When it comes to illnesses and infections, it’s best to be prepared and aware of the signs so that you know what to do should you become ill. In this post, we’re going to be covering some of the more common illnesses in the UK and what to do should you come down with symptoms of them. Keep reading to learn more.
Common Colds
Let’s start with perhaps the most common offender of them all, the common cold and flu. In terms of the common cold, you can expect a range of symptoms. These include:
- Coughing
- Headaches
- Chills and mild fever
- Runny nose
- Fatigue
The common cold usually clears up relatively quickly on its own and should have passed after a week or so. There is usually no need to visit your doctor for a cold as you can get treatments at your pharmacy or even the supermarket. Treatments usually focus on easing the symptoms of the cold to help you carry on with life as it passes naturally. To help with a cold you can try taking paracetamol or ibuprofen, soothing hot drink sachets containing paracetamol, cough sweets, and plenty of fluids. Rest where possible and get plenty of sleep to allow your body to help fight off the cold.
Influenza
People frequently refer to the common cold as ‘flu’. However, it is actually a separate type of illness. A flu infection can be more serious than a cold and will usually leave you feeling more unwell. Flu symptoms can include the symptoms of the common cold, with the addition of other symptoms such as more serious fever and high temperature, body cramps and aches, and extreme fatigue. While you can usually carry on with your day-to-day life with a cold, the flu can knock you off your feet for several days, and you will likely want to sleep and rest all day. You can use over-the-counter treatments for your flu and let it pass in its own time. However, it’s important to keep an eye on temperature and fever development, particularly in children and the elderly as medical help could be required.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning occurs when a person consumes food or drink that has harmful germs present that causes stomach irritation, leading to vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhoea. You can avoid food poisoning at home by making sure you’re washing your hands regularly, avoid cross-contamination, and cooking food, particularly meat, thoroughly. Symptoms can also include muscle aches, loss of energy, and a high temperature. The severity of food poisoning can vary, with most cases clearing up within 2 to 3 days. However, in extreme cases, it can lead to dehydration and damage to the stomach lining, which requires medical attention, particularly for children, the elderly, and those suffering from other health conditions. Treatment includes drinking lots of fluid to compensate for the fluid lost from diarrhoea and vomiting, rest, and pain killers for stomach cramps and muscle aches. When eating can resume, meals should be light and relatively bland so as not to overwhelm the stomach. Avoid spicy and rich food and, of course, foods that are at high risk of causing further food poisoning.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis can also be known as pink eye or red eye. It causes reddening of the whites of the eye, swelling, watery eyes, and pus that can cause the eyelids to temporarily seal closed. It is highly contagious and can spread from person to person easily. If you have conjunctivitis, you should avoid mixing with others and make sure you’re washing your hands and surfaces regularly. Although you might experience itching and a burning sensation, you should avoid touching your eye as this can help the infection spread. Treating conjunctivitis usually involves easing the symptoms such as keeping the eye clean with warm water, which can also help soothe irritation. The infection will usually clear up on its own within a few days, although you may require further treatment if the symptoms have not disappeared within two weeks. You only need to seek medical attention if it occurs in new born babies or if you think it has occurred to a reaction to things such as contact lenses.
Hand Foot And Mouth Disease
Hand foot and mouth disease can affect people of all ages, however, it’s particularly common in young children. The initial symptoms include loss of appetite, a temperature, and sore throat. This can then develop into sores appearing on the tongue and in the mouth, on the hands, and along the feet. Adults may find that they suffer more severely from the symptoms than young children do. The illness can usually pass on its own, however, it is possible to catch it more than once. Treatment should include plenty of hydration, paracetamol, or ibuprofen, rest, and sleep to allow your body to recover. If a temperature develops above a healthy range, then medical attention should be sought.
Covid-19
Due to the recent pandemic, you likely know Covid-19 and its symptoms well. However, if you would like to refresh your memory of what to look out for, here are some of the common symptoms:
- A new and persistent cough
- Flu-like symptoms such as muscle cramps and fatigue
- Loss of smell or taste
- High temperature and developing a fever
If you develop these symptoms, you need to arrange a test kit so you can establish whether you have the virus or not, as many of the symptoms can appear similar to common cough, colds, and the flu. A test kit will be able to tell you whether you have the virus or not, and if you do, it’s advised that your self-isolate to help avoid spreading it to others. Treatment usually involves simply resting and staying hydrated and the use of paracetamol and ibuprofen. However, in more severe cases it can cause breathing problems, and you may require emergency medical attention.
Norovirus
Norovirus is a type of virus that causes the illness of gastroenteritis. It is also commonly referred to as the winter vomiting bug. The symptoms of this illness include severe vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and severe nausea. You may also develop a fever, headaches, loss of energy, and muscle aching. You will usually find that symptoms have gone after a couple of days, and the only treatment usually required is to rest and make sure you’re replacing the fluids lost from the symptoms. Norovirus is highly contagious, so you should attempt to stay home and self-isolate, if possible, to avoid spreading it to others.
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of people developing diarrhoea. It can be caught at any age but is particularly common in children. It irritates the stomach lining and intestines, causing inflammation and stomach pain. It’s important to seek medical attention if your child catches rotavirus as it can make them severely unwell. There is a vaccine available for rotavirus to help protect your child, which is given in multiple doses starting from 8 weeks and again at 12 weeks. Receiving the vaccine can help protect children from future infections with rotavirus and the potentially dangerous health complications it can lead to. If the vaccine has not been received, adults can also catch rotavirus, however, the symptoms tend to be milder and present less danger.