Self Help

Most people will have low back pain at some time in their lives, and the vast majority will recover with little or no treatment within six weeks. Usually arising from the discs, joints of the spine, muscles or ligaments, the pain is described as ‘mechanical’. This type of pain is commonest between the ages of 20 and 50. Pain spreading to the foot or toes is sciatica and merits seeing your doctor if not resolving in a few days. Current advice is to keep going and continue normal daily activities including work, as rest may actually prolong back pain. Use simple pain killers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

You should seek medical attention if any of the following occur:

• The pain lasts more than 6 weeks
• Weakness of legs
• Numbness in the groin or buttocks
• Loss of control of bladder or bowels
• Aching pain at night disturbing sleep
• You have fever, sweating or chills

Bed sores are far easier to prevent than cure. They are caused by prolonged pressure to certain parts of the body when lying in bed for long periods.

They can be prevented by encouraging the patient to shift position as often as possible and taking care to smooth out creases in the bottom sheet which could lead to localised irritation.

Keep your eye open for red marks appearing on the pressure points such as heels, elbows, buttocks and hips and, if they begin to appear, inform the doctor before they get worse

Treating Minor Burns

To treat superficial (minor) burns at home, follow the advice below:

• Cool the skin with running cool or tepid water for at least 10 minutes, ideally within 20 minutes of the injury happening. This will prevent the burn getting worse.
• Do not use ice, iced water, creams, or greasy substances (such as butter) to soothe the burn.
• Remove any clothes or jewellery from around the burn, unless they are sticking to it.
• Cover the burn using strips of cling film, rather than wrapping it around a limb. A clean plastic bag is suitable to use for burns on your hand.
• If the burn is painful, taking a mild painkiller, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can help. However, always check the packaging to make sure that you take the correct dosage and never give aspirin to children under 16 years of age.
• Do not interfere with the burn, or break any blisters. If the burn is very painful, or seems to be getting worse, call NHS 111, or visit your GP for advice.

If you’re in any doubt whether you need further medical assistance, call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Deep, or large burns, or burns to the face, hands, or across joints, must always be checked by a doctor and may require hospital treatment.

Content taken from NHS Choices. For more information on Sunburn, click here…

Chickenpox blisters are usually less than a quarter of an inch wide, have a reddish base, and appear in bouts over 2 to 4 days. The rash may be more extensive or severe in kids who have skin disorders such as eczema.

Some children have:

• a fever
• abdominal pain
• sore throat
• headache
• or a vague sick feeling a day or 2 before the rash appears

These symptoms may last for a few days, and fever stays in the range of 37.7°–38.8° Celsius, though in rare cases may be higher.

Younger children often have milder symptoms and fewer blisters than older children or adults.

Calamine lotion may be applied to soothe the often severe itching. Cool baths may also help.

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 seven days after the outbreak of the most recent crop of spots.

Colds

Even in this day and age there is still no magic cure for the common cold. Go to bed, take plenty of drinks.

It is probably best to stay at home to avoid spreading your cold to others. Take it easy and rest if possible. Keep warm, and keep the atmosphere moist. Drink plenty of fluids, as you will lose a lot through mucus production and possibly perspiration.

Avoid smoking if possible, as it will further irritate the throat and the lining of the nose.

Take aspirin or paracetamol as per the dosage.

Stomach Aches

Most attacks are not serious and are usually caused by indigestion or wind.

A hot water bottle will often relieve the symptoms and, in the case of indigestion, a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in half a glass of water will help.

If the pain lasts longer than eight hours or increases in intensity you should consult your doctor.

Children

Many babies have diarrhoea and vomiting 3 times a year. Most vomiting gets better within 3 days and diarrhoea within a week, but 2 weeks is possible.

Medication is rarely of any benefit. Give small amount of fluids often, even to a child who is vomiting. Avoid fruit juices and carbonated drinks. In severe cases an oral rehydration mixture is recommended that can be bought from Pharmacies.

If a child is hungry and willing to take feeds, continue them. Continue breast feeding. There is no need to starve the patient. A diet of bland carbohydrate such as rice and soups is a good start during recovery. A child under 1 year ill for more than 2 days should see a doctor. If there is a fever, see specific advice.

Signs of worsening illness to look out for are:

• Decreased urine output or few or dry nappies
• Dry mouth or tongue
• Pale or cold skin
• Blood in motions
• Lethargy or unusual sleepiness

Adults

Gastroenteritis in adults is rarely serious. Drink plenty of fluids, say 200ml after each loose stool. If you are vomiting, take small sips of fluid slowly. Resume a normal diet as soon as you feel well enough. For diarrhoea, over the counter medication such as loperamide is useful.

Seek medical advice if:

• There is blood in the stools
• You have worsening abdominal pain
• You develop a high fever
• There is drowsiness or confusion
• You have diarrhoea for more than a week
• You have recently come back from abroad
• You have recently been discharged from hospital

Earwax is properly known as cerumen.

Cerumen is normal and is designed to trap things like dirt/dust and acts to protect the lining of the ear. It is also slightly acidic and protects the ear from infection. It is continuously produced and is gradually moved towards the entrance of the ear by the self-cleaning mechanism of the skin and by the action of muscles used in chewing and talking.

The colour, consistency and amount of earwax produced by individuals vary widely. Wax may appear to be dry and flaky, or crumbly consistency, honey coloured or dark brown and very hard when it may become quite firmly attached to the underlying skin.

Some common problems people experience:

• Narrow ear canals – people who work in areas where there is a lot of dust or dirt in the air sometimes finds that this combines with the cerumen in the ear to form a plug.
• Cleaning attempts – Using cotton buds, matchsticks and hair clips to try to clean out the ear canals is one of the most common causes of impacted wax. It causes the wax to be forced down the canal and form a hard dry plug against the eardrum. THE USE OF COTTONWOOL BUDS, MATCHSTICKS, HAIRPINS, PAPER CLIPS ETC TO REMOVE WAX IS NOT ADVISED as they can cause considerable damage to the skin lining of the canal.
• Earplugs – The use of earplugs, often mandatory in some occupations, can have a similar effect to cotton buds.
• Hearing Aid moulds – They can interfere with the natural ability to shed dead skin and wax, and cause debris to build up in the canal.
• Age – Older people may have drier wax, and older men often develop more hair in their ears.
• Habit – Some people become accustomed to attending regularly for ear irrigation, believing it is necessary to prevent them experiencing hearing loss, which is not the case.

What can I do to help?

The use of olive oil has been clinically proven to be safe and an effective treatment for the treatment of ear wax. Drops of olive oil should be instilled twice a day for 14 days prior to irrigation if this is prescribed.

Download the leaflet below with instructions on how olive oil eardrops should be administered/instilled. Do not put cotton wool into your ears, as this will absorb the oil. Although olive oil is recommended, other wax softeners are available, should you wish to purchase them from a Pharmacy.

Ear Care Information

It is worthwhile purchasing a digital electronic thermometer, which is best placed in the child’s armpit to record the temperature – forehead thermometers are less accurate. The infra-red type that measures the temperature of the ear drum is the most reliable.

Significant fever is defined as a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more. Most cases are viral and will recover rapidly.

Use paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed to lower the temperature, but we no longer recommend tepid sponging. Give plenty of fluids.

However, there are circumstances when you need to seek medical advice:

• An infant under 3 months
• Fever lasing more than 5 days
• A rash that doesn’t blanch on pressure – see below
• Unusual sleepiness
• Dry nappies or not passing much urine
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty breathing

The glass test is used on rashes to exclude serious illness. Press a clear glass or plastic tumbler firmly onto the affected skin; the rash should fade or blanch as blood is squeezed out of the skin – if it doesn’t, seek urgent medical attention.

Head lice are common in children, but can affect anyone of any age. They are not a sign of dirty hair or poor hygiene.

Close ‘hair to hair’ contact is usually needed to pass lice on. Head lice cannot jump or fly, but walk from one head to another. They soon die when away from hair, and do not live in clothes, bedding, etc.

Most head lice infections are caught from family or close friends who are not aware that they have head lice.

Currently, there are three main ways of clearing head lice:

1. Using an insecticide lotion.
2. Using dimeticone lotion, a lotion that works in a different way to insecticides.
3. Wet combing treatment (often called ‘bug-busting’).

The method you use to treat the lice is often a personal preference. Each method has a good chance of success, but no method is 100% certain of clearing lice.

If you are stung by a wasp, bee, hornet, etc, then scrape out the sting as quickly as possible. Do not pluck it out as this may squeeze more venom into the skin.

In most cases the sting causes pain and slight swelling, but has little other effect. Some people are allergic to stings and can develop reactions that can be life-threatening.

Call an ambulance immediately if you suspect an allergic reaction soon after being stung.

Insect bites (not stings) rarely cause serious allergic reactions but can cause small itchy lumps to appear on the skin. Itch may be eased by a soothing ointment, antihistamine tablets, or steroid cream.

Some insects infest pets, furniture, etc, and can cause repeated bites. Antihistamine tablets can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will usually relieve most symptoms.

Measles

The symptoms of measles usually begin to develop about 7-11 days after the person first becomes infected.

The first symptoms are normally similar to those of a bad cold:

• fever
• runny nose
• sore throat
• a cough

A few days later a bright red, blotchy rash breaks out on the forehead, face and neck. Within a few days the rash spreads to the body, arms and legs, by which time the rash will begin to fade from the face.

Measles is most infectious from two or three days before the rash appears until eight or ten days after that date.

Though the rash is very dramatic, measles is accompanied by more upsetting symptoms. The whites of the eyes and inside the nose become sore, red and watery. A cough develops and many patients also suffer from earache. Paracetamol syrup and a simple cough linctus will help. The patient will also find comfort staying away from bright sunlight in a shaded room.

Mumps

Mumps is an infectious illness caused by a virus.

In the 2004-2005 mumps epidemic, most of the people infected with the virus were aged between 15 and 24, but you can catch it at any age. It is now less common because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.

It is most easily caught from people with the infection from two to six days before they get swollen glands to about nine days after. It usually takes about 14 to 21 days to develop symptoms after being exposed to the virus (the incubation period).

About one in three children with mumps don’t get any symptoms. At first, the symptoms of mumps are similar to those of flu, and can include:

• fever
• headache
• sore throat
• earache that is made worse by chewing
• pain on chewing and swallowing
• loss of appetite
• tiredness
• muscle aches

If the pain is severe you should consult your doctor.

Rubella (German Measles)

Symptoms of German measles can include any of the following:

• Slight fever sometimes accompanied by a runny nose
• Swollen glands behind the ears and around the neck
• Loss of appetite
• Sore throat
• Rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the body. This rash usually lasts for about 3 days and usually covers the body, arms and legs in small pink patches about 2-4mm, and doesn’t itch.

No other symptoms are usually present apart from occasional aching joints.

It is infectious from two days before the rash appears, until the rash disappears in about four or five days from that date.

The only danger is to unborn babies and, therefore, it is important that all contacts are informed in order that anyone who may be pregnant may contact their doctor.

If the symptoms are very distressing contact your doctor.

PLEASE NOTE: Immunisations can prevent these distressing and sometimes even dangerous diseases.

Minor Cuts and Grazes

Wash the wound thoroughly with water and a little soap.

To stop bleeding apply a clean handkerchief or dressing firmly to the wound for about five minutes. Cover with a clean, dry dressing.

Sprains

Firstly apply a cold compress, containing ice if possible, for 15 to 30 minutes. A bag of frozen peas is ideal for this. This will reduce blood flow to the sprained area and, therefore, minimise bruising and subsequent swelling. Apply, firmly, a crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until the discomfort has subsided.

If possible, keep the sprained joint raised. This will make it more comfortable and less swollen.

If you are having a nosebleed you should:

• sit down and firmly pinch the soft part of your nasal cavity, just above your nostrils, together for 10 minutes
• lean forward and breathe through your mouth (leaning forward drains the blood down your nose instead of down the back of your throat)
• maintain the pressure on your nose for 15 minutes (time this on the clock) so that the blood clots
• place a covered ice pack on your cheek to help soothe the area, the bleeding should stop and not start again, unless your nose is knocked or picked
• avoid blowing your nose and strenuous activity for at least 12 hours after a nosebleed.

Avoid hot drinks for a few hours after that. Try also not to wipe your nose too much, or to sneeze. If the bleeding persists, consult your doctor.

What to do if you are suffering from sunburn

If you or your child has sunburn, you should get out of the sun as soon as possible – head indoors or into a shady area. You can usually treat mild sunburn at home, although there are some circumstances where you should seek medical advice (see below).

The following advice may help to relieve your symptoms until your skin heals:

• Cool the skin by sponging it with cold water or by having a cold bath or shower – applying a cold compress such as a cold flannel to the affected area may also help.
• Drink plenty of fluids to cool you down and prevent dehydration.
• Apply a water-based emollient or petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) to keep your skin cool and moist.
• Take painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve any pain – aspirin should not be given to children under 16.

Try to avoid all sunlight, including through windows, by covering up the affected areas of skin until your skin has fully healed.

When to seek medical advice

You should contact your GP, attend an NHS walk-in centre, or call NHS 111 for advice if you feel unwell or have any concerns about your sunburn, particularly if you are burnt over a large area or have any of the more severe symptoms listed below.

You should also see your GP if a young child or baby has sunburn, as their skin is particularly fragile.

Signs of severe sunburn can include:

• blistering or swelling of the skin (oedema)
• chills
• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above, or 37.5C (99.5F) or above in children under five
• dizziness, headaches and feeling sick (symptoms of heat exhaustion)

Your GP may recommend using hydrocortisone cream for a few days (this is also available over the counter at pharmacies) to reduce the inflammation of your skin.

Severe sunburn may require special burn cream and burn dressings from your GP or a nurse at your GP surgery. Very occasionally, hospital treatment may be needed.

Content taken from NHS Choices. For more information on Sunburn, click here…