Treatment for Common Illnesses/Accidents

There are some common Illnesses, which you should be able to treat yourself. BURNS IMMEDIATELY DRENCH WITH COLD WATER. DO NOT WASTE TIME REMOVING CLOTHES OR PHONING THE DOCTOR. Keep cooling the burned part until it is comfortable; this may take 10 - 20 minutes or longer If clothing is thick. If there is no blistering or skin loss, no further treatment is required. If there is blistering but the burn is small (less than the size of a palm of the burned patient's hand) cover with a dry dressing. If larger than this, arrange to see the practice nurse the next day. If there is skin loss or the burn is large, you should see the doctor the same day. CHILDREN WITH TEMPERATURES Small children often have high temperatures with even minor Illnesses such as colds and viral Infections. This is part of normal development of natural immunity. It does not usually indicate serious Illness. Cool the child down by removing clothes and sponging with tepid water. If the child is fretful, give PARACETAMOL (e.g. Calpol or Disprol etc.), NOT ASPIRIN. Give plenty of drinks but don't worry if the child does not eat for a few days. If the child is very drowsy or complains of earache for MORE than an hour or two, arrange an appointment at the surgery. NOSE BLEEDS Blow your nose several times to clear any blood clots. Pinch the soft part below the nose for 10 minutes as timed by the clock, not guesswork. Try not to rub your nose or blow it for 12 hours. Do not eat or drink anything hot for 24 hours. If the bleeding has not stopped after this has been repeated once, then either attend surgery or the casualty department for nose to be packed. COLDS/FLU THERE IS NO CURE. Antibiotics will not help. If nothing is coughed up it is because the chest is not affected. NO TREATMENT IS REQUIRED TO "BRING IT UP". GO TO BED. Keep your nose clear by blowing it often and Inhaling with steam and Friars Balsam or Karvol etc. Suck soothing throat pastilles and take frequent drinks. If feverish take regular paracetamol, or aspirin (but not on an empty stomach). If you become breathless, wheezy, or start to bring up yellow or green phlegm throughout the day, arrange an appointment at the surgery. SPRAINS Press firmly over the bruise (with an Ice pack If you can) for 20 minutes. This will reduce the bruising, pain and swelling. Bandage firmly, using a crepe bandage in good condition, and keep supported for at least a week to prevent swelling. Use the part gently as soon as you can, but avoid sport until fully recovered. A severe sprain may lead to disability from which it may take several weeks to recover fully. SUNBURN Babies and small children should not be left in the sun. They will easily burn. Treat sunburn by cooling the affected skin with lots of water and repeat frequently for the first 24hrs. Give paracetamol (e.g. Calpol etc.), if the child is uncomfortable. If the child remains unhappy or unwell after 24 hrs, arrange an appointment to see the doctor. KEEP OUT OF THE SUN. SUN TANNING INCREASES THE RISK OF SKIN CANCERS. SMALL CUTS AND GRAZES Wash well with soap and water. If bleeding, press firmly over the cut with a clean handkerchief. Deep or gaping cuts will need stitching. VERRUCAE Chiropodists no longer recommend treatment for these unless they are persistent (over 18 months) or are very painful. Most will disappear without treatment. Treatment is unpleasant and frequently unsuccessful. Advice can be obtained from any chiropodist. CHIROPODY TREATMENT The chiropodist can deal with anything from corns, callouses and nail problems, to minor surgical procedures. Self treatments, using corn pads or solvents, are best avoided as they can cause serious problems in the elderly, diabetics, and those with poor circulation. Chiropody is available from both private practice and the health service. Private patients may see the chiropodist of their choice, either at his/her surgery or at home. Health service treatment may be available at local health centres or clinics, but it is usually restricted to senior citizens, the disabled, expectant mothers, diabetics, and those with poor circulation. INSECT BITES/STINGS These can be unpleasant but only a few people are very sensitive to insect bites. Always scrape away with a blunt knife (to avoid squeezing the venom sac). Cool the bitten part at once (with ice if possible) to reduce the inflammation. Repeat as often as you wish. Antihistamine tablets are available from the chemists cheaply without prescription and will relieve itching and local swelling; take them regularly for two or three days, observing your chemist's Instructions for their use. HEAD LICE Contact the health visitor or school nurse for advice on the current treatment for head lice. These insects are quite common, and do not mean your child is dirty - lice are quite fussy and prefer children with clean hair! Treatment, for the whole family, is simple with medicated head lotion which can be obtained from the chemist, without prescription. RASHES Rashes not associated with illness or appearing within a few days of taking medicines (prescribed or not) are unlikely to be important. If the rash follows taking a course of medicine you should stop it at once and contact the surgery for advice. If it is very itchy it is likely to be due to an allergy. Antihistamines (available without prescription from your pharmacist) may make you more comfortable. SHINGLES The rash is localised to a small area on one side of the body. It starts as small red blotches and soon becomes blistered. The blisters are much larger than in chickenpox and follow the same progression to crusts, but this takes about two to three weeks in shingles. It is often associated with pain. You may have pain for several days (up to two weeks) before the rash appears. If your eye Is affected you should always be seen by a doctor In the practice or at the casualty department of The Princess Royal Hospital. Treatment is helpful and should be given as soon as possible. TOOTHACHE If you have toothache you should consult your dentist. Doctors are not trained in the management of dental problems. You should ask your dentist how to contact him in an emergency. If you have any problems after you have had dental treatment you should consult your dentist who will be able to give you expert advice and treatment. If, when he has seen you, he thinks you have a medical problem, he will advise you to see a doctor. THREADWORMS These look like pieces of white cotton thread in the motions. They are not important and rarely cause problems. Some children may complain of itchy bottoms, but this is not always due to worms. The best treatment is to avoid re-infection and spreading to others in the family by very careful hand washing after use of the lavatory and keeping fingernails short and well scrubbed. Children should wear pants in bed. Further treatment involves the whole family taking medicine, available from the chemist, to kill the worms and purge the bowel. This often causes diarrhoea in those who may have no problems from the worms. The best advice is to pay careful attention to hygiene at all times and only treat with medicine if the worms actually cause symptoms. Most cases will clear up in 7-14 days with careful hygiene only. SICKNESS AND DIARRHOEA A common condition, especially in children during the winter months, as well as after holidays. Most cases are due to viral inflections and may be associated with colds. Most people recover after a few days. It is important not to take medicine to stop diarrhoea as this can prolong the illness by preventing elimination of the virus. Drink plenty of water (what is lost must be replaced - in volume!). If you are vomiting start with an egg cupful every 10- 1 5 minutes and build up gradually. Drink one carton of fresh orange juice and plenty of soup/Bovril/squash for several days after recovery. Wash your hands carefully after using the lavatory to avoid spreading infection. Arrange to be seen by the doctor if not recovered after four days or if symptoms recur after treatment. If your job involves handling unwrapped food, you must stop work until you have recovered and the laboratory has examined a specimen of your motion. BACK PAIN Back pain causes 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year. The spine being made up of 24 fragile bones and associated cartilage and tendons supports the whole weight of the upper body and, therefore, it is understandable that it sometimes goes wrong. Because of the complex nature of the spine it is advisable to consult your doctor if back pain persists for more than a few days. If, as is usual, the pain has been caused by abuse, i.e. lifting too heavy weights etc., be sensible and take things easy. Take care to sit as upright as possible with a support for the small of the back. Take aspirin or paracetamol, which will not only relieve the pain but will help to relieve inflammation. Your doctor may well prescribe stronger drugs, heat treatment, gentle exercise or some kind of supportive corset. BED SORES Bedsores are far easier to prevent than cure. They are caused by prolonged pressure to certain parts of the body when lying in bed for long periods. They can be prevented by encouraging the patient to shift position as often as possible and taking care to smooth out creases in the bottom sheet, which could lead to localised irritation. Keep your eye open for red marks appearing at the pressure points such as heels, elbows, buttocks and hips and if they begin to appear, inform the doctor before they get worse. GASTROENTERITIS Gastroenteritis describes a group of diseases affecting the stomach or part of the intestine. Symptoms are often diarrhoea, sickness and stomach ache. Because the lining of the stomach is likely to be inflamed, medicines are often immediately vomited up. Large quantities of water, orange juice, milk or thin soup should be taken to counter the effects of dehydration. Consult your doctor if symptoms persist for more than a day, or in the case of babies or young children, six hours. 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. INCUBATION AND INFECTIVITY OF COMMON INFECTIOUS DISEASES CHICKENPOX INCUBATION 11 -23 days , usually 14-16 days INFECTIVITY 1-3 days before rash appears and 5 days after FLU INCUBATION 1-3 days INFECTIVITY 3-4 days MEASLES INCUBATION 7-21 days, usually 10- 11 days INFECTIVITY From start of runny nose for 8-10 days MUMPS INCUBATION 12-26 days INFECTIVITY 2-3 days before glands swell until 7 days after RUBELLA INCUBATION 14-20 days, usually 18 days INFECTIVITY 1-2 days before rash for 5-7 days WHOOPING COUGH INCUBATION 3-21 days, usually 10- 1 4 days INFECTIVITY 4-5 weeks after runny nose. (First four weeks of whooping)