Practice Information

Self Help For Minor Ailments

Coughs

These can be soothed by a drink made from honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice (full of vitamins), in hot water. If particularly irritating, steam inhalations can be worthwhile or taking your favourite cough medicine. If you bring up coloured phlegm, we may need to check your chest.

Sore Throats

If the patient is aged over 12, gargle with soluble aspirin otherwise paracetamol. Drink plenty and use lozenges/boiled sweets if they help. Most sore throats will settle with this treatment in three to five days.

Laryngitis

As above, try steam inhalations, rest your voice and avoid smoke.
Flu If you have a temperature and are aching all over, take paracetamol or aspirin (if aged over 12), fluids and rest are the answer.

Temperatures

Children often run up temperatures with no other symptoms. They need to be cooled down and then will feel much better. Remove their clothes down to vest and pants and keep the room temperature down. Use Calpol/Disprol etc and, if necessary, sponge them down with luke warm (NOT COLD) water or blow them with a fan or hairdryer on its cold setting. If there is no improvement after 48 hours, we will need to see them.

Diarrhoea And Vomiting

This usually settles in one to three days and we recommend avoiding all food for 12 to 24 hours, giving plenty of fluids frequently and in small amounts. Powders to make special drinks to help prevent dehydration are available at the chemist.

Do avoid milk, tea, coffee, dairy produce and fatty/spicy foods when starting to eat again. Instead, try dry bread, toast, thin soups, potato, chicken etc.

If the diarrhoea doesn't settle, try natural yoghurt (you can flavour it if you like). Babies and young children should be referred after 12 hours; sooner if you are concerned.

Childhood Rashes

If your child is basically well but has a rash, this is usually due to a virus and will usually settle untreated in a couple of days. We would want to see the child if he/she is ill with the rash, distressed by itchiness or simply if you are worried.

Chickenpox

This can be soothed by calamine lotion or, if it is extremely itchy, antihistamines like phenergan/piriton (which are available at the chemist). It is infectious for five days after the last batch of spots has appeared.

Mumps

This causes swelling behind the jaw bone and near the ears; pain and fever can be relieved by paracetamol. Chewing may be uncomfortable, so a liquid diet may be needed until the swelling has gone down - usually up to one week. It would be advisable if adults with mump-like symptoms or ill children consult the doctor. Mumps is not so common today because of the use of the MMR vaccine.

Thrush

This is a common infection, often affecting babies (in the mouth or as a nappy rash) or in women (vaginal thrush). Although irritating, it causes no serious damage.

Nappy rash may be treated with Canestan cream, applied after each nappy change.

Women should use both Canestan cream and pessaries - all available from the chemist. It is advisable to see a doctor if it is not clearing up or if it keeps coming back.

Babies with thrush in the mouth may require a prescription.

Cold Sores

Unfortunately there is no treatment to cure cold sores. However, Zovirax cream, available from the chemist without a prescription, will reduce the severity of the attack if applied every three hours when the first symptoms occur. If you are prone to develop cold sores when in strong sunlight, then try using a high factor sun block.

Prickly Heat

This is an itchy, blotchy rash caused by strong sunlight. Try using a factor 30 sunblock to prevent it and take an antihistamine tablet or medicine.

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