Common Conditions

COMMON SELF LIMITING CONDITIONS

Back Ache

Back ache causes around 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year. Up to 50% of the population may be affected sometimes during their lives. If you have an acute back ache, particularly after any unusual bending or lifting, we would recommend that you take a simple analgesic such as Paracetamol and that you keep as active as possible during your period of convalescence which is typically 2-4 weeks. If at the end of this period the symptoms are not improving or if at any time there is a weakness of the legs or difficulty in passing urine, then you should contact your doctor.

Burns

If you burn yourself you should immediately run the affected part under the cold tap for 15 minutes, you may then apply a clean dressing and should the skin be blistered or broken you should be seen by your doctor. Do not put any ointments or creams to the burned skin. Do not burst any blisters.

Conjunctivitis

This is self limiting and the latest studies show that no treatment is needed other than occasionally cleaning the eyes with tepid water. Keep a separate flannel as it is quite catching. It should settle in 10 days to 2 weeks

Chicken Pox

Chicken Pox is one of the common childhood infections, which presents with small blisters over the trunk. It is fairly mild in normal children. It should be treated with Calpol for any fever and Calamine Lotion applied to the spots.

Coughs and Colds

Coughs and colds are commonly due to viral infections and particularly in the absence of fever, generally do not require any treatment. These self limiting conditions may last up to 2 weeks. We do not believe in cough medicines as there is no evidence that they improve the outcome. Antibiotics are not prescribed unless evidence of bacterial infection is found. We would generally recommend that you try and deal with these symptoms yourself, unless they are particularly troublesome.

Diarrhoea and Vomiting

This is usually due to an infectious cause and will settle over 6 or 7 days, providing the bowel is ready. Children under 1 year of age should be seen at the surgery for assessment. Older children and adults should keep to fluids only for 24 hours. These are best given in a combined glucose electrolyte mixture such as Electrolade sachets or Dioralyte, which are available at the chemist. After 24 hours food can gradually be started in a light diet such as jelly, clear soup, or a little steamed fish. Fatty foods, tea, coffee, alcohol and smoking should be avoided for at least a week. Diarrhoea and vomiting which does not settle after a week, should be seen by the Doctor. DO NOT take any anti-diarrhoeal medicines from the chemist as these usually prolong the illness. Diarrhoea and vomiting which occurs within 2 weeks of return from abroad should be seen by the Doctor. Children should not return to school or nursery for 48 hours from the time of the last episode.

Ear Aches

Ear aches in children can be distressing, we would recommend that if your child has an ear ache you give him or her some CaIpoI in the appropriate dosage for their age and contact the doctor the following morning.

Insect Bites and Stings

Insect bites are common in the summer months. They are generally located on the legs and arms. If acquired in the United Kingdom, the best treatment is Calamine Lotion and oral antihistamines which can be bought at the chemist.

Fever

Fever should generally be treated with Calpol for those under 6 years of age and Calpol Plus for those over the age of 6. When the child is able to swallow Paracetamol tablets at about 10 or 12 years of age, they may be used, following the instructions on the bottle for the appropriate dosage. If the child has ever had a febrile convulsion and the fever is not readily settling, then a Doctor should be informed.

Sore Throats

Sore throats are almost always due to viral infections and as such do not respond to antibiotics. We do not prescribe antibiotics for these conditions because they are ineffective and they also expose the patient to a potentially toxic drug. In addition you may become allergic to antibiotic if given frequently and then when you are seriously ill the drug or any of its sister compounds may not be used. Resistant organisms are induced in the gut and this resistance is transferred to incoming serious bacteria, which then may cause serious damage.

Sunburn

Sunburn can cause severe discomfort, nausea and vomiting in some people. You should treat any affected areas as for burns, but if you are constitutionally unwell, you may need to keep fluids only as the advice for diarrhoea and vomiting. Contact the Doctor if you are worried.