Many conditions will get better on their own. All that is needed is time and some simple medicines which can be obtained over the counter (OTC) without prescription, from the chemist. The pharmacist will advise you about suitable medicines and you can also look at medicine-chest.co.uk
Many acute strains and sprains will respond to a few days rest and regular paracetamol for the pain. Backache will usually respond to a few days taking painkillers regularly and as far as possible continuing normal activity. Sitting for long periods of time will make matters worse.
You may wish to look at our Low Back Pain leaflet
If it has not settled after several days, or if you have pain or numbness in your legs, you should consult the doctor.
If you burn yourself, put the burn immediately under clean cold running water. Keep it there until the pain goes; this can take up to 15 minutes. If it is a small area and only blistered, keep it clean and dry. If it is more than a few centimetres across, or if the skin is broken, come and see the practice nurse, doctor or go to Casualty.
In children, a high temperature occurs commonly, even with mild infection. It is not, in itself, serious unless very high (above 39° centigrade), however, it can make you feel very unwell.
In small children it is important to stop the temperature rising too quickly and children should be given paracetamol or Ibuprofen syrup (both obtainable from the chemist) regularly in the recommended doses. They should be given plenty of water or squash to prevent dehydration. Clothing should be removed to allow cooling. If the child remains hot, gentle sponging with tepid water (as in a bath or shower) should be commenced. It is sometimes necessary to carry this on for twenty to thirty minutes at a time, and on more than one occasion, to get results.
Adults and children usually feel much better once the temperature is brought down and controlled.
If the temperature is very high, and does not come down with the above treatment, or if the person appears very unwell with the temperature, you should consult your doctor. A child with a temperature will not come to any harm being wrapped up for the short journey to the surgery.
In adults and older children, diarrhoea and vomiting will usually get better on its own. Treatment consists of replacing the fluid that you have lost and resting the digestive system, by having nothing solid to eat for 24 hours. Clear fluids, e.g squash, juice, flat lemonade or water, in small quantities should be taken frequently.
If the diarrhoea contains blood, or if there is severe pain or high fever, you should discuss this with your doctor.
Diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies and young children should be treated with caution and the doctor will be happy to advise you about this over the phone and arrange to see you and the child if necessary.
Elderly people, and those with medical conditions such as diabetes, should consult the doctor.
It is not unusual for children to suffer some earache with a cold. This is best treated initially with a paracetamol or Ibuprofen suspension (available from the chemist) but if it fails to settle, you should seek medical advice.
Most headaches, although unpleasant, are not serious. They are usually caused by a viral illness or by tension, and will get better with simple painkillers. However, if the headache is severe, or lasts for a long time, it is best to see the doctor.
Please read the notes on Meningitis later in this section.
Headlice may affect anyone and are not a sign of poor hygiene. Medicated shampoos can be obtained from the chemist without prescription. However to completely eradicate head like it is very important to remove all the eggs from the hair by Wet Combing with a fine toothed comb available from the Chemist. Wet Combing alone may be sufficient.
Most of these need no treatment. Antihistamine medication can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will relieve most symptoms.
Fortunately, this is rare. The symptoms are severe headaches and high fever, (which do not respond to simple medicines), pain and stiffness in the back of the neck, and pain behind the eyes when exposed to bright light. There may be severe vomiting.
Anyone with these symptoms, especially if they are accompanied by a skin rash, or if they appear to be drowsy, confused, or disoriented, should see a doctor immediately.
Nearly all babies get nappy rash at some time. If baby's bottom is starting to go red, then treat it as soon as possible. The trick is to keep the baby's skin dry.
Change the nappy every time it is wet or dirty, use liberal amounts of cream such as Zinc and castor Oil, or White soft paraffin, and if possible, take the nappy off and let the air get to the baby's bottom for as long as you can.
If you have a nosebleed, sit in a chair, (leaning forward with your mouth open) clear your nose, then pinch it just below the bone for about ten minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped. If the bleeding continues, consult your doctor.
Once the bleeding has stopped, your nose will feel very blocked. Do not try to blow it clean - this will only start the bleeding again.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses and, unfortunately, antibiotics are of no use. They usually get better within a week. The best thing to do is gargle regularly with soluble aspirin or paracetamol, then swallow it down. This helps to sooth the throat, keep your temperature down, and ease the aches and pains. Often you feel you cannot swallow. Eating is not important, but drinking is; clear cool fluids are best.
First apply a cold compress containing ice (a bag of frozen peas in a cloth is ideal). Keep on for 15 to 30 minutes to reduce the swelling. Apply a firm crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until all the discomfort has subsided. Sometimes with severe sprains it can be difficult to be sure that it is only a sprain and not a broken bone. If you think it may be a broken bone you should go to Accident and Emergency.
Most are not serious and are caused by indigestion or wind. A hot water bottle will often relieve the symptoms, with the help of some regular paracetamol. If the pains last for longer than eight hours, or become increasingly severe, you should consult your doctor. If you know you have an acid indigestion problem, then you can use any of the indigestion medicines available at the chemist.
The following diseases (normally, but not always, in children) are caused by viruses and usually require no treatment by the doctor. However, it is advisable to inform the surgery, so that your records can be updated. If your child seems particularly unwell, or you are worried, your doctor will be happy to give advice.
On the first day a rash appears with small red dots about 3mm or 4mm wide. Within a few hours, these develop small blisters in the centre. During the next three of four days, further spots will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off.
Calamine lotion may be applied to help relieve the itching. The most infectious period is two or three days before the rash appears and until the last crusts have formed dry centres - usually 7 - 10 days from when the rash started.
If infectious with chickenpox you should avoid people for whom chickenpox could be a big problem; pregnant women (unless they have definitely had chickenpox before) people on treatment for cancer and people taking Steroid Tablets. Children may return to school as soon as all the spots have scabbed.
These usually start with a runny nose, cough, temperature and aches. They are caused by viruses and antibiotics are of no use in their treatment. Treatment consists of taking recommended doses of paracetamol for the temperature and aches, and drinking plenty of fluids. Do not worry if you do not eat for a few days; you will come to no harm.
The rash appears during the first day of the illness and usually covers the body, arms and legs in small pink spots about 2-4mm large and does not itch. There are usually no other symptoms, apart from occasionally aching joints. It is infectious from two days before the rash appears until the rash disappears - in about 4 or 5 days.
The only danger is to unborn babies and therefore it is important that all contacts are informed, in order that anyone who is pregnant and not immune, can contact their doctor.
Immunisation can prevent this disease.
The rash is blotchy and red and appears on the face and body on about the fourth day of feeling unwell, and is often accompanied by a cough. It is most infectious from 2 or 3 days before the rash appears until 8 days afterwards.
Immunisation can prevent this disease.
The symptoms are swelling of the salivary gland in front of one or other ear, often followed a couple of days later by a swelling under the jaw. It is infectious from 2 or 3 days before the swelling appears until 10 days afterwards. If the pain is severe, you should consult your doctor.
Immunisation can prevent this disease.