TREATING YOURSELF
Many illnesses are easily treated with simple remedies and by following straightforward advice.

COLDS
The common cold is caught by inhaling droplets of water containing the cold virus, usually from a cough or sneeze from someone else. The first symptoms are an itchy and runny nose followed by a dry and then sore throat. The eyes may also run and there may be a cough. You will probably feel hot to the touch while actually feeling cold and shivery.

The treatment is simple. To control the temperature and the sore throat you should take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen in accordance with the instructions on the packet. These remedies are available widely in pharmacies and supermarkets. Keep your fluid intake up, stay indoors and keep warm for three to four days.

FLU AND SIMILAR VIRUSES
If you have a chronic medical condition then you should attend for a flu jab each year as this will offer you some protection against flu. Ask the GP or Nurse if this would be appropriate for you.

Flu is different to the common cold. Flu is very unpleasant and lasts for two to four weeks. It starts with a temperature and is soon followed by widespread muscular aches and pains most often worse in the lower back. You may get a sore throat but mostly you will feel extremely unwell. After a few days a cough may develop.

Flu is a viral illness and the treatment is:

• To drink plenty of clear fluids, including fruit juice or squash
• Not to eat if you don’t feel hungry
• To take Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen
• Stay indoors and keep warm

Be prepared for flu, and similar viral illnesses to last a week, and then two to three weeks more to convalesce.

When suffering from a cold or flu, always use paper tissues to stifle a cough or sneeze as this will help prevent the spread of the illness. Tissues should only be used once and then discarded of.

GASTRIC FLU
This is another common viral illness that causes sickness, sometimes violent, and at times diarrhoea. You will also experience aches and pains and a have raised temperature. Commonly a patient will vomit for eight to twelve hours before starting to feel better. The vomit can be undigested food at first then becomes clear or bile stained (yellow) after the first few vomits. If you vomit blood you should seek further medical advice. Diarrhoea may follow or even be present with the vomiting.

The treatment for gastric flu is the same as for most viral illnesses:

• Take plenty of clear fluids
• Don't eat any solid food for forty-eight hours or at least while still vomiting
• Take paracetamol once the vomiting stops
• Ibuprofen irritates the stomach so is not recommended for gastric flu

URINE INFECTIONS AND CYSTITIS
You probably have a urine infection if you:

• Experience the persistent urge to pass urine
• Have to go to the toilet more often than normal
• Pass very little urine but feel you need to go again straight away

Increasing the amount of urine you produce will help as will taking something to alter the acidity of the urine and treatment is available from pharmacies. However if the symptoms persist for more than twenty four hours you may well need antibiotic treatment.

Antibiotics are prescribed by a GP but we may well be able to diagnose and issue a prescription through GP Telephone Triage. If you ring the surgery we may be able to offer you a telephone consultation rather than asking you to come to surgery to be seen.

SELF CERTIFYING
If you are unwell for 7 days or less you do not need a medical certicate (sick note) from the Doctor. You can fill in a self certification form and these are available from reception or your employer.