Self Treatment Of Common Illnesses and Accidents

Colds

Even in this day and age there is still no magic cure for the common cold. Go to bed, take plenty of drinks. If you have a headache or are feverish take aspirin or paracetamol. Antibiotics have no effect on the common cold.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea in adults usually clears by itself in a few days. The symptoms can usually be eased by a medicine called Loperamide, available from the chemist. Consult your doctor if the symptoms persist for more than a few days.

Nosebleeds

Sit in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for approximately 10 minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped. Repeat once if necessary. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Insect Bites And Stings

Antihistamine tablets can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will usually relieve most symptoms. Applying calamine lotion is also helpful. Note: bee stings should be scraped away rather than “plucked” in order to avoid squeezing the contents of the venom sac into the wound.

Chickenpox

The most infectious period is from two or three days before the rash appears and up to five days after this date. Children may return to school as soon as the last ‘crusts’ have dropped off.

Head Lice

These are most easily detected by fine tooth combing through really wet hair. If head lice are discovered there are two available options. Firstly, the 'conditioning and wet combing' method is less expensive and more successful. Secondly, by using overnight lotions, which are available from a chemist without a prescription. Contact your health visitor for more advice.

Burns

Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and maintain this until the pain subsides. This may take as long as 15 minutes. If the skin is unbroken but blistered, apply a loose, dry dressing. If the burn is larger than four or five inches in diameter or if the skin is broken, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Sunburn

Treat as for other burns with cold water to remove the heat. Calamine lotion will relieve the irritation, whilst paracetamol will also help.