GOT FLU? STAY AT HOME
If you experience a sudden fever, cough or shortness of breath or have a headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose or loss of appetite you may have swine flu.
For most people this is a mild illness and you should start to feel better after a few days without needing to go to your GP.
Help yourself and others by not spreading the virus.
The best thing you can do is to stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take over-the-counter flu remedies to help relieve the symptoms.
It is particularly important that you talk to your doctor if you think you have swine flu and are pregnant, very young, over 65, or have long-term conditions such as asthma or diabetes.
1 If you feel very unwell
Check your symptoms online at www.nhs.uk or call
the Swine Flu information line on 0800 1 513 513
2 Still concerned?
If you have taken these steps and are still concerned
contact the National Pandemic Flu Service on 0800 1 513 100 (textphone 0800 1 513 200) or on line at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or contact your GP by phone for more advice.
3 Please do not go to A&E
unless you are seriously ill. EAR SYRINGING
Please note that ear syringing is no longer available at Kearsley Medical Centre. Please contact Farnworth Health Centre on 01204 463600 for this service. PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES
Kearsley Medical Centre now offers appointments for blood tests, every morning, with the phlebotomist.
Monday to Friday 8.05am-11.45am
PRACTICE VACCINATION PROGRAMME H1N1 SWINE FLU
Invitation letters will be sent out in priority order as follows:
Priority 1
Patients 6mths to 65years in an "at risk" group
Immunocompromised patients
Priority 2
Pregnant women
Priority 3/4
Household contacts of immunocomprised patients
Patients over 65 years in an "at risk" group
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE H1N1 VACCINATION
Like all medicines, the H1N1 vaccination can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Allergic reactions may occur following vaccination,and in rare cases, lead to shock. Doctors are aware of this possibility and have emergency treatment available for use in such cases.
Very Common:
Headache
Tiredness
Pain, redness, swelling or a hard lump at the injection site
Fever
Aching muscles, joint pain
Common:
Warmth, itching or bruising at the injection site
Increased sweating, shivering, flu-like symptoms
Swollen glands in the neck, armpit or groin
Uncommon:
Tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, feeling sick
Itching, rash
Generally feeling unwell
Sleeplessness
These side effects usually disappear within 1-2 days without treatment. If they persist, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
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