Foxley Square Surgery - Self Treatment
Management of Common Ailments
Please note – The information set out below gives a guidance for dealing with common conditions. If you are in any doubt, particularly with regard to your child’s health, please contact your GP or NHS Direct.
Many conditions get better on their own and can be treated successfully at home. Your pharmacist may be able to help you with these and advise about medicines you can buy over the counter
Colds and flus
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. Contact your GP if you develop a rash, or have had the symptoms for more than 4 days.
Click here for more details.Diarrhoea and Vomiting
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. Dairy products should be avoided, although live yoghurt may be allowed. Sachets of powder such as Dioralyte and Rehidrat, which can be made into a drink, are available from your chemist. If your diarrhoea contains blood or there is severe pain or high fever, or the symptoms last for more than five days, you should discuss it 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 if necessary.
Click here for more details.Backache, Strains and sprains
Many acute strains and sprains will respond to a few days gentle mobilisation (moving around as normal but avoiding bending, lifting, twisting) if the symptoms continue you should consult the doctor. You may wish to see the chiropractor
Click here for more details.Headlice
These creatures prefer clean hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene. Wet combing with conditioner is an effective treatment, and insecticide lotions can be obtained from the chemist without prescription. Treatment is only required if live moving lice are found on combing. After treatment hair should be wet combed five days after treatment and if live lice found a second application of insecticide notions will be required.
Small burns
If you burn yourself, you must immerse the affected area under cold running water immediately for several minutes. This helps to reduce pain and tissue damage. Please come in and see the nurse if you are concerned.
Insect bites and stings
Most of these need no treatment. Anti-histamine tablets such as Piritin can be obtained from the pharmacist without prescription and will relieve most symptoms. See your local pharmacist for details.
Nose bleeds
Sit in a chair (leaning forwards with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for about ten minutes by which time the bleeding usually stops. If the bleeding continues, ring 999.
Childhood Infections
Chicken Pox
On the first day a rash appears with small red spots 3 or 4mm wide. Within a few hours these develop into small blisters at the centre. During the next three or four days further spots will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off. Calamine lotion may be applied to help the itching. Cool baths may also help. The most infectious period is two or three days before the rash appears and until the last crusts have formed dry centres. Chicken pox remains infectious up to 7 days after the last spot has appeared. Patients must stay at home for a minimum of 7 days from the appearance of the last spot. Children may return to school as soon as the last ‘crusts’ have dropped off. Contact with people who are pregnant, or suffering from hiv or cancer should be avoided.
German Measles
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 occasional aching joints. It is infectious from two days before the rash appears until the rash disappears in about four days. The only danger is to unborn babies and it is important to avoid people who are pregnant. Immunisations can prevent this disease.
Measles
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 two or three days before the rash appears until seven days afterwards. Immunisations can prevent this disease.
Meningitis
If you are in any doubt, ring 999 immediately.
This is a rare illness that is most common in babies, children under four years and teenagers, and requires urgent attention. It is important to be aware of the symptoms which we have listed below. Signs and symptoms in BABIES and VERY YOUNG CHILDREN are:
- Difficulty waking
- A high pitched cry that is different from a normal cry
- Repeated vomiting
- Refusing feeds
- Pale or blotchy skin, especially with red or blue/black bruises that don’t go white when you press on them
- Tight or bulging soft spot on the top of your baby's head
Signs and symptoms in OLDER CHILDREN and ADULTS are:
- A high temperature
- A constant headache
- Vomiting * Drowsiness or confusion
- Dislike of bright lights
- Stiffness of the neck (moving their chin to the chest will be particularly painful)
- A rash of red/blue spots or bruises that don’t go white when pressed with a tumbler
Mumps
The symptoms are swelling of the salivary gland in front of one ear often followed a couple of days later by swelling in front of the other ear. It is infectious for two or three days before the swelling starts until the swelling has subsided. Immunisations can prevent this disease. If there is any sign of testicular swelling, contact your doctor immediately.
A Temperature
A temperature occurs commonly even with mild infections, and is usually in itself not at all dangerous. In small children it is important to stop the temperature rising too quickly and children should be given paracetamol syrup, which may be bought from the chemist. If they still appear hot, they should be gently sponged with tepid water in order to cool them. A child with a temperature will not come to any harm being wrapped up and brought by car or by pram to the surgery
How to look after a child with a temperature
A child will develop a fever because of an infection. Usually the child will get over such an infection without the need for antibiotics. Most childhood infections are caused by viruses and these do not respond to antibiotics. The following advice will help to bring your child's temperature down and make them feel better.
- Always keep a supply of paracetamol syrup (Calpol, Disprol) at home. If you wait until you need it, there will be none close at hand.
- If your child feels hot or appears unwell -
- Give the maximum dose of paracetamol stated for a child of that age.
- Dress your child in cool clothes. A lot of heat is lost through a child's head, so leave it uncovered. Cool down the room by opening doors and windows.
- Give your child plenty of cool drinks as fluid is lost with a fever. If they are reluctant to drink, encourage small amounts from a favourite cup.
- Sponging your child down with a tepid flannel will make them feel better as well as bringing their temperature down. Using tepid water is more effective than using cold water.
- Repeat the dose of paracetamol every four hours as necessary, up to the maximum daily dose stated.
- A child with a fever is likely to be restless at night. Offer cool drinks and sponge them down if they wake.
- If your child does not improve after giving paracetamol and sponging, or appears particularly ill, call the doctor.
- Very rarely, a child under five years will have a convulsion with a high temperature. They will shake all over and become very still. It usually subsides in less than five minutes. Lie the child on their side and stay with them while it lasts. If there is another adult in the house, ask them to phone 999. If not, call when the convulsion has passed. (If the convulsion lasts for more than 5 minutes then it is advisable to call 999 even if you are on your own.)
Your Home’s Medicine Chest
Here is a list of useful medicines and dressings with a description of their uses. All are quite cheap and worth stocking at home in readiness for minor illnesses. Keep them in a box or cupboard with a lock - or store them well out of the reach of children.
Soluble Aspirin Tablets
For adults and older children. Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises.
Paracetamol Mixture
For relief of pain or fever in young children.
Sedative Cough Linctus
For dry or painful coughs - but not coughs caused by common colds.
Menthol Crystals
Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.
Vapour Rub
Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.
Ephedrine Nose Drops
For runny noses in children over one year old. Use before meals and at night but not for more than four days.
Antiseptic Solution
One teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.
Antiseptic Cream
For treating septic spots, sores in the nose amd grazes.
Calamine Lotion
For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites, stings and sunburn.
Dressing Strips
For minor cuts.
3" Wide Crepe Bandage
To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.
Cotton Wool
For cleaning cuts and grazes.
Thermometer
For fevers.
Tweezers
For removing splinters.
Remember that your local chemist can give you advice about medicines.