Many conditions get better on their own or may be treated at home without the need to consult a doctor. Your pharmacist may be able to help and advise you about the medicines you can buy over the counter.

BACK PAIN - is very common and causes 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year. It may be caused by the way you lift, bend, sit or stand. Keep moving to prevent the muscles from stiffening up. Regular pain relief tablets or ointments will help relieve the pain. Contact the practice if the pain continues for more than one week, if you get numbness in the bottom or limbs, or if you suffer back pain regularly without any obvious cause.

BITES - insect bites are common in summer and normally occur on exposed parts such as arms and legs. The itching can be relieved by calamine lotion or an antihistamine from the chemist. If you are bitten by an animal, wash the area and apply antiseptic. Contact the practice as you may require a tetanus injection.

BURNS AND SCALDS - minor burns and scalds cause redness of the skin. Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and maintain this until the pain subsides. Seek medical attention if there is severe blistering of the skin or if the skin is broken. With sunburn, remember that prevention is better than cure. Use “high factor” sun creams and avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Sunburn can be treated with calamine lotion or pain relief tablets such aspirin (not for children) or paracetamol.

COLDS/FLU - these are caused by viruses. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough and aches. Unfortunately, there is no magic cure and antibiotics are usually unhelpful. However, these conditions usually run their course, improvement generally occurring within a week or two. Drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol or aspirin (not for children) if you have a temperature.

CUTS/GRAZES - wash well with soap and water or a mild antiseptic. If bleeding, press firmly over the cut with a clean dressing for five minutes. If the cut is deep or gaping you may require stitches.

CYSTITIS - passing urine frequently with stinging or burning suggests cystitis. Drink plenty of fluids to flush out the kidneys and bladder. Cranberry juice and lemon barley water may help. If you are not better after 24 hours, or you are passing blood, have a high temperature or bad pain in your lower back or side, contact the practice. Bring a fresh sample of urine in a clean container to be tested.

DIARRHOEA/VOMITING - this is a common condition especially in children. Most cases are due to a virus infection and symptoms normally resolve within 48 hours. Oral re-hydration solutions are available from the chemist. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself re-hydrated. If you are vomiting, start with a few sips of water every ten to fifteen minutes and build up gradually. Avoid food (especially milk products) for one day and then slowly reintroduce biscuits, dry toast etc., into your diet. Contact the practice if you have continuous abdominal pain, or if an attack comes on after travel to a foreign country. Bring your child to the surgery if he/she is unusually sleepy, refusing fluids, vomiting, not passing urine or has a temperature.

EARACHE - there are many causes of earache. Children are prone to ear infections, especially when they have a cold. Treat the pain and temperature with paracetamol. Contact the practice if the earache persists for more than 24 hours or if there is a discharge of pus or blood.

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION - this can be offered up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. Contact your local family planning centre or the practice.

HEAD LICE - these prefer clean hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene. Daily combing for 10 days with a “nit comb” after shampooing and conditioning the hair is a good first step. Comb before washing out the conditioner. Only if necessary consider using medicated lotion which is available from the chemist.

NOSE BLEEDS - pinch the soft part, just below the bridge of the nose for five minutes continuously. Sit upright and breathe through your mouth - do not lie down. Apply ice in a plastic bag. If you are on blood thinning medication contact the practice.

SORE THROATS - most are caused by viruses and therefore antibiotics do not help. Gargling with soluble paracetamol or Aspirin will help and you should feel better after 4 or 5 days. Contact the practice if the sore throat is getting worse, if you have a high temperature, if you are having difficulty in swallowing or it lasts more than one week.

SPRAINS - treat with a cold compress for 15 to 30 minutes to reduce the swelling. Apply a firm crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until the discomfort has subsided.

THREADWORMS - these worms lay their eggs around the anus at night. This causes itching. Eggs get under your fingernails when you scratch and therefore spread to other people or enter the intestines again through the mouth. The pharmacist will advise on treatment. The whole family must be treated at the same time.

THRUSH - many women experience this complaint. It is characterised by a white, itchy, vaginal discharge and is caused by an overgrowth of the normal yeast cells in the vagina. You can buy creams and pessaries from your pharmacy. If the symptoms persist contact the practice.

CHILDHOOD INFECTIONS

TEMPERATURE/FEVER - in children a temperature can occur even in a mild infection. It is important to stop the temperature from rising too quickly. Give paracetamol syrup on a regular basis. If your child is still hot, sponge him/her down with tepid water and strip off his/her clothing.

CHICKEN POX - On the first day small red spots appear which develop into small blisters after a few hours. During the next few days a further crop of spots will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off. Calamine will soothe the itching. Patients are infectious from 3 days before the rash appears and until the last spots have crusted over.

GERMAN MEASLES - (Rubella) - the rash appears as small pink patches over the body and limbs. The illness is usually mild. Some patients experience aching joints. The infectious period is from 2 days before the rash appears and up to 5 days after. The only risk is to unborn children and therefore contact with pregnant women should be avoided. Immunisation can prevent this disease.

MEASLES - this rash is blotchy and appears on the face and body on the fourth day of the illness. The rash is usually slightly raised but without blisters. It does not itch. The infectious period is from 3 days before the rash appears and for up to one week after. Chest and ear infections are a common complication. Immunisation can prevent this disease.

MUMPS - this illness is usually quite mild and simple treatment is all that is required. Swelling of the salivary gland in front of one ear is often followed a couple of days later by swelling in front of the other ear. It is infectious for 3 days before the swelling starts and for one week after the swelling has subsided. Immunisation can prevent this disease.

YOUR HOME MEDICINE CABINET

Below is a list of useful medicines and dressings for your medicine cabinet. These items are available from any pharmacy without prescription and will help you deal with minor illnesses. Keep them in a safe place away from children.

• Soluble aspirin* or paracetamol tablets (for adults): Useful for headaches, colds, sore throats, a temperature and pain relief.
• Paracetamol mixture (for children): For relief of pain and fever.
• Dioralyte: Fluid replacement for children with vomiting and diarrhoea; most useful for children under 18 months.
• Antihistamines: For insect bites and itchy rashes
• Calamine lotion: Soothing to bites, rashes and sunburn
• Menthol: For steam inhalations, dry coughs and catarrh
• Antiseptic - solution and cream: Treating cuts and grazes
• Cotton wool - Cleaning cuts and grazes,
• Skin Closure Strips: For minor cuts
• Plasters: For minor cuts
• Thermometer: To check temperature
• Gauze Pads: For dressing
  
  Also:
• Non-allergenic Adhesive Tape
• Non-adherent dressings
• Scissors and tweezers

N.B. *Aspirin should not be taken if the patient has had any previous allergic reaction or if the patient is under 12. REMEMBER THAT YOUR LOCAL CHEMIST CAN GIVE YOU ADVICE ABOUT MEDICINES