Many conditions get better on their own and can be treated successfully at home. Your pharmacist may be able to help you with these and advise about medicines you can buy over the counter. If, despite this, you are still not sure what to do, please ring the surgery and we will be happy to give you advice.

COLDS AND FLU

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. Treatment consists of taking recommended doses of paracetamol for the temperature and aches and drinking plenty of fluids. Do not worry if you do not eat for a few days, you will come to no harm.

COUGH

Coughing is your body’s way of clearing mucus from the lungs. Usually this is caused by (cold) viruses and antibiotics are not effective in treatment. Reasons to consult a doctor include being unusually unwell, having associated fever for more than three days, breathlessness, fast or painful breathing, or if a cough lasts longer than two weeks.

SORE THROAT

Most sore throats are caused by viruses against which there are no medicines. Most sore throats settle on their own within five to seven days. You can soothe the pain by frequent gargling with soluble aspirin (only if over 16 years) or paracetamol.

Contact a doctor if a sore throat lasts longer than one to two weeks, if a sore throat is one sided and severe, if swallowing becomes difficult as well as painful, if there is also a fever which lasts longer than three days, or if you or your child are unusually unwell.

EARACHE

Many children will have earache when they have a cold, often just because of pressure or irritation of the ear drum without there being an actual ear infection.

If the pain is easily controlled with paracetamol and/or Junifen, there is no discharge, no fever and the child is not unusually unwell, it is quite safe to leave it for one to two days to see if the pain will settle spontaneously.

DIARRHOEA AND VOMITING

In adults and older children, diarrhoea and vomiting will usually get better on its own. Treatment consists of replacing the fluid that you have lost and resting the digestive system by having nothing solid to eat for 24 hours. Plain water in small quantities should be taken frequently. If the diarrhoea contains blood or there is severe pain or high fever, you should discuss it with your doctor.

Diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies and young children should be treated with caution. The doctor will be happy to advise you about this over the phone and arrange to see you if necessary. Elderly people and those with medical conditions (eg diabetes) should consult a doctor.

A TEMPERATURE

A temperature occurs commonly even with mild infections. Although unpleasant it actually helps the body to fight off the bugs causing it. However, to make your child feel more comfortable you may give them paracetamol syrup and/or ibuprofen syrup (if not asthmatic), which can be bought from the chemist. If they still appear hot, they should be cooled by gently sponging all over with tepid water as in a bath or shower.

It is sometimes necessary to carry this on for 20 to 30 minutes at a time on more than
one occasion to get results. If a temperature is very high and does not come down with this  treatment or the child appears very unwell with the temperature, you should consult your doctor.

A child or adult with a temperature will not come to any harm being brought by pram or by car to the surgery.

MENINGITIS

Understandably many parents are very worried about this disease, although it is actually very rare.

If you are concerned about meningitis, when you ask us to see you (or your child), please tell us so we can give you the right advice and (usually) reassurance.

The main symptoms are increasing headache, neck pain, fever, sensitivity to light, and vomiting. Sufferers will be generally unwell and will have a rash (which can be purple). Most people with meningitis will have more than one or two symptoms. However, if you are not sure, it is better to ask us to check.

Babies and small children can just be unusually unwell, fretful, pale or blotchy, or may just have a fever, a high pitched cry or vomit constantly. If you are not sure, ask us to check.

HEAD LICE

These are very common. You don’t need to be ashamed of having head lice. They actually prefer clean hair. There are two ways of dealing with them:

1.     Wet Combing

Doing this every three days for two weeks can be very effective.

a)     Wash hair and apply plenty of conditioner.

b)     Use a wide comb to straighten the hair.

c)     Leave conditioner in and comb through the hair with a nit comb, from the roots to the tips.
        Make sure you comb everywhere.

d)     Rinse and wash.

2.     Lotions

Ask the chemist which lotion is recommended. Apply it, leave it in for 12 hours and then rinse. Repeat this after one week to catch the lice which have hatched out of their eggs during the week.

Family contacts don’t need to use lotions. However, the wet combing method can be used to check whether they have caught head lice.

BACK PAIN

Most back pain is innocent and caused by bad posture or lifting. Usually the best advice
is to stay as mobile as possible, avoid bed rest (to avoid stiffening up) and use painkillers.

See a doctor if the pain doesn’t improve after one week, earlier if it gets worse. Also, if you are unwell with it, the pain goes into your legs or you develop problems with your bladder or bowel control.