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Did you know your ‘Thomson Local' phone book has an NHS direct section at the back giving advice on common ailments and symptoms?
The suggested treatments below are meant as a guide only. If you require further information, please refer to the NHS Direct online site
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0845 4647 |
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Many common ailments can simply be treated at home without the need to consult your doctor. Here are a few suggestions. If you require additional healt advice, please consult NHS direct. |
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Body temperature may vary from 36 to 37.5°C (97 to 99° F). A minor change within this range is, by itself, no cause for concern.
Adults: Consider yourself feverish if your temperature is over 38°C (100°F). Try to bring down your temperature by:
- Taking the recommended dose of paracetamol or aspirin.
- Removing excess clothing and lying in a cool room.
- Drinking cold, non-alcoholic fluids.
- Sponging the body with tepid water or using a fan.
Consult the medical centre if your temperature continues to rise in spite of these measures, reaches 40°C (104°F) or persists for more than 48 hours. Young Babies: If you have a baby under six months of age, with a temperature above 37.5°C (99°F), start cooling measures and contact the medical centre immediately. The only exception to this is if your child has just had a vaccination, in which case giving paracetamol is usually sufficient. If you are unsure or the temperature does not fall, ring for advice.
Children: Try to bring the temperature down by following the advice above. If it does not fall or other symptoms develop, contact the medical centre. Aspirin should not be given to children under 16, although junior ibuprofen (Nurofen) can be used if there is no response to paracetamol (Calpol). Please use according to the instructions on the bottle.
If you are asked to bring your child to surgery, please do so - it will do him or her no harm to be taken into the open air. |
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| Thirteen million working days a year are lost each year in Britain as a result of back pain. Much back pain could be prevented by sitting correctly, better posture, lifting with a straight back and sleeping on a firm mattress.
Treatment of this common complaint is initially by taking the recommended dose of over the counter pain-relieving medication and by resting. If pain persists for more than a few days, consult your doctor. |
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| Apply large quantities of cold water immediately - this prevents heat travelling to deeper layers of skin and causing more extensive burns. Keep cooling the burn in this way until the pain starts to subside (up to 15 minutes).
If the skin is blistered but unbroken, apply a loose, dry dressing. If the burn is larger than two inches across, if the skin is broken, or if you have any doubts, consult the medical centre for further advice. |
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| We still have no cure for the common cold or the flu, but it is possible to treat some of the symptoms yourself. Go to bed and take plenty of drinks (non-alcoholic). If you develop a temperature, follow the advice given earlier. If a headache develops your pharmacist will advise you. The fever may last for up to 48 hours.
Note the important advice given later, under ‘Sore Throat'. Antibiotics are never prescribed for colds and flu - they are useless against viruses. |
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| On the first day a rash appears as small red patches about 3-4mm across. Within a few hours of these developing a small blister appears in the centre of these patches. During the next three or four days further patches will appear and the earlier ones crust over.
Calamine lotion can be obtained from your local chemist and will often soothe some of the itching. Cool baths may also help. The most infectious period is from two or three days before the rash appears and up to five days after this date. Children may return to school as soon as all the spots have scabs (maybe up to 10 days). |
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| In adults diarrhoea is usually caused by a viral infection. The virus can't be treated, but the symptoms can, by taking plenty of clear fluids for 24 hours (flat lemonade is usually the most palatable). Imodium or kaolin and morphine are also useful in stopping the diarrhoea, and both can be obtained from your local chemist. Should symptoms persist for more than a few days, consult your doctor.
Diarrhoea in babies and very young children needs careful attention. Loose or soft bowel movements are the norm in young babies, but sudden bouts of watery diarrhoea should be treated by giving plenty of extra fluids, preferably cooled water. If symptoms persist consult your doctor (see gastroeriteritis.) |
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| This describes a group of illnesses affecting the stomach and part of the intestines. Symptoms include diarrhoea, sickness and stomachache. Because the lining of the stomach is inflamed, medicines are usually immediately vomited up. Water, diluted squash or flat lemonade should be taken little and often to counter the effects of dehydration. Consult your doctor if symptoms persist for more than a day or, in the case of babies, six hours. |
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| Wash the wound thoroughly with water and a little soap or mild antiseptic (eg Savlon), making sure you remove all particles of dirt. To stop any bleeding, press a clean handkerchief or dressing to the wound for about five minutes, then cover with a clean, dry dressing. |
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Sit in a chair leaning forward with your mouth open. Pinch your nose just below the bone for 20 minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped. If the bleeding does not settle, you will probably need to have your nose treated at casualty. |
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| Firstly apply a cold compress, containing ice if possible, or a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a cloth (yes, sweetcorn or mange-tout are just as good, but rather more expensive!). Try this for 10 minutes and then apply a crepe bandage firmly around the joint.
If pain is severe, and swelling appears immediately, it may be necessary to have the joint examined in Casualty.
A sprained joint should be treated gently while it remains painful, otherwise it will take even longer to recover. |
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| Most stomachaches are not serious. If the pain lasts longer than eight hours, or increases in intensity, consult your doctor. |
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| Treat as for other burns and drink plenty of fluid. Better though to avoid sunburn by sensible use of sun creams - start with a factor 25, don't be impatient, and don't bother using anything less than a factor six. Babies should never be left in direct sunlight. |
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| Antihistamine tablets can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will usually relieve most symptoms.
Note: 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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| Most sore throats are the result of bacterial or viral infection and usually clear up within a few days. Give plenty of cold drinks and the recommended dose of paracetamol. Older children and adults can try gargling with a mild antiseptic diluted with water.
Consult the medical centre if your child develops any of the following:
- Temperature over 39'C (102'F)
- Abnormally fast breathing
- Noisy or difficult breathing
- Abnormal lethargy or drowsiness
- A rash
- An earache
- White spots on the tonsils.
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Here is a list of useful medicines and dressings with a description of their uses. All are quite cheap and worth stocking at home in readiness for minor illnesses. Keep them in a box or cupboard with a lock – or store them well out of the reach of children. Remember that your local chemist can give you advice about medicines.
Paracetamol or Ibuprofen Tablets
For adults and children over 16 years. Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises. Ibuprofen should be avoided if you have asthma or have been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.
Paracetamol Mixture
For relief of pain or fever in young children.
Simple or Codeine Linctus
For dry or painful coughs
Menthol Crystals
Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs
Vapour Rub
Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.
Antiseptic Solution
One teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.
Calamine Lotion
For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bits and stings and sunburn.
Dressing Strips
For minor cuts
3” Wide Crepe Bandage
To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints
Gauze Swabs
For cleaning cuts and grazes
Thermometer
To measure body temperature
Tweezers
For removing splinters |
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