Common Minor Illnesses
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Advice on Common Minor Illnesses
Colds and Flu
Antibiotics do not kill the viruses that cause colds and flu. Rest, fluids and paracetamol (or aspirin) can help the symptoms. Hot “honey & lemon” drinks, sucking boiled sweets or inhaling steam can help relieve coughing, also cold remedies may be obtained from a pharmacist.
You should contact a doctor if you cough up any blood, if you have difficulty breathing or if the cough persists for more than two weeks.
Earache
With a cold, earache occurs when the Eustachian tube between the ear and the throat becomes blocked with mucus. This will usually settle after a few days but infection can occur and may cause a discharge from the ear.
Give paracetamol for the pain.
Contact your doctor if the earache persists for more than three days, if the ear is discharging, or if the pain is very severe.
Eye Infection (Conjunctivitis)
Conjunctivitis often occurs with cold viruses. It is usually harmless and will disappear by itself.
Try bathing the eye with cool boiled water.
Contact your doctor if the eye is discharging pus, if it does not get better after five days, or if vision is disturbed.
Diarrhoea – Adults and Children over 1year
Diarrhoea is defined as three or more liquid bowel movements in a day, and may occur with vomiting and abdominal cramps. It is usually caused by viral infections or food poisoning. Nearly all cases should clear themselves in two to five days, without needing to take any medicines.
Stop all food for several hours or until you are feeling better. Ensure that frequent drinks of water, dilute fruit juice or squash are taken, but stop all dairy products for three days. Eat bland food such as boiled rice or pasta, dry toast or crackers. Avoid spicy or fatty food, alcohol and coffee for at least 48 hours or until all symptoms have disappeared.
Contact your doctor if you are losing too much fluid and becoming dehydrated, if there is blood in the diarrhoea, if you may have picked up an infection abroad, or if the diarrhoea goes on for longer than a week. If your work involves handling food, you may need to stay off work and provide samples to send to the laboratory.
Diarrhoea – Babies
Give frequent drinks of water or dilute juice. Try and restart feeding after the first four hours. Breast fed babies will need an increased number of feeds.
Contact your doctor if symptoms persist for 24 hours, if the baby does not want to drink, is drowsy or has a high temperature.
Constipation
The most common causes of constipation are lack of high fibre foods, not drinking enough fluids or lack of exercise.
Try increasing fibre, drinking plenty of water and regular exercise.
Contact your doctor if you have blood or mucous mixed in the stool, or if your bowel pattern changes to intermittent diarrhoea as well.
Back Pain
Back pain is usually caused by muscle spasm and is felt as stiffness. It is mostly confined to the back, but can pass into the buttock or upper leg. Pain passing below the knee may indicate a more serious cause such as pressure on the spinal chord.
Keeping as active as possible can speed recovery and prevent long term problems. Take paracetamol, codeine or ibuprofen to enable you to keep active and continue with normal daily activities. Swimming, Yoga or Pilates exercises may help.
Contact your doctor if the pain goes to one leg and persists longer than a week, or if you get an area of numbness. If you are unable to pass urine, contact your doctor immediately.
Sprains
Rest and elevate the affected limb, apply ice wrapped in cloth to the affected area. A compression bandage may help.
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Uppingham Surgery
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