Castlebar Health Newsletter

content supplied by John O'Donnell Pharmacist

Tel: 094 24524    Fax: 094 27884

Treating Minor Ailments

Health Index


Back to Castlebar

• Colds
  
• Cough
  
• Sore Throat
  
• Indigestion
  
• Hayfever
  
• Cold Sores
  
• Athlete's foot
  
• Piles
  

Colds

Symptoms

Sneezing. Fever and Headache. Blocked or runny nose. General aches and pain.

Remedies

Take a decongestant tablet or use a decongestant spray to unblock the nose. Take an anti-histamine to dry up a runny nose. Take a pain reliever for aches and pains and to reduce a temperature.

Cough

Symptoms

Coughing - usually either a dry/tickly cough or a chesty/productive cough.

Remedies

Take a cough mixture: An expectorant in the case of a chesty cough to help loosen up phlegm or a cough reliever/linctus to stop the cough in the case of a dry ticklish cough with no phlegm.(O'Donnell's Pharmacy make up their own cough mixtures.)

Sore Throat

Symptoms

Pain and Inflammation

Remedies

Use Lozengers or a throat spray containing anti-bacterials and/or anaesthetics to relieve pain. Gargle with aspirin or liquid antiseptic.

Indigestion

Symptoms

Stomach ache, Heartburn, Nausea, Belching and Bloating

Remedies

Take an antacid to reduce excess acid in the stomach or an acid supressant (H2 antagonist) which stops excess acid being formed. Avoid excessive amounts of rich and spicy food and alcohol and eating late at night.

Hayfever

Symptoms

Sneezing, Watery eyes, Runny or stuffy nose, Headache

Remedies

Take an anti-histamine to relieve the symptoms of hay fever especially sneezing and watery eyes. Use azelastine, corticosteroid or sodium chromoglycate spray to prevent and treat hay fever. Avoid pollen

Cold Sores

Symptoms

Itching, tingling, burning sensation and sores on/around lips. If prolonged, seek medical advice.

Remedies

Apply an anti-viral cream containing aciclovir to treat the viral infection which causes the cold sore.

Athlete's Foot

Symptoms

Itchy sore sensation between toes, cracking and peeling.

Remedies

Apply a cream or ointment containing clotrimazole or miconazole or tolnaftate to treat the fungal infection which causes Athlete's Foot. Wash feet frequently and dry thoroughly as damp conditions encourage the fungal infection further.

Piles ( Also known as haemorrhoids )

Symptoms

Swelling of blood vessels inside the back passage, itching and pain. If there's any blood, see the doctor.

Remedies

Use an ointment, cream and/or suppositories containing soothing agents, local anaesthetics and/or hydrocortisone to reduce pain and swelling.