MINOR ILLNESSES
A Child with a Temperature
If your child feels hot and is generally unwell, it is important to get the temperature down. Give some paracetamol (Calpol or Disprol). Junifen may also be given if your child is not asthmatic. Give the higher recommended dose for the age. Dress the child in cool clothes. Do not make the room too warm; open the window and turn down the fire.
 
If the child seems very hot, sponge it down using tepid water. Give the child plenty of cool drinks. Repeat the paracetamol every four hours up to four times a day.
 
If the child does not improve it should be seen by a Doctor. It will not make the child worse to take it out in a pram to see the Doctor; indeed fresh air may well help.
 
A Child with Diarrhoea
This usually settles within a few days. The important thing is to replace the water and salts that are lost by giving Dioralyte or Electrolade mixed with water. If the child vomits, simply wait and give more liquid. Taking too much liquid at once can make it sick, so give small frequent amounts. Give as much liquid as the child will take; too much will do no harm. The child should not have any solid food or milk for 24 hours. Breast feeding should certainly be continued during any episode of diarrhoea. Most children with diarrhoea don't feel like eating and a few days without solids will do no harm at all. If the diarrhoea is not settling within a few days or if the child seems weak or generally unwell, then it should be seen by a Doctor. Any baby under six months old with diarrhoea should be seen by a Doctor.
Head Injury
If the patient was 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. If any patient becomes drowsy or vomits after a head injury, seek advice.
 
Colds and Coughs
Alas there is still no cure for the common cold! Antibiotics have no effect on colds or flu. Paracetamol helps you if you have a headache or sore throat, or if you are feverish. Decongestants and throat lozenges help to relieve symptoms. It is important to take plenty of drinks. Dry coughs may be helped by steam inhalations or cough linctus. You should see a Doctor if the cough persists for more than a week or coughing produces lots of green or yellow phlegm or you cough up blood or the cough is accompanied by pain in the chest or shortness of breath or wheeze.
 
Sore Throats
The majority of these settle on their own in a few days. Gargle with soluble paracetamol and then swallow it. Repeat this four times a day.
Diarrhoea and Vomiting
This usually settles within a few days. Treatment consists of replacing fluid and salts you lose by drinking plenty of fluids. Sachets of powder such as Dioralyte or Electrolade can be bought at the chemist for this purpose. Most people do not feel like eating and a few days without food will do no harm. If you feel like eating then do so, but try to avoid fatty foods as this can make diarrhoea worse.
 
Cystitis
Cystitis is an inflammation inside the bladder. Over half the women in this country suffer from it at some time during their lives, often repeatedly. It makes you want to pass urine frequently and when you do pass urine it causes a burning sensation. When you first get the symptoms, drink a pint of water immediately. A teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in the water can relieve some of the pain. Paracetamol tablets are useful. It is important to carry on drinking plenty of fluids to wash the germs out of your bladder. If your symptoms do not settle in a day, bring a specimen in a clean container, as an antibiotic may be required.
 
Earache
Earache can be caused by excess ear wax, catarrh or infection. If a child gets earache, regular doses of paracetamol medicine, e.g. Calpol, will ease the discomfort. If the earache does not settle within 12 to 24 hours consult a Doctor.
Back Pain
Most back pain is not caused by anything serious. Take painkillers and remain as active as possible. Only if the pain is severe should you lie down for a day or two. Too much rest is bad for your back. Build up your activities over several days. The faster you can get back to normal activities the better, even if you still have some pain. If the back pain does not start to improve in a few days, see the Doctor. We have available a leaflet which will give you more advice on caring for a bad back. Please ask.
 
Head Lice
Head louse infection is a problem of the whole community, not just schools. Anybody can get head lice. The best way to stop infection is to check all the family's heads regularly with a nit comb. If you find a living louse, check the heads of all the people in your home. Only treat those who have living, moving lice. Contact your GP, Health Visitor, School Nurse or Pharmacist for information on which lotion to use and how to use it. (Health Visitors may be able to prescribe a suitable lotion). Repeat treatment 7 days later to make sure any newly hatched lice are killed. The nits (empty egg cases) will still be there but this does not mean you still have lice.
 
Burns and Scalds
Run cold water over the burnt area until the pain subsides (this may take 15 minutes). If the area becomes blistered keep it clean and dry and do not burst the blisters. If the burn is more than a few inches across or if the skin is broken, consult your Doctor or the Casualty Department at the hospital as soon as possible.