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Many common aches and pains can be
treated simply at home without the
need to consult a doctor.
Back Pain
Back pain can usually be avoided if
you look after your back. When
lifting, bend your knees and keep
your back straight. It is bad for
you if you lift with your back bent
especially if you twist your body at
the same time. If you develop back
pain, rest your back by sitting most
of the time as upright as possible,
with support for the small of the
back or lie flat on a firm bed. If
your bed is not firm, place your
mattress on the floor and lie on
that. Helpful painkillers for backs
and many other pains include
paracetamol and Nurofen. These can
be bought from the chemist without
prescription. “Treat Your Own Back”
is a very useful and readable
booklet for those of you who suffer
with your backs. It is on sale at
the reception desk.
Burns And Scalds
Apply large quantities of cold water
to the injured area as soon as
possible. Continue to do this until
the pain eases off. If the injured
area is more than 10cm across you
will need to go to Worthing Casualty
Department.
Chickenpox
The rash appears as small red
patches 4-5mm across. Within a few
hours, small blisters appear in the
centre of these patches. During the
next three to four days further
patches and blisters will appear,
while the earlier ones turn into
small scabs which fall off in due
course. Oily calamine lotion can be
applied to soothe the itching and
cool baths also help. Antibiotics
are of no use.
Colds And Sore Throats
Even now there is no magic cure for
the common cold. Go to bed if you
must and have plenty to drink. If
you have a headache or are feverish,
take aspirin or paracetamol.
Antibiotics are of no use and may
cause other problems. If your sore
throat lasts longer than one week
arrange to see your doctor at the
surgery.
Coughs
An irritating cough can be soothed
by a cough medicine from the
chemist, a hot lemon and honey drink
or a steamy inhalation with Olbas
Oil or similar. If you have a high
temperature, cough up nasty looking
phlegm, blood or if the cough lasts
more than a week, you should speak
to your doctor. It is VERY IMPORTANT
to avoid smoking.
Cystitis
This is common among women. It
causes frequency of passing urine
and considerable burning pain. Drink
AT LEAST five pints of fluid per day
- the more the better. If you have a
fever or if your symptoms last more
than 48 hours, consult your doctor.
Minor Cuts And Grazes
Wash the injury thoroughly with an
antiseptic solution. To stop the
bleeding, apply a clean handkerchief
to the cut and press firmly for five
to ten minutes. Cover with a clean
dressing. If your tetanus
immunisation is out of date, see the
practice nurse.
Diarrhoea
In adults diarrhoea is caused either
by a virus or by some food which has
upset you. You should avoid all
solid food and milk for at least 24
hours. Drink plenty of clear fluids
such as Rehidrat or Dioralyte which
can be bought from the chemist.
Consult your doctor if the symptoms
persist for more than a few days, if
they worsen or if you are worried.
Diarrhoea in very young children or
babies needs careful attention. Most
babies have loose bowel actions
during the first six months of life.
Sudden bouts of unusually watery
diarrhoea should be treated by
taking the baby off solids and milk
and by giving Dioralyte or Rehidrat
which can be bought from the
chemist.
If the symptoms persist for more
than 24 hours and are accompanied by
vomiting and listlessness, contact
your doctor.
Earache
If your child develops earache in
the night give them paracetamol
syrup and bring them to the surgery
in the morning.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis describes a group of
diseases which affect the stomach
and bowel. Symptoms are often
diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach
ache. Large quantities of water,
fruit squash or clear soup should be
taken a little at a time. This will
prevent dehydration. Consult your
doctor if symptoms persist for more
than a day or so. In the case of
babies or young children consult
your doctor if symptoms persist for
more than 12 hours.
Head Lice
These creatures prefer clean hair
and are not a sign of poor personal
hygiene. Medicated head lotion can
be bought from the chemist without a
prescription. The whole family
should be treated according to the
instruction leaflet.
Insect Stings
These are painful but not usually
serious. A cold compress (see
Sprains) will reduce swelling and
pain. Paracetamol is useful for
pain. NB: bee stings should be
scraped away rather than pulled out
directly. This avoids squeezing the
contents of the venom sac into the
sting. The occasional patient may
react badly to insect stings. In
these cases it is wise to contact
your doctor.
Measles
This is one of the nastier childhood
illnesses. The blotchy dark red rash
appears on the face and body on the
third day of the illness. It is most
infectious two to three days before
the rash appears and for the next 10
days.
Treatment is with plenty of fluids
and paracetamol from the chemist.
Antibiotics do not help. If you are
worried, contact your doctor.
Mumps
In mumps a tender swelling develops
in front of and below one or both
ears. The patient is mildly unwell.
It is infectious for two to three
days before the swelling appears and
for eight to ten days afterwards.
Treatment is with plenty of fluids
and paracetamol syrup for pain.
Rubella/German Measles
The rash appears on the first day of
illness and covers the arms, legs
and body with small pink patches
2-4mm across. The rash is not itchy
and there are few other symptoms
except for occasional aching joints.
The patient usually feels mildly
unwell.
The only danger is to unborn babies
in the first few months of
pregnancy.
Nowadays most women of child bearing
age have been immunised in childhood
against German measles. HOWEVER it
is sensible to warn visitors to a
household where someone has German
measles so that a non-immune
pregnant woman will know to keep
away.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella/German
Measles can be made diseases of the
past if all children have an MMR
injection.
Nosebleeds
Sit in a chair leaning forward with
your mouth open. Use a cold flannel
and pinch your nostrils firmly for
15 minutes without letting go. After
this, the bleeding should have
stopped. If it continues to bleed,
repeat the treatment twice before
calling the doctor. Do not blow,
pick or fiddle with your nose for
the next day lest it start to bleed
again. If you are getting a lot of
nosebleeds, consult your doctor.
Sprains
Apply a cold compress to the
sprained area for 15 minutes. A two
pound bag of frozen peas wrapped in
a tea towel is ideal. Repeat this
several times over the next 12
hours. Apply a firm crepe bandage
and give the sprain plenty of rest.
Resting it up will help to reduce
the swelling. After a day or two,
resume physical activity with
caution.
Stomach Ache
Most attacks are not serious and are
usually caused by indigestion or
wind. A hot water bottle will often
relieve the symptoms and, in the
case of indigestion, a teaspoon of
bicarbonate of soda in half a glass
of water will help.
If the pain lasts for longer than
eight hours or increases in
intensity you should consult your
doctor.
Sunburn
Treat as other burns with cold water
to ease the pain. Calamine lotion
will relieve the irritation and
paracetamol syrup may be useful.
Children are particularly
susceptible to sunburn and great
care should be taken to avoid
over-exposure to the harmful effects
of the sun as this may cause
problems in later life.
Threadworms
These affect children more than
adults and are spread by poor
personal hygiene. There is an itch
around the anus which is worse when
warm in bed at night. Threadworms
are sometimes seen in the motions.
The whole family should be treated
with Pripsen which can be bought at
the chemist without a prescription.
Vaginal Thrush
This causes a sore itchiness in the
vaginal area, usually with white
discharge. A good home treatment is
live plain natural yoghurt which
should be applied using a tampon.
If symptoms persist for more than
three days consult your doctor.
Verrucae and Warts
These are caused by viruses for
which there is no cure. They will
eventually disappear without
treatment.
If they are causing a lot of
annoyance, see your doctor who may
suggest freezing them.
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