Management of Common Illnesses
Home Page Information for Patients
This page offers information on management of common medical problems but this is for guidance only. No responsibility will be taken by the author for events arising from use of the information provided
Many common illnesses can be treated at home without needing to see the doctor. Remember also that the pharmacist at the chemist's shop is highly trained to advise you about medicines to help you treat illnesses yourself.
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Most episodes of back pain settle within a few days. 90% of attacks settle within six weeks. Painkillers (e.g. Paracetamol, Ibuprofen) should be taken regularly at first. Sit upright and support the small of the back. Remain as mobile as possible as this speeds recovery. To much bed rest has been shown to prolong the problem.
Consult your doctor if the pain is not controlled or persists. Your doctor should be consulted immediately if you develop bowel or bladder problems after a back injury.
Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and continue until the pain subsides. This may take 15 minutes. If the skin is unbroken, but blistered, apply a loose dry dressing.
If the burn is larger than 4 inches across, or the skin is broken, consult the hospital casualty department.
This rash is of small red patches which blister and then crust over. It usually starts on the body and spreads to the limbs. The rash is itchy and fever may occur. Calamine lotion and Paracetamol will give relief. Children may return to school when all the crusts have gone.
Colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses and antibiotics often have unpleasant side-effects. Take Paracetamol for fever, headache and general aching. Drink plenty of plain fluids. There are many other remedies to ease your symptoms whilst your own body cures your cold. Your chemist will advise you about these. Consult your doctor if you are concerned, particularly for babies and the elderly or infirm.
The main treatment aim here is to prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of clear fluids. Rehydration powders (e.g. Dioralyte, Rehydrat) help the fluid to be absorbed. Vomiting usually settles within a 24 hours. If it persists beyond 24 hours, sooner in babies and young children, consult your doctor. In adults and older children, kaolin mixture will help reduce the Diarrhoea after the worst is over.
Influenza is another viral infection but can make you feel terrible. It causes fever, aching, drenching sweats, shivering and coughing. Usually it subsides in a few days, but may leave the sufferer feeling washed out for a while. Treatment of symptoms with Paracetamol and a simple cheap cough linctus is usually all that is possible. Often a few days in bed will be needed.
If you are concerned consult your doctor, as complications sometimes occur, particularly in the elderly or infirm. For these groups of people a yearly vaccination is advisable in October.
This rash is harmless to the sufferer and usually gives a few other symptoms. It consists of small pink patches, 2-4mm and covers the body, arms and legs. It is infectious from two days before the rash appears, until about seven days afterwards. It can be harmful to the unborn child of pregnant women who have not had the disease or the injection, therefore it is important to inform all contacts of the diagnosis. All children should be immunised by the MMR vaccine at about 14 months.
These creatures prefer clean hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene. Treatment is only necessary if live lice are seen moving in the hair. Medication lotions and lice combs are available from the chemist.
Antihistamine tablets (from your chemist) are usually effective and can be obtained direct from the chemist.
This usually causes a high temperature, cough and sore eyes, before the typical rash appears. This rash is red, blotchy and occurs on the face and trunk. It is infectious until 10 days after the rash began. Severe illness is unusual, but complications can occur, so vaccination of every child by the MMR vaccine is strongly recommended.
Wash the wound thoroughly. Stop the bleeding by applying a clean dressing firmly to the wound for five minutes. Cover with a clean dry dressing.
Painful swelling of the gland in front of one or both ears occurs. The patient is infectious for about 10 days after the onset. Serious complications can follow and all children should be immunised by the MMR vaccine.
Sit forwards, pinch the fleshy part of the nose for at least 10 minutes, to stop the bleeding. If bleeding persists consult the hospital casualty department.
Sore throats usually get better within a five or six days whatever treatment is given. Mostly they are caused by viruses which do not respond to antibiotics. Take Paracetamol and suck lozenges for relief of symptoms.
Elevate the injured limb and apply a cold compress or ice pack to reduce swelling. Take regular painkillers.
Sunburn is harmful, particularly to children's skin. Avoid it at all costs by using a high factor sun cream. Treat sunburn as for other burns.
It is useful to keep a small supply of some of the above items in a safe place (away from children) so that you have them handy for the minor ailments which affect us all.