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Common Illnesses And Accidents |
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| The Stuffy, Runny Nose The common cold usually starts with a hot feeling in the back of the nose and sometimes a dry throat. The patient feels generally unwell and achey. After a day or two the nose starts running with a clear liquid - and after 3 or 4 days with a thick yellow discharge. There may be a slight temperature of 37.5 - 38 C or 99 - 100 F and the whole illness last 7 to 10 days. In summer, hay fever caused by pollen in the air may create similar symptoms - with the addition of sneezing and sore, itchy eyes. There is no magic cure for the common cold but simple household remedies can relieve the discomfort. Treatment for adults: 2 tablets of Paracetamol taken every 4 hours. If the throat is sore, dissolve the Aspirin in warm water and gargle before swallowing. Drinks: If there is a temperature, drink plenty. As long as plenty of fluid is taken it does not matter if the patient has no appetite for a day or two. Steam: The thick yellow discharge from the nose can be relieved by inhaling steam. Add a teaspoon of vapour rub or 1 or 2 menthol crystals to a pint of steaming water in a bowl. Trap the steam with a towel over the patients head and the bowl. Inhale for 10 minutes 3 times a day. Treatment for children and babies: Children often have repeated colds. During these the child gradually builds up resistance to infection which will stand in good stead in later life. Children and babies with colds may be troubled by coughing when they are laid down at night. This cough is caused by the discharge from the nose running down the back of the throat. It should NOT be suppressed by cough mixtures as the cough helps keep the discharge off the chest. A baby should be laid on its side. An older child may be more comfortable if sat upright with an extra pillow. If the cough is very bad rub a little vapour rub on the chest. For children over 1 year old, 2 drops of "Ephedrine" nose drops in each nostril before the child goes to bed will also help. Drops should never be used for more than 4 days in succession. Vomiting Vomiting may well by caused by a virus infection of the stomach, by eating too much, and by drinking too much. It usually stops within 24 hours, but in some cases may be followed by diarrhoea. Some children vomit when they have a temperature, which may be caused by tonsillitis or an ear infection. Treatment: Eat nothing. Drink small quantities of water every 2 hours. As the stomach settles take semi-solid foot (such as dry biscuits, bread or breakfast cereals) before gradually returning to a normal diet. When to see the doctor: If vomiting is accompanied by continuous stomach pain. If vomiting last for more than 24 hours. If a vomiting child has a temperature of more than 38 C or 100 F. If the patient is unduly anxious. Cuts, Bruises, Bites and Burns Cuts Bleeding can usually be stopped by applying pressure to the cut for 2 or 3 minutes. The cut can then be carefully inspected. If it has bled freely any germs will normally have been washed away by the blood. Apply a plaster dressing firmly, bringing the edges of the cut together so that it knits quickly. Keep dry for 1 or 2 days. If the cut is deep and the edges cannot be pulled together with a dressing consult the doctor or the practice nurse. A tetanus injection may be needed. Grazes Dirt will often enter the graze caused by falling on a hard or rough surface. It must be cleaned out carefully with an antiseptic lotion. After cleaning, leave the grazes uncovered. Exposure to the air will cause a scab to form. This will gradually dry and fall off. It is not a good idea to apply a dressing. This may stick to the graze or make it soggy and infected. Bruises Bruises are very common in children. They normally get better in 7 to 10 days. Parents sometimes worry that a bone may be broken. Children's bones are rubbery and barely break, but if in doubt consult the doctor. If a child gets up at once after a fall and moves about normally, it is unlikely that a bone has been broken. But the child may be stiff the next day because of the bruising which has occurred. Severe bruising can be treated by: Rest for 24 to 48 hours. In the case of a badly bruised leg, the limb should be raised. Lying in bed is the easiest way to do this. A cold compress may ease a bad bruise if applied at once. This is made by soaking some material in water and applying it to the bruise. Bruises on the head may cause anxiety. If the patient was not "knocked out" and can remember the accident it is unlikely that serious injury has resulted. But if the patient was knocked unconscious and cannot remember what happened, he or she should be taken to a hospital casualty department without delay. Insect Bites These are common in the summer. They look like spots about 1/4" across. They are very itchy and usually appear on exposed parts e.g. arms and legs. The itching can be relieved by Calamine lotion. Burns and Scalds Minor burns and scalds cause redness to the skin. Immediate treatment by pouring cold water over a burn or scald is often helpful. If burns or scalds cause severe blistering or break the skin, the doctor should be consulted. Sunburn should, if possible, be prevented by avoiding long exposure and covering exposed areas adequately. It may be treated by Calamine lotion applied locally. Soluble Aspirin or Paracetamol may relieve the pain. Do not give any Aspirin to children under the age of 12. Coughs A cough is the most common symptom presented to a doctor. If dust or food enter the air passages in the throat, coughing acts as a protector. In the same way during a cold it also prevents mucus from entering the air passages and causing infection. To suppress this reflex action with cough mixtures can cause more harm than good. The best treatment is steam inhalations (described in The Stuffy, Running Nose section). Removing the patients pillow(s) at night may also help prevent mucus running into the air passages. If it is a dry cough, steam inhalation will again help, as will a sedative linctus which can be bought from the chemist. When to see the doctor: If coughing continues for more than a week or two after a common cold has cleared up. If coughing produces yellow or green spit - which may then mean that the lower air passages are infected. If breathing is accompanied by a pain in the chest, or shortness of breath. If coughing produces blood. If the patient or parent is unduly anxious. Sprains Remember I.C.E. I stands for ice. Immediately pack the sprained area with ice or a bag of frozen peas, wrapped in a cloth, to reduce swelling and speed up the healing process. Keep this on for about 20 minutes. C means compression. Bind the injured areas with an elastic bandage, so it is well supported, but not so tight that it restricts the blood flow. Re-tighten a few times a day. E means elevation. Rest the sprained area and keep it held high. For example, if you have a sprained ankle, rest it on a stool that is higher than the chair you are sitting on. Head Injuries For a minor knock or bump, put on a cold damp cloth. A person should be seen by a GP or taken to Accident and Emergency without delay if they have the following symptoms: vomiting, unconsciousness, double vision, drowsiness or confusion. Choking Stand behind the person and hug them firmly above the waist, pushing your fist up under their ribs to make them cough up the blockage. For a young child upside down and thump on the back. Diarrhoea Diarrhoea is unpleasant but rarely dangerous. Its most natural cause is a sudden change of diet. It may also follow over-eating, over-drinking or travel to a foreign country. Many attacks are caused by virus or bacterial infections - common in summer when flies spread infection onto uncovered food. Diarrhoea is often accompanied by a colicky (cramp-like) pain in the tummy. It may also be preceded by vomiting. An attack usually begins to get better with 48 hours. Treatment: Food: Miss the next 3 meals. Drink: Take plenty of clear fluids only - water, or very diluted fruit juice. When to see the doctor: If the diarrhoea or discomfort does not begin to settle within 24 hours. If there is continuous pain rather than separate bouts of stomach cramp. If diarrhoea occurs in an infant under 1 year. If an attack comes shortly after a visit to a foreign country. If the patient suffers repeated attacks. Sore Throat Most sore throats are caused by virus infection which antibiotics cannot cure. But with simple treatment the patient normally gets better in 4 or 5 days. Tonsillitis usually starts with a sore throat which causes pain on swallowing. With children - and some adults - there may be a rise in temperature and the patient is obviously under the weather. It may be possible to see the swollen tonsils with white spots on them. The lymph glands on the neck may also swell. These swellings are the normal response to infection. Sometimes a sore throat may occur with the common cold. In epidemics of influenza there may be dryness of the throat, pain on coughing and loss of voice. Treatment for adults: Aspirin: To help relieve the pain on swallowing and (if there is one) the temperature. Use soluble Aspirin dissolved in water so that the patient can gargle before swallowing. Repeat the treatment every 4 hours. If Aspirin causes discomfort, use Paracetamol. Drink: Encourage the patient to drink plenty. Food: Food should not be forced on a patient who does not want to eat. Steam: If there is pain in the throat on coughing, steam inhalations (described in The Stuffy, Running Nose section). Treatment for children: Young children, who may not be able to gargle, should be given Paracetamol every 4 hours in the right dose for their age up to 4 times in 24 hours: |
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3 months to 1 year: Do not give any Aspirin to children under the age of 12 years. |
1/2 teaspoon 1 teaspoon of Paracetamol mixture 1-2 teaspoons of Paraectamol mixture 1 Paracetamol tablet or 2 - 4 teaspoons of Junior Paracetamol Mixture or 1 - 2 teaspoons of Paracetamol Syrup |
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When to see a doctor: If the sore throat is still getting worse after 2 days. If the patient complains of earache. If the temperature rises above 38.3 C or 101 F. If the patient or parent is unduly worried. German Measles, Measles, Mumps and Whooping Cough These unpleasant disease can all be prevented by immunisations and we strongly support the childhood immunisation programmes. Advice is available from reception, the practice nurses or your doctor. |
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