Check if you have a cold

Cold symptoms come on gradually and can include:

• blocked or runny nose
• sore throat
• headaches
• muscle aches
• coughs
• sneezing
• a raised temperature
• pressure in your ears and face
• loss of taste and smell

The symptoms are the same in adults and children. Sometimes, symptoms last longer in children.

Telling the difference between cold and flu

Cold and flu symptoms are similar but flu tends to be more severe.

How you can treat a cold yourself

To help you get better more quickly:

• rest and sleep
• keep warm
• drink plenty of water (fruit juice or squash mixed with water is ok) to avoid dehydration
• gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat

A pharmacist can help with cold medicines

You can buy cough and cold medicines from pharmacies or supermarkets. A pharmacist can advise you on the best medicine.

You can:

• relieve a blocked nose with decongestant sprays or tablets
• ease aches or lower a temperature with painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen

Be careful not to use cough and cold medicines if you’re taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets as it’s easy to take more than the recommended dose.

Some are not suitable for children, babies and pregnant women.

There’s little evidence that supplements (such as vitamin c, zinc, echinacea or garlic) prevent colds or speed up recovery.

See a GP if:

• your symptoms don’t improve after three weeks
• your symptoms get suddenly worse
• your temperature is very high or you feel hot and shivery
• you’re concerned about your child’s symptoms
• you’re finding it hard to breathe or develop chest pain
• you have a long-term medical condition – for example, diabetes, or a heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, because you’re having chemotherapy

Antibiotics

GPs don’t recommend antibiotics for colds because they won’t relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections and colds are caused by viruses.

How to avoid spreading a cold

Colds are caused by viruses and easily spread to other people. You’re infectious until all your symptoms have gone. This usually takes a week or two.

Colds are spread by germs from coughs and sneezes which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading a cold:

• wash your hands often with warm water and soap
• use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
• bin used tissues as quickly as possible

How to prevent catching a cold

A person with a cold can start spreading it from a few days before their symptoms begin until the symptoms have finished. The best ways to avoid catching a cold are:

• washing your hands with warm water and soap
• not sharing towels or household items (like cups) with someone who has a cold
• not touching your eyes or nose in case you’ve come into contact with the virus – it can infect the body this way
• staying fit and healthy

The flu vaccine helps prevent the flu but not colds.

See how to wash your hands correctly

[Last reviewed 2017-12-19]

How you can ease headaches yourself

Headaches can last between 30 minutes and several hours.

See a GP if:

• your headache keeps coming back
• painkillers don’t help and your headache gets worse
• you have a bad throbbing pain at the front or side of your head – this could be a migraine or, more rarely, a cluster headache
• you feel sick, vomit and find light or noise painful
• you get other symptoms – for example, your arms or legs feel numb or weak

See a GP urgently if you have a severe headache and:

• your jaw hurts when eating
• blurred or double vision
• your scalp feels sore

These could be signs that the arteries in your head and neck are inflamed. This needs urgent treatment.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

• you injured your head badly – for example, from a fall or accident
• a headache came on suddenly and is extremely painful

You have an extremely painful headache and:

• sudden problems speaking or remembering things
• loss of vision
• you’re feeling drowsy or confused
• you have a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have a stiff neck or a rash
• the white part of your eye is red

What can cause headaches

The most common reasons are:

• having a cold or the flu
• stress
• drinking too much alcohol
• bad posture
• eyesight problems
• not eating regular meals
• not drinking enough fluids (dehydration)
• taking too many painkillers
• women having their period or menopause

[Last reviewed 2017-12-21]

If you have a recent problem with your eyes, such as sore eyes, red eyes or visual disturbance, you can be assessed and treated by our local Minor Eye Conditions Service. This is a free service for patients registered with a Bedfordshire GP, which is available from a number of local opticians.

What is a Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)?

• Red eye or eyelids
• Dry eyes or gritty and uncomfortable eyes
• Irritation and inflammation of the eye
• Significant recent sticky discharge from the eye, or watery eyes
• Recently occurring flashes or floaters
• Ingrowing eyelashes
• Recent and sudden loss of vision
• Foreign body in the eye

Also, if you have a major eye condition that is being regularly monitored by your optometrist or hospital eye service, this will not be covered by this service, for example cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.

Where should I go?

An appointment will normally be required at authorised opticians, so please telephone first. Appointments are available during normal working hours and some practices offer weekend appointments. Not all practices have an optometrist available every day, but if they don’t, they will be able to find you an alternative appointment nearby.

Who is this service for?

If you are registered with a local GP, you can use this free service. It is for people of all ages – adults and children. Children under 16 years must be accompanied at their appointment by an adult.

How do I book an appointment with the service?

To make an appointment, call one of the opticians that are listed above. You will be asked some questions about your symptoms in order to assess how quickly you need to be seen by the service, which will be withing 24 hours in urgent cases and withing a few days for routine appointments.

Please take your glasses and a list of your current medication with you to the appointment. The optometrist may put drops in your eyes to enlarge your pupils in order to get a better view inside your eyes. You should not drive until the effect of these drops have worn off, which may take a few hours.

If your condition is more serious, the optometrist will book you an urgent appointment at a hospital eye clinic. If you need a routine appointment with a hospital, the optometrist will organise this for you. You may also be advised to make an appointment with your GP if your eye condition is related to your general health.

Pain in the lower back (lumbago) is particularly common, although it can be felt anywhere along the spine – from the neck down to the hips.

In most cases the pain isn’t caused by anything serious and will usually get better over time.

There are things you can do to help relieve it. But sometimes the pain can last a long time or keep coming back.

How to relieve back pain

The following tips may help reduce your backache and speed up your recovery:

• stay as active as possible and try to continue your daily activities – this is one of the most important things you can do, as resting for long periods is likely to make the pain worse
• try exercises and stretches for back pain; other activities such as walking, swimming, yoga and pilates may also be helpful
• take anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen – remember to check the medicine is safe for you to take first and ask a pharmacist if you’re not sure
• use hot or cold compression packs for short-term relief – you can buy these from your local pharmacy, or a hot water bottle and a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth will work just as well

Although it can be difficult, it helps if you stay optimistic and recognise that your pain should get better, as people who manage to stay positive despite their pain tend to recover quicker.

Getting help and advice

Back pain usually gets better on its own within a few weeks or months and you may not need to see a doctor or other healthcare professional.

But it’s a good idea to get help if:

• the pain doesn’t start to improve within a few weeks
• the pain stops you doing your day-to-day activities
• the pain is very severe or gets worse over time
• you’re worried about the pain or are struggling to cope

You can see your GP, who will ask about your symptoms, examine your back, and discuss possible treatments. They may refer you to a specialist doctor or a physiotherapist for further help.

Alternatively, you may want to consider approaching a physiotherapist directly. Some NHS physiotherapists accept appointments without a doctor’s referral, or you could choose to pay for private treatment.

Read more about how to find a physiotherapist.

Treatments from a specialist

Your GP, specialist or physiotherapist may recommend extra treatments if they don’t think your pain will improve with self-help measures alone.

These may include:

• group exercise classes – where you’re taught exercises to strengthen your muscles and improve your posture
• manual therapy – treatments such as manipulating the spine and massage, usually carried out by physiotherapists, chiropractors or osteopaths
• psychological support, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – this can be a useful part of treatment if you’re struggling to cope with the pain

Some people choose to see a therapist for manual therapy without seeing their GP first. If you want to do this, you’ll usually need to pay for private treatment.

Surgery is generally only considered in the small number of cases where back pain is caused by a specific medical condition.

Causes of back pain

Often it’s not possible to identify the cause of back pain. Doctors call this “non-specific” back pain.

Sometimes the pain may be a result of an injury such as a sprain or strain, but often it occurs for no apparent reason. It’s very rarely caused by anything serious.

Occasionally back pain can be due to a medical condition such as:

• a slipped (prolapsed) disc – where a disc of cartilage in the spine presses on a nearby nerve
• sciatica – irritation of the nerve that runs from the pelvis to the feet

These conditions tend to cause additional symptoms – such as numbness, weakness or a tingling sensation – and they’re treated differently to non-specific back pain.

Preventing back pain

It’s difficult to prevent back pain, but the following tips may help reduce your risk:

• do regular back exercises and stretches – your GP or a physiotherapist may be able to advise you about exercises to try
• stay active – doing regular exercise can help keep your back strong; adults are advised to do 150 minutes of exercise a week
• avoid sitting for too long when driving or at work
• take care when lifting – read some safe lifting tips
• check your posture when sitting, using computers and watching television – find out how to sit correctly and tips for laptop users
• ensure the mattress on your bed supports you properly
• lose weight through a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise if you’re overweight – being overweight can increase your risk of developing back pain

When to get immediate medical advice

You should contact your GP or NHS 111 immediately if you have back pain and:

• numbness or tingling around your genitals or buttocks
• difficulty peeing
• loss of bladder or bowel control
• chest pain
• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
• unexplained weight loss
• a swelling or a deformity in your back
• it doesn’t improve after resting or is worse at night
• it started after a serious accident, such as after a car accident

These problems could be a sign of something more serious and need to be checked urgently.

[Last reviewed 2017-01-23]

Check if you have a sprain or strain

It’s likely to be a sprain or strain if:

• you have pain, tenderness or weakness – often around your ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg or back
• the injured area is swollen or bruised
• you can’t put weight on the injury or use it normally
• you have muscle spasms or cramping – where your muscles painfully tighten on their own

Is it a sprain or a strain?

How to treat sprains and strains yourself

For the first couple of days, follow the 4 steps known as RICE therapy to help bring down swelling and support the injury:

1. Rest – stop any exercise or activities and try not to put any weight on the injury.
2. Ice – apply an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a tea towel) to the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
3. Compression – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it.
4. Elevate – keep it raised on a pillow as much as possible.

To help prevent swelling, try to avoid heat – such as hot baths and heat packs – alcohol and massages for the first couple of days.

When you can move the injured area without pain stopping you, try to keep moving it so the joint or muscle doesn’t become stiff.

[Last reviewed 2018-01-12]

A burn is caused by dry heat – by an iron or fire, for example. A scald is caused by something wet, such as hot water or steam.

Burns can be very painful and may cause:

• red or peeling skin
• blisters
• swelling
• white or charred skin

The amount of pain you feel isn’t always related to how serious the burn is. Even a very serious burn may be relatively painless.

Treating burns and scalds

To treat a burn, follow the first aid advice below:

• immediately get the person away from the heat source to stop the burning
• cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes – don’t use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances such as butter
• remove any clothing or jewellery that’s near the burnt area of skin, including babies’ nappies – but don’t move anything that’s stuck to the skin
• make sure the person keeps warm – by using a blanket, for example, but take care not to rub it against the burnt area
• cover the burn by placing a layer of cling film over it – a clean plastic bag could also be used for burns on your hand
• use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain
• if the face or eyes are burnt, sit up as much as possible, rather than lying down – this helps to reduce swelling

Read more about treating burns and scalds.

When to get medical attention

Depending on how serious a burn is, it may be possible to treat it at home. For minor burns, keep the burn clean and don’t burst any blisters that form.

More serious burns require professional medical attention. You should go to a hospital A&E department for:

• all chemical and electrical burns
• large or deep burns – any burn bigger than your hand
• burns that cause white or charred skin – any size
• burns on the face, hands, arms, feet, legs or genitals that cause blisters

If someone has breathed in smoke or fumes, they should also seek medical attention. Some symptoms may be delayed and can include:

• coughing
• a sore throat
• difficulty breathing
• facial burns

People at greater risk from the effects of burns, such as children under five years old and pregnant women, should also get medical attention after a burn or scald.

The size and depth of the burn will be assessed and the affected area cleaned before a dressing is applied. In severe cases, skin graft surgery may be recommended.

Read more about:

• recovering from burns and scalds
• complications of burns and scalds

Types of burn

Burns are assessed by how seriously your skin is damaged and which layers of skin are affected. Your skin has three layers:

• the epidermis – the outer layer of skin
• the dermis – the layer of tissue just beneath, which contains blood capillaries, nerve endings, sweat glands and hair follicles
• the subcutaneous fat, or subcutis – the deeper layer of fat and tissue

There are four main types of burn, which tend to have a different appearance and different symptoms:

• superficial epidermal burn – where the epidermis is damaged; your skin will be red, slightly swollen and painful, but not blistered
• superficial dermal burn – where the epidermis and part of the dermis are damaged; your skin will be pale pink and painful, and there may be small blisters
• deep dermal or partial thickness burn – where the epidermis and the dermis are damaged: this type of burn makes your skin turn red and blotchy; your skin may be dry or moist, and become swollen and blistered, and it may be very painful or painless
• full thickness burn – where all three layers of skin (the epidermis, dermis and subcutis) are damaged; the skin is often burnt away and the tissue underneath may appear pale or blackened, while the remaining skin will be dry and white, brown or black with no blisters, and the texture of the skin may also be leathery or waxy

Preventing burns and scalds

Many severe burns and scalds affect babies and young children. Examples of things you can do to help reduce the likelihood of your child having a serious accident at home include:

• keeping your child out of the kitchen whenever possible
• testing the temperature of bath water using your elbow before you put your baby or toddler in the bath
• keeping matches, lighters and lit candles out of young children’s sight and reach
• keeping hot drinks well away from young children

Read more about preventing burns and scalds.

Further advice

If you need advice about a burn or scald, you can:

• call NHS 111
• go to a minor injuries unit (MIU)
• go to an NHS walk-in centre
• call or see your GP

Use the services directory to find minor injury units and walk-in centres near you.

[Last reviewed 2017-09-24]

Check if you have shingles

The first signs of shingles can be:

• a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin
• a headache or feeling generally unwell

A rash will appear a few days later.

Usually, you get shingles on your chest and tummy, but it can appear on your face, eyes and genitals.

See a GP as soon as you suspect shingles

They can prescribe medicine to help speed up your recovery and avoid longer-lasting problems.

These work best if taken within 3 days of your symptoms starting.

If you can’t see a GP, call 111 for advice about what to do.

How to treat shingles symptoms yourself

How long shingles lasts

It can take up to 4 weeks for the rash to heal.

Your skin can be painful for weeks after the rash has gone, but it usually settles over time.

Stay away from certain groups of people if you have shingles

You can’t spread shingles to others. But people who haven’t had chickenpox before could catch chickenpox from you.

This is because shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus.

Try to avoid:

• pregnant women who have not had chickenpox before
• people with a weakened immune system – like someone having chemotherapy
• babies less than 1 month old – unless it’s your own baby, as they should be protected from the virus by your immune system

Shingles and pregnancy

If you’re pregnant and get shingles, there’s no danger to your pregnancy or baby.

But your GP should refer you to a specialist, as you may need antiviral treatment.

You can’t get shingles from someone with chickenpox

You can’t get shingles from someone with shingles or chickenpox.

But you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you haven’t had chickenpox before.

When people get chickenpox, the virus remains in the body. It can be reactivated later and cause shingles if someone’s immune system is lowered.

This can be because of stress, certain conditions, or treatments like chemotherapy.

Shingles vaccination

A shingles vaccine is available on the NHS for people in their 70s. It helps reduce your risk of getting shingles.

If you get shingles after being vaccinated, the symptoms can be much milder.

Ask your GP surgery if you can get the vaccine on the NHS.

Find out more about who can have the shingles vaccine.

[Last reviewed 2018-02-27]

Stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound thoroughly and covering it with a plaster or dressing is usually all that’s needed.

Minor wounds should start to heal within a few days.

How to treat cuts and grazes

Stop the bleeding

Stop any bleeding before applying a dressing to the wound. Apply pressure to the area using a clean and dry absorbent material – such as a bandage, towel or handkerchief – for several minutes.

If the cut is to your hand or arm, raise it above your head to help reduce the flow of blood.

If the injury is to a lower limb, lie down and raise the affected area above the level of your heart.

Clean the wound and apply a dressing

When the wound has stopped bleeding, clean it and cover it with a dressing to help stop it becoming infected.

To do this:

• wash and dry your hands thoroughly
• clean the wound under drinking-quality running tap water – avoid using antiseptic as it may damage the skin and slow healing
• pat the area dry with a clean towel
• apply a sterile adhesive dressing, such as a plaster – read more about how to apply plasters and other dressings

Keep the dressing clean by changing it as often as necessary. Keep the wound dry by using waterproof dressings, which will allow you to take showers.

You can remove the dressing after a few days, once the wound has closed itself.

Take painkillers if needed

If the wound is painful for the first few days, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

When to get medical help
Call NHS 111 or visit your local walk-in centre, minor injuries unit or GP surgery if there’s a risk your wound could become infected, or you think it’s already infected.

A wound is at risk of infection if:

• it has been contaminated with dirt, pus or other bodily fluids
• there was something in the wound before it was cleaned, such as gravel or a shard of glass
• it has a jagged edge
• it’s longer than 5cm (2 inches)
• it was caused by an animal or human bite

Signs a wound has become infected include:

• swelling, redness and increasing pain in the affected area
• pus forming in or around the wound
• feeling generally unwell
• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
• swollen glands under the chin or in the neck, armpits or groin

An infected wound can usually be successfully treated with a short course of antibiotics.

When to go to A&E

Go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department as soon as possible if:

• you cannot stop the bleeding
• you’re bleeding from an artery – blood from an artery comes out in spurts with each beat of the heart, and is bright red and usually hard to control
• you experience persisting or significant loss of sensation near the wound or you’re having trouble moving any body parts
• you have received a severe cut to the face – you may require urgent treatment to prevent scarring
• you have received a cut to the palm of your hand and it looks infected – these types of infection can spread quickly
• there’s a possibility a foreign body is still inside the wound
• the wound is very large or the injury has caused a lot of tissue damage

In A&E, your wound will be examined to determine whether there’s any risk of infection. You may need a booster injection to prevent tetanus, and your wound may be closed with stitches, strips or special glue before a dressing is applied.

If your wound is at risk of infection, it won’t usually be closed because this may trap any infection inside. Instead, it will be packed with a non-sticky dressing before being covered with a protective dressing until it’s safe to close.

[Last reviewed 2018-10-18]

Go to A&E after a head injury if you or your child have:

• been knocked out but have now woken up
• been vomiting since the injury
• a headache that doesn’t go away with painkillers
• a change in behaviour, like being more irritable
• problems with memory
• been drinking alcohol or taking drugs just before the injury
• a blood clotting disorder (like haemophilia) or take blood-thinners (like warfarin)
• had brain surgery in the past

You or your child could have concussion.

Symptoms usually start within 24 hours but sometimes may not appear for up to 3 weeks.

Find your nearest A&E

Call 999 if someone has hit their head and has:

• been knocked out and hasn’t woken up
• difficulty staying awake or keeping their eyes open
• a fit (seizure)
• problems with their vision
• clear fluid coming from their ears or nose
• bleeding from their ears or bruising behind their ears
• numbness or weakness in part of their body
• problems with walking, balance, understanding, speaking or writing
• hit their head in a serious accident, such as a car crash

Also call 999 if you can’t get someone to A&E safely.

How to treat a minor head injury

If you don’t need to go to hospital, you can usually look after yourself or your child at home.

It’s normal to have symptoms such as a slight headache, or feeling sick or dazed, for up to 2 weeks.

To help recovery:

See a GP if:

• your or your child’s symptoms last more than 2 weeks
• you’re not sure if it’s safe for you to drive or return to work, school or sports

[Last reviewed 2018-04-04]

Check if you have norovirus

The main symptoms of norovirus are:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• diarrhoea
• being sick (vomiting)

You may also have:

• a high temperature of 38C or above
• a headache
• aching arms and legs

The symptoms start suddenly within 1 to 2 days of being infected.

How to treat norovirus yourself

You can usually treat yourself or your child at home.

You should start to feel better in a day or two.

Stay off school or work until the symptoms have stopped for 2 days. Also avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time.

This is when you’re most infectious.

How norovirus is spread

Norovirus can spread very easily.

You can catch norovirus from:

• close contact with someone with norovirus
• touching surfaces or objects that have been touched by someone with norovirus
• eating food that has been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus

Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels don’t kill norovirus.

[Last reviewed 2018-04-23]

Check if it’s a cold sore

A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling.

Over the next 48 hours

Cold sores should start to heal within 10 days, but may spread and be irritating or painful while they heal.

Some people find that certain things trigger a cold sore, such as another illness, sunshine or periods.

When it’s not a cold sore

A pharmacist can help with cold sores

A pharmacist can recommend:

• creams to ease pain and irritation
• antiviral creams to speed up healing time
• cold sore patches to protect the skin while it heals

You can buy electronic devices from pharmacies that treat cold sores with light or lasers. Some people find these helpful, but there haven’t been many studies to find out if they work.

If you regularly get cold sores, use antiviral creams as soon as you recognise the early tingling feeling. They don’t always work after blisters appear.

Things you can do yourself

Cold sores take time to heal and they’re very contagious, especially when the blisters burst.

See a GP if:

• the cold sore hasn’t started to heal within 10 days
• you’re worried about a cold sore or think it’s something else
• the cold sore is very large or painful
• you or your child also have swollen, painful gums and sores in the mouth (gingivostomatitis)
• you’re pregnant – there’s an increased risk of neonatal herpes
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes

Treatment from a GP

The GP may prescribe antiviral tablets if your cold sores are very large, painful or keep coming back.

Newborn babies, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system may be referred to hospital for advice or treatment.

Why cold sores come back

Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex.

Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore.

Most people are exposed to the virus when they’re young after close contact with someone who has a cold sore.

It doesn’t usually cause any symptoms until you’re older. You won’t know if it’s in your skin unless you get a cold sore.

[Last reviewed 2017-04-07]