Even a minor illness and ailments – such as colds, headaches and diarrhoea – can disrupt your life. Be prepared for most common ailments by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.
- Keep all medicines in a box or cupboard with a lock or store them well out of reach of children
- The following list is not exhaustive but will help you to cope with most minor illness
- A description of their uses is included for each item
- All are quite cheap and available from your local chemist
- Remember that your local chemist can give you advice about medicines
Antihistamines
- These are useful for dealing with allergies and insect bites
- They’re also helpful if you have hay fever
- Comes in cream or tablet form
Anti-diarrhoea tablets
- Quickly control the unpleasant symptoms of diarrhoea
- Warning: Do not give to children under 12
Antiseptics
- Antiseptic solutions can be used for cleaning cuts and grazes
- One teaspoon can be diluted in warm water prior to use
- Antiseptic cream is useful for treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes
Aspirin
- Soluble tablets for adults and older children
- Typical uses: headaches, colds, sore throats, minor aches and pains and menstrual cramps
Warning: Not suitable for children under 16
Calamine Lotion
- For dabbing on insect bites, stings and sunburn
- Useful for relief of itching in chicken pox
Cough Linctus
- Simple linctus or sedative cough linctus
- For dry or painful coughs – but not caused by the common cold
Dioralyte Rehydration Sachets
- These contain essential salts and glucose
- Helpful to replace lost fluid and salts in cases of vomitting and diarrhoea
Dressings and Cotton Wool
- Plasters and dressing strips can be used for minor cuts
- Three inch wide crepe bandage can be used to keep dressings in place and to support sprained or bruised joints
- Cotton wool is useful for cleaning cuts and grazes
Ephedrine Nose Drops
- Useful for runny noses in children over 1 year old
- Use before meals and at night but not for more than 4 days
Ibuprofen
- Tablets for adults and older children
- Syrup for younger children
- Typical uses: headaches, colds, sore throats, minor aches and pains and menstrual cramps
Warning: May cause indigestion and occasionally may aggravate asthma
Menthol Crystals
- Add to hot water to make steam inhalations
- Useful for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs
Paracetamol
- Tablets for adults and older children
- Mixture for younger children
- Useful for pain relief and lowering temperatures
- Typical uses: headaches, colds, sore throats, minor aches and pains and menstrual cramps
Thermometer
- Useful to estimate temperatures
- May give readings in centigrade, fahrenheit, colour change or visual scale
- Different readings may be obtained from different sites (mouth, ear, armpit)
Tweezers
- Useful for removing foreign bodies such as splinters
Vapour Rub
- For use with steam inhalations
- Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs
- Rub on the chest and nose