutes or more.
2. Don’t use a tourniquet or anything that stops the circulation.
3. If possible, raise the injured limb. This helps to stop bleeding. But don’t do this if you think the limb is broken.
4. Cover the wound with a clean dressing if you can find one. If you can’t, don’t cover
the wound.
5. Then call an ambulance or take the patient to hospital.
6. Ask your doctor about a tetanus injection.
Don’t give the patient anything to drink after an accident if you think an anaesthetic may be needed later. | YOUR TEETH
CHILDREN The first teeth usually begin to come through between the age of six months and one year. By the age of two and a half to three, all the first 20 teeth will have come through. The first permanent teeth start to come through at about six years and have to last you the rest of your life. These may be new teeth at the front, replacing those ‘wobbly’ ones which fell out, or the first of the larger molars coming through at the back.
The most important thing you can do to help your child’s teeth is to give them a healthy diet. Sugar decays teeth, and it’s not just the amount of sugar but the frequency of which it is in contact with the teeth that’s important. Never give your baby sweetened drinks in a bottle or dummy to suck, savoury snacks and fruit are much better. Start brushing your baby’s teeth from an early age to make it a habit from the start. Use fluoridated toothpaste for stronger teeth. Visit your dentist regularly every six months and get your child used to going with you. Age 12-16 is an important time to have checks, not only for the health of the teeth but also their position when orthodontic treatment (braces etc.) may be required.
ADULTS
Wisdom teeth usually start to erupt between the ages of 18-25 and may need attention.
Gum Disease - There are more teeth lost through gum disease than decay, which is why careful brushing, descaling and regular checks with your dentist every six months are important. For the elderly with dentures it is important to continue to see the dentist, who will look for disease of the gums and soft tissues in the mouth, as ulcers and tumours can grow painlessly without being noticed.
FEES
You should not be deterred from regular checks because of cost. An inspection by your
dentist is inexpensive and likely to prevent more costly restorative work at a later date
through neglect. The following groups do not pay at all: Children under 18, under 19 and in full time education, during pregnancy and in the year after delivery. Also certain categories of low-income or people on certain benefits - ask your dentist for details. No one pays for treatment to stop bleeding or repairs to dentures. | | HEARING PROBLEMS
SOME OF THE SIGNS
Do you turn the volume up on the television louder than normal? Do you fail to hear the telephone or the doorbell ring? Do you know people are talking but cannot understand every word? Do you have difficulty hearing in noisy surrounds?
SOME OF THE COMMON CAUSES
Wax - we all produce wax in our ears, some more than others, and when it blocks the
outer ear canal our hearing is dulled. Put some warmed olive oil (two drops) in each ear, twice-daily for about a week to soften it. If this fails to improve the hearing you should make an appointment with the nurse/GP who will syringe out any remaining wax. This should not be done if you have a perforation in the eardrum.
Age - as we age our hearing becomes poorer as the hearing mechanism deteriorates and is sometimes associated with noises in the ear (tinnitus). Nothing can be done to repair the damage but the incoming sound can be amplified by a hearing aid. Hearing aids are available on the NHS, but unfortunately waiting lists can be long and the devices are larger and less sophisticated than those available privately. It would be worth your while to go to one of the hearing aid centres for a free assessment to see whether you would benefit from an aid and, if so, you can then decide whether to opt for a private or NHS aid.
Noise Induced Deafness - people working in noisy environments should take precautions to protect their ears from the long-term effects of noise. Wear ear-defenders where necessary.
Consult your local environmental health officer if worried.
'Colds' and 'Catarrh'- large amounts of mucus in the nose tend to block the openings of the eustachian tubes at the back of the nose which equalise the pressure between the 'middleear' and the outside, tending to cause dulled hearing with an 'echo' sensation. This usually responds to decongestant nose drops and mentholated steam inhalations followed by trying to 'pop 'your ears.
'Glue Ear' - children with frequent colds and ear infections may develop fluid within the middle-ear cavity. This condition often responds with time, but your doctor may refer your child to the ENT Clinic to see if a grommet is required. This is a small tube which is fitted into the eardrum under general anaesthetic and allows the middle-ear to be aerated. | EYESIGHT
You don't appreciate the importance of your sight until you start to lose it. Everyone should have regular checks with their opticians but there are certain groups of patients particularly at risk.
• Children with a family history of squint or ‘lazy eye’
• Patients with diabetes or high blood a pressure
• Patients with a family history of Glaucoma
Can you read this?
H V O A P N R S T
If you can't read this from 18" in front of your eyes to arms length you may need glasses and should consult your optician.
Your optician has the skill, equipment and expertise to test your eyesight more readily than your doctor. Make use of him and do not be put off by examination charges. Your sight is worth much more. You will be exempt from these fees anyway if you are in one of the following categories:
• Under 16
• Under 19 and in full time education
• Receiving income support
• Diabetic
• Receiving, or the partner of someone receiving family credit
• Registered blind or partially sighted
• Suffering from Glaucoma, or have a family history of Glaucoma (parent, sibling or child a sufferer) and you are 40 or over.
One often frightening finding is the sudden appearance of blood over the white of the eye. This is called subconjunctival haemorrhage and is caused by a broken vessel. It is no danger to your sight, and is not caused by a rise in blood pressure. It is thought to be brought on by breaking a blood vessel when the eye is rubbed. The blood itself will naturally absorb like a bruise. Even very young children can have a sight test. They do not need to be able to read or recognise letters to be adequately tested
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