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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. Paracetamol will help the aches and also control the temperature. Take cool drinks and avoid excessive clothes / bedclothes. If you start to cough up nasty sputum, (yellow, green or blood stained), you should contact the doctor. Likewise if you feel increasingly breathless, develop bad chest pains, or if a cough goes on for more than two weeks, you should also seek medical advice.
Diarrhoea And Vomiting
In adults and children, episodes of diarrhoea and vomiting are common and usually settle well without any special treatment. The best plan is to replace lost fluid, whilst resting the digestive system as much as possible. Clear liquids are gentlest on the stomach, and the best of all are the sachet drinks such as Electrolade, Dioralyte and Rehidrat. These come as powders in a sachet, which mix up to a pleasant drink. They can be obtained at any chemist. Vomiting will usually settle within 24 hours, although diarrhoea may linger for rather longer than this. There may be episodes of cramping abdominal pain, often associated with the bouts of diarrhoea. Contact the surgery if:
The illness could has been contracted whilst abroad.
Most sore throats are caused by a virus infection that antibiotics cannot cure. With simple treatment however, the patient normally gets better within four or five days. The treatment consists of aspirin or paracetamol to relieve the pain and temperature. Aspirin is probably best given in the soluble form, so that the patient can gargle before swallowing. Indeed gargling on it’s own with aspirin is often quite effective. Aspirin is NOT recommended for children under the age of 15 years and they should use only paracetamol in the recommended doses. The patient should drink plenty and be encouraged to rest. You need only contact the doctor if the sore throat is still getting worse after two days, if there is an associated earache, or if other factors make you unduly worried.
A temperature occurs, even with mild infections and can be especially high in young children. It is important to limit this rise in temperature. A hot child should have all outer clothing removed to allow heat to escape. If temperature stays high, underclothing should also be removed and the child gently sponged with tepid water. Paracetamol and cool drinks are useful. NEVER wrap up a child with a temperature. If a temperature does not come down with the above treatment, or the child appears especially unwell, you should contact your doctor. An adult or child will not come to any harm by being brought by car or pram to the surgery. Again, do not overwrap a child for a surgery visit. The cooler outside air flowing around will help to bring the temperature down.
A cold compress is ideal for the sudden sprain, commonly an ankle or a wrist. A bag of frozen peas is ideal. This can be kept on for some 15 minutes, and followed by a firm crepe bandage. Most strains and sprains will respond well to a few days rest, along with a mild painkiller such as paracetamol.
For episodes of backache a short period of rest is advised (up to 24 hours) but then mobility should be encouraged although lifting and bending and any other activity which aggravates the pain should be avoided until recovery is complete and often a firm bed is the most comfortable. The doctors are pleased to advise when symptoms are not improving after a few days.
If there has been a significant injury, with a possible underlying fracture, then it is best to visit the nearest Accident and Emergency department. In Calderdale this is at the Calderdale Royal Hospital.
These are a common and recurrent problem, especially amongst school children. The local advice and treatment may vary from time to time. The Health Visitors, Pharmacists and doctors will be pleased to tell you what to do.
Most of these need no special treatment, other than sympathy! Sometimes an antihistamine tablet taken for a few days will relieve the discomfort. These can be obtained without prescription from a pharmacist.
A small number of people however are highly allergic to some insects, e.g. wasp stings. If you feel you are in this category then you should see the doctor to discuss the supply of an emergency adrenaline injection.
Sit in a chair, leaning forwards. Breathe through your mouth and pinch the lower part of the nose, below the bone, firmly for ten minutes. This usually settles the bleed. The procedure may need to be repeated several times in some cases. If the bleeding is heavy, or has not settled after 30 minutes, it is best to visit the nearest Accident and Emergency department, in Calderdale this is at the Calderdale Royal Hospital. It is best to discuss the problem of recurring nosebleeds with your GP.
Most attacks are not serious and tend to be simple indigestion or wind. Antacids may be useful, along with rest and a, (not too hot), hot water bottle. The doctor should be consulted if an attack has not worn off after 8 hours, or if the patient is in severe distress. If you are suffering from recurrent attacks, then the situation should be discussed with the doctor.
On the first day a rash appears, with small red spots about 3 or 4 mm across. Within a few hours these spots develop small blisters in the middle. During the next three or four days new crops of spots will appear, and the older ones start to dry up and form scabs. The only usual problem is itching, and calamine lotion is often all that is needed. Sometimes antihistamine syrup may be prescribed by the doctor if the child is suffering a lot. The child is contagious from about two days before the spots appear, until all the spots have dried up.
After being unwell for some 4 days, with a catarrhal illness, cough and temperature, a rash appears. The rash is red and blotchy, covering the face and most of the body. Infectivity is from 2 or 3 days before the rash appears until 8 to 10 days later.
Measles is misery and is prevented by vaccination.
The rash appears on the first day of illness, covering the trunk, arms and legs in small pink spots, which do not itch. Children generally do not feel ill, although adults may have aching in some joints. The condition is infectious from some 2 days before the rash appears, (before the person knows they have an illness), until the rash has settled - usually after 4 or 5 days.
Although a trivial illness for the sufferer, it can cause major problems to unborn children. It is prevented by vaccination.
This is an infection of one or more salivary glands. Usually the glands in front of the ears are affected, becoming swollen and painful. The condition is infectious for 2 or 3 days before the swelling starts, until all swelling has settled - which may take up to 10 days. The condition is unpleasant and is prevented by vaccination.
The mentioned childhood infections are caused by viruses and so are not helped by antibiotics. Often the doctor will suggest no treatment, apart from such as paracetamol. All, except chickenpox, are prevented by the routine childhood vaccinations.