Self treatment at home

If you want advice on how to look after an illness on your own at home safely there is no better help than NHS Direct. This is a free health phone line where you can talk to trained health professionals 24 hours a day.  Phone them on 0845 46 47.

Most illnesses are managed at home without any input from doctors or nurses.  Generally people do this with considerable skill. However, we do see patients who have either left a condition too long and it has become serious, or people who come frequently for minor illnesses that would get better on their own.  Getting the balance right between being too worried or too relaxed can be difficult.

A quick guide

This is a very quick guide to how to care for yourself at home with symptoms of a cough or cold.

• Most coughs, colds and sore throats get better on their own, even if there is a day when they are very uncomfortable.
• If you have a cough, cold or sore throat that is getting better slowly and you are able to get up and about, it is almost certainly safe to look after yourself at home.
• If you have a fever, try taking regular paracetamol and ibuprofen together. This often gives better relief than paracetamol alone.  (Ibuprofen can cause an upset stomach, so stop it if this happens)
• Tickly coughs can be treated with codeine linctus (a cough medicine) and steam inhalation.  Ask the chemist for advice.
• Ear infections in children are usually painful for only 24 hours and then often get better on their own without any long term problems
• Do not be surprised if a cold leaves you with a tickly or phlegmy cough for several weeks after the initial illness.  This is especially likely if you smoke.  As long as you are not feeling unwell in yourself or have a fever and are eating and drinking and not short of breath you are unlikely to have a serious chest infection.
• If you are unsure if you are doing the right thing, ask the chemist, phone for advice from the doctors, nurses, the chemist or NHS Direct.

NHS Direct

The web site for NHS direct is the best self help guide we have found.  You are able to look up a symptom, (e.g. pain in your back) and follow a series and yes/no questions to end with a diagnosis and advice on what to do next.  There are lots of links to health advice, information leaflets and even a way you can ask a question to an online doctor.