| General Medical Advice for All |
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Common
Ailments and Simple Treatments |
Advice on Common Ailments and Simple Treatments Colds and runny noses It starts with feeling unwell, sniffing and a runny or blocked nose. After a few days the nose starts to run with a watery, clear mucus which then becomes thick and green. Although children can have a fever, a temperature is not normal with a cold. Because the nose is linked to the ears, sinuses and throat, the cold can spread there. This can result in middle ear infection or sinusitis, often with a fever. Because the mucus can seep down the back of the throat, an annoying cough may develop. Other symptoms are sneezing, hoarseness, sore throat and a slightly raised body temperature. There are over 1000 types of cold virus and so immunisation and medicines are of no value. The cold will normally clear after 5 - 10 days. In the meantime, unless you develop a fever, you may go out. Keep your room well ventilated with the window open. Avoid smoking and sleep with your head slightly raised. Aspirin or paracetamol are helpful, but you may have to take them for more than a week. It is good to gargle with salt water. If you are suffering badly from blocked ears or nose, rinse them out with salt water or nose drops. Do not give young children aspirin. You should call the the Practice if:- • There is a high fever for more than 3 days • If the nasal mucus becomes green or yellow, and lasts for over a week • If a baby continues to cry or refuses feeds on two occasions. Sore throats If this is accompanied by a cold, muscle ache and coughing it is usually caused by a virus. A person’s natural resistance will normally make it disappear within a few days. Where there is a fever or swallowing problems or swollen glands, antibiotics can be used to fight the infection, but only if a bacterium is the cause. Normally it will disappear on its own. You should contact the Practice if:- • Swallowing becomes very difficult. • There is a high fever persisting for several days. • A child has breathing problems. • The child cannot drink or swallow. • The child has a neck pain and high fever. Influenza The symptoms are not dissimilar to a severe cold, and the treatment is the same. Colds are more common, and less serious. Influenza tends to last longer, and can leave you feeling debilitated for several weeks. Antibiotics are of no help, but simple home remedies are the best treatment. The first signs of the 'Flu' are a fever, chills and high temperature, headache, muscle and bone aches, and a dry cough. Runny nose and sneezing may also occur. If there is a chest or ear infection, a chesty cough and earache may occur. If you are likely to be seriously affected by ‘Flu', or in the case of a baby or the elderly,.you should ask the Practice about immunisation. Immunisation is also necessary for people with chest disorders like asthma, those with a long term heart disorder, diabetes or kidney disease. The best way to treat 'Flu' is to rest at home, do not exercise, drink plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, take paracetamol. Children under 12 can be given a sugar free paracetamol syrup, do not smoke, keep the bedroom warm but airy, sponge children if the temperature is high, and stay at home for several days until the symptoms have gone. You should consult the Practice if:- • The fever is still there after 4 days • Fluid intake has declined or stopped • A child acts oddly eg change in speech or walking • There is wheezing when breathing • There is a bad earache • There are chest pains or shortness of breath. Please also see Medical Advice Bulletins.
Vomiting We vomit when our stomach cannot tolerate the food it is digesting. This can be caused by infection , but should clear after 24 hours.You should not be concerned by a slight trace of blood. Vomiting is common in early pregnancy. You should allow for the stomach to settle, and then begin with sips of water or very diluted fruit juice. Then progress to crackers or toast, but avoid dairy products. You should consult the Practice if you continue vomiting for more than a day, including if you are pregnant. Diarrhoea Three or more liquid/semi-liquid bowel movements in a day may mean you have diarrhoea. There may also be vomiting and a high temperature. You will feel weakened by the fluid and salt loss. It is caused by viral infections [gastro-enteritis] or by eating food that has gone off [food poisoning]. You should stop eating dairy products, and drinks should be clear fluid, very dilute squashes or apple juice. With babies you should replace lost salts by taking an Oral Rehydration Solution (from your chemist) which can come flavoured, and is easier for children to take. As the condition improves gradually try more solid food without fat. Grated apples or carrots and lean meat are fine. Dry bread and crackers are also okay. Remember to wash your hands after going to the toilet,and always clean under the toilet seat. The contraceptive pill will not give full protection when you have diarrhoea. With babies it is important to replace lost fluids. However, you should stop bottle- feeding and give your baby water based fluid to drink and nothing else for 24 hours. Increase the number of breast feeds. You should contact the Practice if:- • You also have a high fever. • You think you may have picked up a stomach bug abroad. • It persists for more than a week (with children over one year if it persists longer than 2 days). • There is blood in the diarrhoea or it is red in colour. • The baby is drowsy or confused, or refuses drink for a few hours, is being sick all the time, or has a fever. Doctors are always busy people... use the Practice wisely. |
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| Medical
Symptoms to Look for and Act on |
Medical Symptoms - A Common Sense Approach Sometimes we just don't face up to the fact that we feel that something may be wrong... sometimes we worry too much. If there is something that we think may be wrong, it is often better to report it... sooner rather than later. Here are some examples of thing that should be shared:- • Bleeding from anywhere that cannot be easily explained. • Lumps and moles, especially if they change. • Unexplained chest pains, breathlessness or dizziness. Your body is a complex piece of apparatus and the examples given here are just that...examples... not a complete list. Be honest with yourself and use the Common Sense Approach. |
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