SELF TREATMENT
Many common complaints can be simply treated at home without the need to consult the doctor. Your local pharmacy/pharmacist can also advise you on a variety of common ailments. Viral illnesses are unpleasant but self-limiting and mostly unresponsive to any known treatment. Your doctor knows that these illnesses usually get better in time and will not usually give you a prescription.
BACK PAIN - Back pain is usually begins as a strain caused by poor lifting technique which can be avoided by always bending your knees and keeping your back straight. In the case of back pain, take painkillers and gentle exercise as eight out of ten cases are better in a few weeks.
BURNS - Immediately submerge in cold water until the pain subsides. This can take 10 to 15 minutes but is invaluable in diminishing the amount of damage done. Unbroken blisters should be left alone, protected if necessary by a loose, dry dressing. All facial burns and burns which are larger than a 50p piece should be seen by the doctor or practice nurse.
CHEST PAINS - If you experience severe chest pain we advise you to call the ambulance service or go directly to hospital. Please do not attend the surgery as this pain could be a heart attack and unnecessary delay could result in a rapid deterioration of your condition.
COLDS, COUGHS, STUFFY NOSES AND SORE THROATS - These are nearly always caused by viruses. Even in this day and age, there is no cure. Antibiotics can only kill bacteria, which are completely different organisms. If you are coughing green/yellow sputum this does not signify anything more serious unless you are wheezy or breathless. Paracetamol will relieve the headache, sore throat and aching muscles as well as bringing down the fever. The illness will last seven to ten days on average, but the cough may persist for several more days.
CONJUNCTIVITIS - Sore, red or sticky eyes can be caused by both viruses and bacteria. If bathing the eyes with lukewarm water or Optrex does not help after two or three days consult the doctor.
CONTRACEPTION - What to do if you miss pills:
If you are less than 12 hours late in taking one pill:
Just take the delayed pill as soon as you can and further pills as usual. No other precautions are necessary.
If you are more than 12 hours late or have missed more than one pill:
Take the pill you missed as soon as you can; if you have missed several pills just take the last of these and discard the earlier ones. Take your next pill no time - this may mean you take two pills in one day but that will not matter, take the rest of the pack as usual. Use a condom (sheath) if you have sex in the next seven days.
If during these seven days you come to the end of that packet:
Start your next packet straight away, i.e. do not leave the usual gap of seven days between packets - this will mean that you do not have a period until the end of the second packet, but that will not harm you.
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION - If you have run the risk of pregnancy because you have been unable to follow the advice given above or you have had unprotected sex and you wish to avoid pregnancy, the post-coital pill is effective up to 72 hours (three days) from the time of intercourse. A coil can be fitted up to five days after unprotected sex. To discuss either of these options please ask to speak to the practice nurse, your doctor or the duty doctor.
CYSTITIS - This is a very common in women and causes a burning sensation on passing urine. If you suspect you have cystitis drink plenty of fluids, and if your symptoms last more than 24 hours, consult your doctor.
DIARRHOEA IN ADULTS - This may be called gastro-enteritis or food poisoning, and can be due to either viruses or bacteria. It is not serious and usually settles within a week. Take a bland diet and drink extra clear fluids. Anti-diarrhoeal medicine such as Loperamide (Imodium/Arret) may help. You should consult the doctor if the diarrhoea contains more than a trace of blood.
EAR WAX - It is possible to see the nurse for ear syringing without a prior appointment with the doctor if:
(a) you have had your ears syringed in the past.
(b) you have not had operations to the ear or perforated eardrums.
It is very important that you prepare your ear for syringing three to five days before your appointment, so that the wax in the ear in the ear is soft. We suggest you use warm olive oil or almond oil two or three times daily. If you do not do this then it will not be possible to syringe the ears, as this could cause damage to the ear canal if syringing is attempted.
HAY FEVER - This common and distressing condition is a reaction by your body to various pollens in the air. There are over-the-counter medicines, which are effective and may save you money on prescription charges. We suggest:
- Piriton tablets or syrup.
- Otrivine-Antistin drops or Opticrom drops for eye symptoms.
- Beconase spray for nose symptoms.
You can reduce the amount of pollen you breathe in by:
- Avoiding areas of long grass.
- Keep windows closed, especially mid-morning and late afternoon/evening.
- Wearing dark glasses to protect eyes.
- Keeping car windows shut.
Checking on pollen count forecasts when planning an outing. If your symptoms are not relieved by the above, or you are wheezy, or a child has hay fever for the first time, please speak to the doctor.
HEAD LICE - Head Lice are found in clean hair as often as dirty hair and are spread by head-to-head contact. A medical head lotion can be obtained from the pharmacist, which should be used when live lice can be seen in the hair. The school should be notified. Using conditioner and combing through the hair with a fine-toothed comb each time the hair is washed is recommended.
INDIGESTION - Most attacks are not serious and can present as heartburn, fullness or generalised pain. If the symptoms are particularly severe, or do not respond to simple indigestion mixtures such as Gaviscon or a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a half glass of water, consult your doctor.
INSECT BITES - Scrape bee stings out without squeezing the poison sac. A cold compress can be soothing. Antihistamine tablets and hydrocortisone cream are also helpful and available with advice from your pharmacist.
MEASLES, MUMPS, GERMAN MEASLES AND WHOOPING COUGH - These are now very rare because of the immunisation campaign. Chickenpox still occurs regularly, however. Small red patches develop into blisters, which then burst, crust and fall off. Try not to scratch and no scars will result. Calamine lotion may help. Infectivity generally lasts a week from the onset of the rash or until the last spot has crusted over.
MINOR CUTS AND GRAZES - Clean the wound thoroughly with antiseptic and water. Firm pressure for five minutes will stop most bleeding. A clean, dry dressing can then be applied.
NOSE BLEEDS - Nose bleeds are alarming but rarely serious. Try to keep calm! Firm pressure applied by the finger and thumb to the soft part of the nose must be maintained without letting go for ten minutes - look at your watch or clock. Be very gentle afterwards and do not dab or pick it! Vaseline can soften clots in a few days’ time as they harden.
SPRAINS - A cold compress (i.e. crushed ice in a polythene bag, or a pack of frozen peas) is invaluable if applied as soon as possible for 15 - 30 minutes. Try to use the injured area as soon as possible. Sprains may take several weeks to recover so try not to provoke them during this period.
SUNBURN - Treat as you would with other burns with cold water to remove the heat. Paracetamol will help the pain and calamine lotion or after sun products will relieve the irritation. Children are particularly susceptible to sunburn and great care should be taken to avoid over exposure to the harmful rays of the sun. Prevention is better than cure - use sun blocks.
THREAD WORMS - These are small white worms seen in the stools. Suspect threadworms if children are scratching around the bottom, especially at night. They are spread by eggs under the nails put into the mouth. Medicine is available from the pharmacist and used to treat all family members.
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