Minor Illnesses

A range of excellent and reliable health information is available on the internet at:
www.patient.co.uk or at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Treating a child with a high temperature
When a child develops a high temperature it is almost always due to an infection.
These are usually caused by viruses and unfortunately do not respond to antibiotics.
The advice below will help you reduce your child's temperature and make him or her feel better.
1. Check the child's temperature with a thermometer if you have one.
Anything over 37.5 Centigrade confirms a high temperature.
If you have no thermometer, check the warmth of the child's forehead with the back
of your hand.
2. Give paracetamol syrup (Calpol/Disprol) to the full recommended dose for the age
on the bottle. Repeat up to four times daily as required.
3. Dress the child lightly in cool clothes and discourage quilts and bedcovers.
4. If the room is warm, cool it by opening a window and turning down heating.
5. Encourage frequent cool drinks.
6. If the child remains hot, then sponging over the head and upper body with a tepid
flannel should soon bring the temperature down.
7. If, despite all the above points, the child does not improve or appears particularly ill,
then contact the doctor for further advice.

Colds and Sore Throats
These are usually caused by a viral infection with fever, aches and pains and general weakness. Bed rest, paracetamol and light food as desired will usually relieve the worst symptoms. Unfortunately, antibiotics have no effect against virus infections.

Fainting
This is often preceded by pale skin, sweating, nausea and giddiness. The patients should lie on a couch, bed or floor, with feet elevated supported higher than head level. If the symptoms do not settle within a few minutes, contact the surgery.

Mumps, Measles, German Measles
Vaccination now provides very good protection against all these common conditions. If you think you or your child may have one of these conditions, please phone for further advice.

Chickenpox
Still a common condition, mainly in childhood. Several crops of tiny blisters on a red base appear over the whole body surface. Avoid scratching, keep fingernails short and use calamine lotion for itching. Children should remain off school until two days after the outbreak of the last crop of spots.

Warts and Verrucae
These can be a nuisance and unsightly. Eventually they disappear of their own accord. Your chemist will be able to recommend some home treatment. If this fails, we may be able to freeze them with liquid nitrogen. This treatment is painful and not suitable for young children.

Moles
If you have any moles that are growing rapidly or itching or bleeding you should seek advice from the doctor.

Diarrhoea and Vomiting
These illnesses usually get better rapidly without any treatment and are natures way of flushing infection or food poisoning from the system. It is usually better to take no medication. As the nausea settles, a water or electrolyte solution (available from the chemist) can be sipped.

Contact the doctor if not improving over 48 hours.

Back Pain
Prevention is better than cure. Learn to bend and lift correctly and keep generally fit. Paracetamol and hot water bottles help an attack.

Consult the doctor if the pain is severe, fails to ease or causes numbness in the legs with bowel or bladder disturbance.

Strains and Sprains
These are usually caused by twists or stretching resulting in torn ligaments and muscles. It is important to prevent further bruising by initially applying a cold compress (a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel or ice in a polythene bag), 10-15 minutes every one to two hours. Compression, rest and elevation are also helpful. After 48 hours, smooth exercise, paracetamol and warmth can be applied.

Any suspicion of more serious injury, contact the surgery.

EarAche
Most commonly associated with catarrh (Eustachian tube blockage). Paracetamol plus Vick or Carvol inhalation may help, but if no improvement over a few hours then the surgery would be pleased to advise.

Cuts and Grazes
These should be cleaned with water and antiseptic if dirty. Direct pressure for 5-10 minutes will control bleeding after applying a clean dry dressing to protect the wound from further infection. Tetanus boosters are required every 10 years.

Nose Bleeds
Sit in a chair, keeping the head upright but not leaning back, and pinch the soft part of the nose just below the bone for five minutes. Avoid the temptation to blow the nose for 24 hours. Do not take overly hot food or fluids. If symptoms recur contact the surgery. There is no evidence that high blood pressure is a cause of nosebleeds.

USEFUL HOUSEHOLD MEDICINES
(Your chemist will be happy to advise)

Cotton wool, dressings, elastoplast, micropore tape, 3" wide crepe bandage, thermometer, tweezers, paracetamol mixture for children with fever/pain, paracetamol for adults, antiseptic solution, calamine lotion for sunburn and vapour rub.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children.

Top of page^