Did you know that you don’t always need to wait on a prescription? If you are suffering from any of the following minor aliments, you can go directly to the pharmacy for treatment:
- Athletes Foot
- Cold Sores
- Dhobie Itch
- Diarrhoea
- Ear Wax
- Hay fever
- Head lice
- Mouth Ulcers
- Threadworms
- Vaginal Thrush
Self Treatment of Common Illnesses and Accidents:
The following link will take you to a website that will give you advice on how and when to access different services to help manage illness: Choose Well Website
The following link will take you to a different website which provides information leaflets on managing many different illnesses and aliments: Patient Resources Website
Vomiting
It is important to rest the stomach completely by not eating or drinking for two to three hours. After that time commence taking small sips of clear fluid (may be flavoured but not fizzy) every two to three minutes (large volumes too soon may cause more vomiting).
If vomiting persists you should seek help. Likewise severe pain needs attention. If diarrhoea is also present, then treat as above with only clear fluids for 24 hours and gradually reintroduce milk and then food the next day.
Diarrhoea
In general, diarrhoea is not dangerous as long as fluids stay down, but if in doubt contact the Doctor.
Diarrhoea in very young children and babies needs careful attention. Most babies have loose bowel action during their first six months due to their predominantly liquid diet. Sudden bouts of unusually watery diarrhoea should be treated by taking the baby off solids and milk for 25hrs and then gradually putting back on to their milk – quarter strength, the half strength, then full strength. Powder sachets are available for bad diarrhoea but in general children will not take them due to the taste.
Burns
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 at 15 minutes! If the skin is unbroken but blistered, apply a loose, dry dressing. If the burn is larger than 4or 5 inches in diameter or if the skin is broken, consult your practice or accident and emergency as soon as possible.
Minor cuts and Grazes
Wash the wound thoroughly with water and a little soap. To stop bleeding apply a clean handkerchief or dressing firmly to the wound for about five minutes. Cover with a clean dry dressing. Antibiotic powders and creams are not required routinely for clean cuts
Colds/Flu/Sore Throats
Even in this day and age there is still no magic cure for the common cold. Go to bed, take plenty of drinks. If you have a headache or are feverish take Aspirin or Paracetamol. Steam inhalations and certain cough bottles help dry coughs. Menthol rubs are also useful. A decongestant will help dry up phlegm. Antibiotics do not help temperatures or viruses.
Sprains
First apply a cold compress, containing ice if possible, for 15 to 30 minutes to reduce the swelling. Apply, firmly, a crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until all discomfort has subsided. Further strain will inevitably lead to further swelling and a longer recover period.
Nose Bleeds
Sit in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for approximately 10 Minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped. Avoid hot drinks or hot food for 24 hours. If symptoms persist, consult your Doctor.
Insect Bites and Stings
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.
Head lice
You should treat lice as soon as you spot them. If one person in your household has lice, check everyone for lice straight away. Then start treatment on anyone with an infestation on the same day.
You can buy a variety of treatments from supermarkets, pharmacies and online. The two main types of treatments are: lotions and sprays, and wet combing. If head lice persist after treatment, you could try a different method or speak to a pharmacist or GP.
Wet combing is one of the most effective head lice treatments if you’re not using a specialised shampoo and conditioner. It can be used with or without medicated lotions, but needs to be done regularly and can take a long time to do thoroughly.
- Wash the hair with ordinary shampoo. Use plenty of conditioner, (it won't drown the lice but makes them easier to remove).
- Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle the hair.
- Once the comb moves freely, switch to the detection comb. Start at the front of the scalp and comb the hair from the roots to the very end.
- After each stroke, examine the teeth of the comb for lice. Remove lice by wiping or rinsing the comb.
- Work methodically through the hair, section by section, so that the whole head of hair is combed through.
- Rinse out the conditioner and repeat the combing procedure in the wet hair.
- Repeat the procedure on days five, nine and 13, so that you clear young lice as they hatch, before they have time to reach maturity
Chickenpox
On the first day a rash appears as small red patches about 3-4mm across. With in a few hours of these developing, small blisters appear in the centre of these patches. During the next three or four days further patches will appear and the earlier ones will turn ‘crusty’ and fall off.
Oily calamine lotion or Diprobase may be applied to soothe the often severe itching. Cool baths may also help. The most infectious period is from two to three days before the rash appears and up to five days after this date. Children may return to school as soon at the last ‘crusts’ have dropped off.
German measles (Rubella)
The rash appears during the first day and usually covers the body, arms and legs in small pink patches about 2 to 4mm across and doesn’t itch. No other symptoms are usually present apart from occasional aching joints.
Measles are infectious from two days before the rash appears, until the rash disappears in about four or five days from that date. 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 there Doctor. Immunisations can prevent this disease.
Measles
The rash is blotchy and red and appears on the face and body around the forth day of illness. It is at the most infectious from two or three days before the rash appears until eight or ten days after that date. Immunisation can prevent this disease.
Mumps
Symptoms are swelling of the glands in front of one ear often followed, after a couple of days, by swelling in front of the other ear. It is infectious from two or three days before the swelling appears until eight or ten days after that date. If the pain is severe you should consult your Doctor. Immunisation can prevent the disease.