Minor Illness

SELF CARE FORUM FACT SHEET NO. 2 (version 1.0.1.)

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Eczema

This fact sheet helps you to know what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect to happen if you

or your child suffer from atopic eczema (atopic means ‘sensitivity to allergens’). It also tells

you when you should become concerned and when it’s best to seek medical advice from a

health professional. When talking of eczema, we mean atopic eczema in this fact sheet.

Useful facts

 What skin changes does eczema cause? If you suffer from eczema, your skin can

appear red (or darker, if you have dark skin), swollen, crusty and cracking. Itching

is common and often caused by skin dryness, infection, allergens or scratching.

 How common is eczema? You’re not alone. Eczema is an often persistent or

recurrent dry skin condition, affecting about 2 out of 10 children and two to 10

out of every 100 adults in the UK.

 What’s causing it? Eczema tends to start in childhood and is influenced by

genetic and environmental factors. People with eczema often suffer other

allergic conditions as well, such as asthma or hay fever, or both. Food allergy may

sometimes be responsible in children who present with more severe eczema

early in life.

What can I expect to happen?

 How bad can eczema get? The severity of eczema can range from mild to quite

severe. Around eight out of 10 children have mild eczema, with episodic flareups.

 Will I get cured? Many children with eczema ‘grow out’ of it by the time they

reach adolescence. But in some people, eczema may persist life-long.

Fortunately, while there is no known cure, many effective treatments are

available to alleviate your symptoms and reduce inflammation.

What can I do myself to get better – now and in the future?

 Avoid trigger factors Environmental allergens (such as dust-mite antigens or

pollen), irritants (such as detergents or dirt), certain foods, pet dander, smoke,

certain weather conditions and stress may all impact on eczema. Try to find out

whether any of these impact on your eczema and minimise them.

 Avoid soap Avoid soap and bubble bath, as both can dry out the skin. Use

emollients as soap substitutes.

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SELF CARE FORUM FACT SHEET NO. 2 (version 1.0.1.)

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 Avoid scratching too hard Scratching is a natural reflex, but scratching too hard

can make the itch even worse (the ‘itch-scratch cycle’). So whenever possible,

avoid scratching your skin too hard with your fingernails – even if it’s tempting.

Instead, rub itchy patches gently with your fingertips.

 Avoid temperature extremes Hot and cold temperatures may also make your

eczema worse. So dress appropriately for hot and cold environments, or try to

avoid temperature extremes altogether.

 Use non-irritant garments Synthetic garments and wool can trigger eczema, so

you may prefer wearing clothes made out of cotton or other non-irritant

materials.

 Moisturisers Eczema causes the skin to become dry, and the dryer the skin

becomes, the higher the chances that your symptoms will get worse. So try to

keep your skin as hydrated and smooth as possible by using your moisturising

creams or ointments regularly and liberally, even when your skin appears ‘clear’.

 Inflammation and flare-ups Speak to your pharmacist about how you can step

up/down treatments. Antihistamines can help with itching.

 Detergents Avoid using fabric conditioners and consider adding an extra rinse

cycle when using a washing machine.

When should I seek medical help?

Contact your GP surgery when you feel you need help. Rarely, eczema needs more

urgent assessment and treatment, so seek medical advice if you notice any of the

following:

 Reduced quality of life Your skin problems severely affect your sleep or impair

social activities such as swimming.

 Infection Cracking, weeping and painful skin may suggest infection.

 Blistery rash You develop a painful blistery rash, which may be due to an

infection with the herpes simplex virus.

 Spread Larger areas of your body, such as most of your chest, back, or limbs

become dry and/or red.

Where can I find out more?

There’s a lot you can do to relieve symptoms if your eczema gets worse. Check out

NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/eczema-

(atopic)/Pages/Introduction.aspx) and the National Eczema Society website

(www.eczema.org) as well as www.nottinghameczema.org.uk for further

information on how you can treat and prevent eczema. Remember that your

pharmacist can also help you with assessing and treating your symptoms.

SELF CARE FORUM FACT SHEET NO. 3 (version 1.0.1.)

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Heartburn and Indigestion

This fact sheet helps you to know what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect to happen if you

suffer from heartburn or indigestion (also called dyspepsia). It also tells you when you

should become concerned and when it’s best to seek medical advice from a health

professional.

Useful facts

 Dyspepsia is common You’re not alone. Symptoms in the upper abdomen may

affect up to 4 out of 10 people in any one year.

 How does it present? Heartburn and indigestion are symptoms of pain or

discomfort in the upper abdomen or chest. They often result from overeating,

eating high fat meals or being overweight.

 Timing Symptoms typically occur after meals.

 Other problems Dyspepsia is commonly accompanied by belching, and feeling

bloated or sick.

 What causes dyspepsia? Common causes include acid reflux from your stomach,

inflammation of the gullet, certain medicines (check the patient information

leaflet), infection with a bug called helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori), or when part

of the stomach squeezes through the diaphragm muscle into the chest (known as

hiatus hernia). Less commonly, a stomach ulcer or cancer of the stomach or

gullet may be responsible. Sometimes, no underlying cause can be found (this is

known as functional dyspepsia).

What can I expect to happen?

 Duration Your symptoms will usually improve within one or two weeks. But if

you find that you keep taking indigestion medicines all the time for several weeks

or that your symptoms affect your day to day life, you need to consult your GP.

 Effect of changing your diet In about 8 out of 10 people, symptoms will improve

by making lifestyle changes alone, such as healthier eating and losing weight.

Avoid fatty and fried meals, and eating large meals late in the day. Also try to

avoid carbonated soft drinks, coffee and alcohol. Eat slowly and chew properly.

 Medication If lifestyle changes alone don’t work, you can expect your symptoms

to improve by taking over-the-counter (OTC) or prescribed medication.

 Investigations Most people don’t need any tests. But if your symptoms aren’t

controlled, or your GP suspects a particular underlying cause, you may need

further testing. This may include looking into your gullet and stomach with a thin

and flexible tube-like camera (called endoscope) and blood or stool tests.

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What can I do myself to get better – now and in the future?

 Smoking Reduce or stop smoking, which may help improve your symptoms.

 OTC Medicines Various drugs that neutralise the acid in your stomach (antacids)

as well as other drugs called H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors

(PPIs) are available without prescription over the counter at pharmacies, in

petrol stations and in supermarkets. It’s best not to take these medicines for

prolonged periods without consulting a pharmacist or other health professional.

Visit www.medicinechestonline.com for lists of medicines available without

prescription at pharmacies and other stores.

 Avoiding aspirin-like drugs If you take OTC anti-inflammatory pain killers, such

as aspirin or ibuprofen, regularly, consult a health professional in case these

could be the cause of the indigestion.

When should I seek medical help?

Rarely, more serious medical problems may cause indigestion – particularly if you

are aged 55 or over. Seek medical advice if your symptoms do not respond to

treatment or you notice any of the following:

 Pain and other chest/stomach symptoms You suffer from severe, persistent

(longer than three weeks), worsening and unexplained pain in your upper

abdomen – particularly if occurring together with other symptoms, such as pain

in your chest, breathlessness, sweating, feeling sick or vomiting.

 Vomiting blood You vomit blood or dark lumps (like ‘coffee grounds’).

 Dark stools Your stool colour has become very dark (looking like tar). But

remember that if you take iron tablets your stool can also become black – a

harmless side effect which will go when you stop taking iron.

 Feeling faint You feel faint, or you’ve collapsed.

 Swallowing problems You develop difficulties with swallowing.

 Other problems You suffer from unexplained fever, night sweats, weight loss for

no apparent reason, or you notice a swelling or mass in your upper abdomen.

Where can I find out more?

NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/indigestion/Pages/Introduction.aspx) has

more information on how you can treat and prevent indigestion. Remember that

your pharmacist can also help you with assessing your symptoms.

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Constipation

This fact sheet helps you to know what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect to happen if

your stools – or, less formally, poo – are too hard and/or difficult to pass (known as

constipation). It also tells you when you should become concerned and seek advice from a

health professional.

Useful facts

 What is constipation? Constipation is when your stools become hard and you

find it more difficult than usual, or even painful, to pass them when going to the

toilet. You may also have a feeling of being unable to completely empty your

bowel. Opening your bowels may be more difficult because your stools are hard,

lumpy and dry, or because they are abnormally small or large.

 Other symptoms Constipation may be accompanied by feeling bloated or sick,

losing your appetite, and aches or cramps in your abdomen.

 How common is it? You’re not alone – constipation is very common (particularly

in women and older people) and affects an estimated one to two out of 10

people at any one time.

 Common causes These include not eating enough fibre (contained in cereals,

vegetables and fruit), changing your eating habits, ignoring the urge to go to the

toilet, not drinking enough fluids, not getting enough exercise – and, perhaps

surprisingly, also mental health problems such as depression or anxiety. Certain

medications, such as opiates, diuretics and antidepressants may also cause you

to become constipated.

What can I expect to happen?

 Normal stool frequency We’re all different when it comes to bowel habits –

some of us pass stools only every three or four days, whereas others may go

more than once a day.

 Constipation is usually harmless Being constipated once in a while is common

and usually completely harmless.

 Duration In most cases, constipation is short-lived and settles within a few days

– or 2 to 4 weeks at the most.

 Investigations There is usually no need for any investigations or procedures,

because the diagnosis can often be made based on the symptoms alone.

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What can I do myself to get better – now and in the future?

 Healthy diet Increasing your daily fibre intake by eating a higher proportion of

fruit, vegetables, seeds, pulses and cereals, or by taking soluble fibre in the form

of oats, can help to alleviate symptoms and prevent symptoms from recurring.

These food stuffs that make your stools softer and bulkier, and thereby easier to

pass.

 Hydration Avoid dehydration and drink plenty of water.

 Exercise Try to exercise more, which helps your bowels digest food.

 Listen to your body Respond to your bowel’s natural pattern and do not delay

going to the toilet when you feel the urge to go.

 Pain relief Simple pain killers such as paracetamol can help to relieve pain

 Medicines to ease constipation Many preparations are available over the

counter to help you open your bowels. These include bulk-forming preparations,

stool softeners, bowel stimulants and suppositories (bullet-shaped dissolvable

preparations that you can insert into the opening of your back passage). Speak to

your pharmacist for advice if you’re not sure which medicine is best for you, or

check out http://www.medicinechestonline.com.

When should I seek medical help?

In rare cases, more serious underlying causes can make you constipated. See your

GP if you notice any of the following:

 Duration You’ve been constipated or have a persistent feeling of not being able

to empty your bowel completely that doesn’t go away within six weeks.

 Other symptoms Your tummy becomes increasingly swollen, and/or you start

vomiting, which could suggest that your bowels are blocked.

 Age You’re over 50 and have never suffered from constipation before.

 Medication You think that a medication makes you constipated.

 Blood in your stools You notice blood in your stools, particularly if you don’t

have any pain or discomfort around the opening of your back passage.

 ‘General’ symptoms You’ve been losing weight for no apparent reason; you also

feel tired all the time, ‘not quite right’, sweaty or feverish; or you find that these

symptoms don’t go away within four to six weeks.

Where can I find out more?

NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Constipation/Pages/Introduction.aspx) and

the Choose Well website (www.choosewellmanchester.org.uk/self-care) provide

further useful information about constipation. Remember that your pharmacist can

also help you with assessing your symptoms.

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Headache

This fact sheet helps you to know what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect to happen if you

develop an occasional headache. It also tells you when you should become concerned and

seek advice from a health professional.

Useful facts

 Common types of headache The most common headache is tension-type

headache – the one we think of as ‘ordinary’ or ‘everyday’ headache. Tension

headache tends to be mild to moderately severe and affects both sides of the

head. It usually feels ‘pressing’ or ‘tightening’ and is not affected by routine daily

activities. Migraine is a moderate or severe throbbing headache affecting one or

both sides of the head and made worse by ordinary daily activities.

 Less common causes of headache These include cluster headache (a severe or

very severe pain around and above the eye), headache from overusing pain

killers (affecting about one to two out of 100 people), inflamed blood vessels,

and raised pressure inside the head (for example from a bleed or tumour).

 Headaches are common As many as 8 out of 10 people have occasional tensiontype

headache from time to time, and 1 or 2 out of 10 people suffer migraines.

 Migraine triggers Migraines can have many triggers, such as certain foods,

stress, hunger, tiredness and can get worse during menstrual changes or when

taking the combined oral contraceptive pill.

What can I expect to happen?

 Rarely serious Although headaches can severely affect your life, they’re rarely

serious or life-threatening. Most get better by themselves, often within 24 hours.

 Tests You won’t usually need further tests, such as scans or blood tests.

What can I do myself to get better – now and in the future?

 Headache diary Keep a headache diary and record how often you get

headaches, how long they last, and whether they are mild, moderate or severe.

This can be helpful to decide whether your headaches follow a particular pattern

and shows how they respond to treatment, which is useful when you need to

discuss them with a health professional. A useful online version for monitoring

migraine headache is available at http://www.migraineclinic.org.uk/wpcontent/

uploads/2012/01/NMC-monthly-diary.pdf).

 Lifestyle Try to get plenty of rest and sleep, and use every opportunity to relax.

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 Diet and fluids Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of fluid (ideally water) a day. Avoid

alcohol and take regular meals.

 Pain killers Various pain killers are available without prescription from your

pharmacist. Choosing a preparation often comes down to personal preferences

and needs to take into account other medical conditions that you may have,

other medicines that you may be taking, and the risk of potential side effects.

Special migraine medications are available for treating migraine attacks. Avoid

taking painkillers for headaches for more than 10 to 15 days per month.

 Other treatments Acupuncture can help with migraine and tension type

headache. Riboflavin (available as a food supplement from health food shops)

may help reduce migraine frequency and intensity in some people. Manual

therapy may help if you also suffer from neck aches.

When should I seek medical help?

Seek medical advice if over the counter treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, or

if you find it difficult to get on with your daily activities or go to work. Also speak to a

health professional if you notice any of the following:

 Frequency Your headaches become more and more frequent.

 Additional symptoms You vomit for no apparent reason or have a high fever.

You develop a stiff neck or feel drowsy.

 After head injury You suffer from persisting headaches after a blow or other

injury to your head (though a mild headache for one to two days after a head

injury is common and usually harmless).

 Sleep Your headache prevents you from getting to sleep or wakes you.

 Certain situations Your headache is worse on coughing, straining, bending, lying

flat or laughing.

 Speech and personality You notice a change in speech or personality.

 Odd sensations You develop weakness, numbness or other odd sensations

anywhere on your body, or you feel unsteady on your feet.

 Severity You develop a sudden severe headache, like ‘being hit with a hammer’.

 Eyes Your eyes feel really uncomfortable when looking at bright light, or you

suffer other new eye symptoms, such as sudden blind spots.

 Others symptoms You have muscle pains, pain on chewing, a tender scalp, or

feel unwell.

Where can I find out more?

NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/headache/Pages/Introduction.aspx) and the

Pain Toolkit (www.paintoolkit.org) have more information on how you can treat and

prevent headache. Your pharmacist can also help you with assessing your symptoms.

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