Many common illnesses and accidents can be treated at home without needing to see the doctor. We hope that you will find the following advice helpful. If you are uncertain as to what to do or are worried, please ask us for advice.

Back Pain
Back pain is common and one of the main reasons for sickness absence in the UK and, although painful, it is normally not serious. In most cases the pain lasts from a few days to a few weeks and usually clears up after about six weeks. In the majority of cases, the cause of pain can be linked to the way the bones, muscles and ligaments in the back, work together.

In most cases the back will heal itself and staying active and continuing with your usual activities will normally promote healing. However, in severe and persistent cases it is important to seek medical advice so that a correct diagnosis can be reached and appropriate treatment given.

Bed Sores
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. Take care to smooth out creases in the bottom sheet to avoid irritation. If red marks appear at the pressure points such as heels, elbows, buttocks and hips, inform the doctor before they get worse.

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. Do not bother to take antibiotics as these will have no effect!

Diarrhoea / Vomiting
In adults, diarrhoea is usually caused by a viral infection and is therefore unable to be treated directly. The symptoms can usually be eased by the traditional kaolin and morphine mixture or by medicines containing codeine.

Holiday diarrhoea is often due to bacteria. Again, kaolin and morphine can be taken.
Consult your doctor if the symptoms persist for more than a few days.

Diarrhoea in very young children and babies needs careful attention. Most babies have loose bowel action during their first six months due to their predominantly liquid diet. Sudden bouts of unusually watery diarrhoea should be treated by taking the baby off solids and feeding them a cooled solution of boiled water with a teaspoon of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt to the pint. If the symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, or are accompanied by vomiting or weakness, consult your doctor.

It is important for the stomach and bowel to “rest” completely. Therefore rest as completely as possible and NO food should be given (with the sole exception of breast milk where applicable) until there has been no vomiting for 12 hours. Give warm water (or very diluted fruit juice). If vomiting is a problem sip small amounts regularly, ie every quarter of an hour. Once there has been no vomiting or diarrhoea for 12 hours, or after 24 hours, even if the symptoms continue, start giving a light dry diet. Continue giving plenty of fluids. A normal diet can be resumed if there has been no vomiting for 24 hours. Milk and dairy produce should be the last things to go back in the diet. If there is no improvement in two days, or if there is not adequate urine being passed, or if you are worried, please contact the surgery. special care should be taken with infants.

Flu
This is an unpleasant illness characterised by high temperature, aches and pains. The best treatment is plenty of rest and fluids with paracetamol to relieve aches and temperature. Antibiotics have no effect. If you are elderly or have a chronic health problem (eg heart disease, chest disease or diabetes) we would recommend an annual flu jab.

Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis describes a group of diseases affecting the stomach or part of the intestine. Symptoms are often diarrhoea, sickness and stomach ache. Because the lining of the stomach is likely to be inflamed medicines are often immediately vomited up.

Large quantities of water, orange juice, milk or thin soup should be taken to counter the effects of dehydration. Consult your doctor if symptoms persist for more than a day or, in the case of babies or young children, six hours.

Stomach Ache
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 for longer than eight hours or increases in intensity you should consult your doctor.

Sprains
Treat with a cold compress, containing ice if possible, for 15 to 30 minutes to reduce the swelling. Then apply, firmly, a crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until all discomfort has subsided.

Further strain will inevitably lead to further swelling and a longer recovery period.

Nosebleeds
Sit in a chair, lean 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. Avoid hot drinks or hot food for 24 hours. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

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.

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

Children are particularly susceptible to sunburn and great care should be taken to avoid overexposure to the harmful effects of the sun.

Insect Bites And Stings
Antihistamine tablets can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will usually relieve most symptoms.
Note: bee stings should be scraped away rather than ‘plucked’ in order to avoid squeezing the contents of the venom sac into the wound.

Head Lice
These creatures, contrary to popular belief, prefer clean hair and are, therefore, not a sign of poor personal hygiene. Medicated head lotion can be obtained from the chemist without prescription.

Burns and Scalds
Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area immediately and continue until the pain eases and the skin cools. Any blisters that are present should not be burst and may be covered by a loose, dry dressing. Take paracetamol for the pain. If the skin is broken or a large area is affected, consult your doctor.

Chickenpox
This is caused by a virus. Over a few days a rash develops with tiny blisters scattered all over the skin. The spots, which are very itchy, turn "crusty". Oily calamine lotion may be applied to soothe the skin. Dressing in light clothing and taking cool baths may help. Children may return to school as soon as the last blisters have crusted over.

Colds and Runny Noses
Colds are caused by viruses and cannot be cured by antibiotics. Various treatments can be of benefit though. Adults should take two paracetamol or soluble aspirin tablets every four hours (to a maximum of eight in 24 hours) to help lower temperatures and ease aching muscles. If a sore throat is present, gargling with the soluble aspirin will help. Take plenty of drinks. Children under 16 or those patients with asthma or a history of stomach ulcer should not take aspirin but the appropriate dose of paracetamol mixture can be given every four hours. Steam inhalations are helpful. Vicks menthol crystals and Karvol can be used, but not for babies less than three months old. The illness can last seven to ten days. Children have repeated colds and these build up a resistance to infection.

Constipation
This is a common problem as we get older, since we do not eat so much, nor do we take as much exercise. Often drugs prescribed by the doctor (eg water tablets) lead to constipation. It doesn’t matter if you don’t go to the toilet every day or even only once or twice a week. It is more important that the motions are not hard. By drinking plenty of fluids and eating fibre, eg brown bread, bran, vegetables and fruit, most people can manage all right. Do not take laxatives such as senna on a regular basis.

Coughs
Coughs are usually caused by viral infections. They can be eased by inhaling steam from Vicks menthol crystals or Karvol added to very hot water. A dry cough may be helped by a cough suppressant from a chemist. Soothing lozenges may help. A troublesome night-time cough can be helped by hot drinks prepared in a Thermos flask at bedtime. Cigarette smoke in the house will make a cough worse. If a cough persists or produces blood, or is associated with chest pain or shortness of breath, seek medical advice.

Cuts
Wash the wound thoroughly. Apply a clean dressing and apply pressure until the bleeding stops. If the wound is gaping or you are worried, seek medical advice. Dirty cuts especially may need to be seen and if tetanus immunisation is not up to date, a booster should be given within 24 hours. We recommend a tetanus booster every 10 years for full cover.

Earache
This often occurs with colds, as a result of catarrh. Paracetamol may be all that is required, but if repeated doses are needed every four hours or the painkiller does not work, contact your doctor. Sudafed can be helpful for catarrh, for children over two years old.

Fever
This is a feature of many infections such as colds or flu. Remove excess clothing and sponge the forehead and body with lukewarm water and keep in a cool room (using a fan helps too). Take plenty of cool drinks. Take two paracetamol or aspirin regularly (every four hours to a maximum of eight in 24 hours). Children under 16 should not have aspirin but be given a paracetamol mixture. If the fever persists after 24 - 48 hours, especially in the young, old or frail, this may indicate a complication so a doctor should be consulted.

Head Injuries
It is unlikely that serious injury will result if the person can remember what happened. Consult the doctor though, if there is loss of consciousness, or if there is vomiting, blurred vision, drowsiness, difficulty in walking or a severe headache.

Smoking Advice
If you are a smoker and want to stop, you can get free specialist support and advice from our smoking cessation advisor. Call Kushminder Singh on 020 8988 8317.

Sick Certificate

1. 1. The law says you may self-certify illness for seven days before there is a need for an official Department of Health sick note.
2. 2. Your employer should provide you with a self-certification certificate (SC2) so that you can declare your illness. Strictly speaking, you do not need this for the first three days of illness.
3. 3. If your illness continues for more than seven days, then under the NHS your GP can issue an official DoH statement (called the Med3) as an affirmation of your illness.

For more information on self treatment of common illnesses, accidents and other useful information, please visit NHS Direct’s website www.nhs-direct.nhs.uk or www.patient.co.uk can also offer further information.