Self Help - minor illnesses

Self-help

There are a number of self-help measures that may help to ease the symptoms of a cold.

• Drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Steam inhalations with menthol, salt water nasal sprays or drops may be helpful.
• Vapour rubs may help relieve symptoms for children.
• Hot drinks (particularly with lemon), hot soups and spicy foods can help to ease irritation and pain in your throat.
• Sucking sweets or lozenges which contain menthol or eucalyptus may sooth your throat.
• Gargling with salt water may help a sore throat.

You should try to make sure you get enough rest if you have a cold. It’s not usually necessary to stay off work or school.

Colds & Flu
A factsheet on the causes, symptoms, treatment & prevention of colds & the flu

NHS Choices - is it the common cold or the flu?
Colds and flu can share some of the same symptoms (sneezing, coughing, sore throat) but are caused by different viruses, and flu can be much more serious. Find out

Factsheet - Common Cold
Information about the diagnosis, treatment and symptoms of the common cold

Tonsillitis

The signs to look out for for adults and children with a possible tonsillitis which may require antibiotic treatment are:

• History of fever (feeling hot, cold and shivery, sweaty episodes).
• Sore throat without cough.
• White spots on the back of the throat with enlarged tonsils.
• Tender enlarged glands in the neck.

If you have 3 or more of these symptoms it would be worth seeing a GP to discuss possible antibiotic treatment. This is not given to take the tonsillitis away (it actually only improves things for 1 in 18 people and shortens the illness by about 24 hours). Antibiotics in tonsillitis are given to reduce the chance of having a tonsillar abscess which can require further treatment.

Sinusitis

For sinusitis, which tends to present as a cold with added facial pains around the nose area, a nasal spray is usually the best initial treatment, since antibiotics are usually only used in sinusitis that fails to improve with nasal sprays. Antibiotics are not actually very effective in treating sinusitis, typically only 1 in 18 people treated with antibiotics in acute sinuses improves faster than those treated with topical treatments.

A nasal spray can be easily obtained from most pharmacies under the minor ailments scheme without the need for a prescription from a doctor.

Nasal sprays should be used correctly to be most effective; they should be pointed backwards towards the ear, not upwards, for maximum effect, and the nose should be cleared of mucus before use.

Another useful treatment option for sinusitis or recurrent nasal congestion in both children and adults is sinus rinsing. Sinus rinse kits such as the Neilmed Kit are available online or over the counter and can provide good symptomatic relief. A video detailing how these work is available here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYZDeiOVJx0

Ear Wax

Ear wax does not require a GP or nurse appointment for treatment. The first line treatment is oil drops. Any oil in the home will do the same job - simply to mix with and soften the wax so the ear can naturally push the wax out of the ear canal.

Unfortunately ear syringing is an aerosol generating procedure and following COVID-19 this cannot safely be done in the practice. If you do require wax suction then you can purchase a cheap suction bulb online. Further guidance is available in this helpful leaflet.

More expensive suction or self syringing devices are available online, as are silicone wax removers. These are very soft and so may not clear hard wax. It is always best to use oil for a few weeks before trying any type of wax removal device.

https://berviemedical.com/website/S32514/files/How_to_Use_a_Bulb_Syringe.pdf