Helpful Advice For Treatment Of Common Illness And Accidents

Even in this day and age there is still no magic cure for the common cold. If your condition is not improving after three days you should consult your doctor. Go to bed, take plenty of drinks. If you have a headache or are feverish take paracetamol 1g four times a day. Antibiotics are effective for bacterial infections only; they will have no effect on viral infections.

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 over-the-counter medicines. Holiday diarrhoea is often due to bacteria and again, over-the-counter medicines 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 the 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.

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

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 simple pressure does not stop the bleeding, or if the nosebleeds are recurrent, consult your doctor

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. Diligent combing with a fine tooth comb is imperative to eradicate the lice completely.

On the first day a rash appears as small red patches about 3-4mm across. Within a few hours of these developing, small blisters appear in the centre of these patches. During the next three or four days further patches will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off. Oily calamine lotion may be applied to soothe the often severe itching; keep the calamine lotion in the fridge. Cool baths with simple bread soda 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. The child is considered infective until the very last lesion crusts over completely. They should be kept away from immunocompromised people, pregnant women and newborns. Oral antihistamines may sometimes be given if itching is severe. Occasionally, spots may become super infected with bacteria from the skin. If any of the spots become inflamed or weeping consult your doctor.