OTC Treatments Flashcards
(40 cards)
What can you use to treat oily skin?
Wash twice daily with mild soap or soapless cleanser (pH balanced and low irritant)
Mainly affects face and scalp - t zone and upper back and chest (higher no. of sebaceous glands)
How do you treat mild dermatitis? (itchy inflammation of skin)
Thick moisturiser applied at least twice a day Itermittent corticosteroids (OTC strengths) - hydrocortisone
How do you treat scarring?
Silicon cream/sheets (for raised scars)
Antioxidant oils
Which UV radiation is most responsible for sunburn?
UVB radiation, as UVA penetrates deep into skin and UVC is blocked by the ozone layer. Broad spectrum sunscreens are best.
What do you use to treat stings and bites?
For non fatal bites - bufexamac, lignocaine, hydrocortisone, antihistamines (loratidine, cetirizine, diphenhydramine), anti-itch (crotamiton)
What are the target groups in skin health?
Babies and children Atopic and sensitive skin Diabetic patients Immunocompromised patients Elderly patients
What are the observational differences between a bacterial and viral cold?
Viral often has a field effect, sore throat is usually viral, rhinitis.
Bacterial infections usually only infect single site. Children more likely to have a bacterial acute sore throat
What are the main symptoms of a flu?
Usually begins with a high fever (38 degrees or more)
Very sick and tired
Irritation in throat/lungs, dry cough, shivering, sweating, muscle aches
What can be used to treat a dry cough?
Cough suppressants:
Dextromethorphan, pholcodeine, codeine phosphate
What can be used to treat a chesty/productive cough?
Cough expectorants:
Guaifenesin, senega and ammonia
Mucolytics:
Bromhexine hydrochoride
What can be used to treat nasal conjestion?
Phenylephrine HCl, Pseudoephedrine, Oxymetazoline HCl, Tramazoline HCl, Xylometazoline HCl
What can be used to treat hayfever symptoms?
Runny nose, sneezing, watery/itchy eyes
Antihistamines (non sedating):
Loratidine, fexofenadine HCl, citirizine
Sedating:
Brompheniramine maleate, chlorpheniramine maleate, doxylamine succinate, promethazine HCl
Can be oral, nasal, ocular
Are fevers bad? Why? What do you treat them with if they are a child?
- Fevers are not bad, as it indicates the immune system is doing its job. No treatment needed.
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen are commonly used, but not always effective in normalising temperature. Use in children if it is greatly affecting child’s wellbeing and temperature is above 38.5
Take off their clothes or dress them very lightly but not so they are cold - Hydration
- Rest
What are the 3 P’s of pain treatment in children?
Play - distraction
Physical - sling, splint, cold pack, dressing, deep breaths
Pharmacological - paracetamol, ibuprofen (check weight) (only 1 drug necessary unless pain is moderate to seere)
When should you refer a child who has a fever?
- Child less than 3 months
- Looks very ill
- Fever persisted past treatment for 48 hours
- Stiff neck
- Photophobia
- Vomiting and wont drink
- Rash
- Difficulty breathing
- If child has convulsions
- Temperature over 40 degrees
- Severe pain
What are some warning signs for high risk of serious illness in children with fever?
- Pale/mottled/ashen/blue skin
- No response to social cues
- Does not wake or if roused does not stay awake
- Weak, high pitched or continuous cry
- Grunting
- Tachypnoea (>60 breaths per minute)
- Moderate or severe chest indrawing
- Reduced skin turgor
- Age >3 months with fever
- Non-blanching rash
What are some signs of intermediate risk of serious illness in children?
- Pallor skin
- Not responding normally to social cues
- No smile
- Wakes only with prolonged stimulation
- Decreased activity
- Nasal flaring
- Tachypnoea
- Crackles in chest
- Tachycardia
- Dry mucous membranes
- Poor feeding
- Reduced urine output
- Age 3-6 months, temperature >39
- Fever for >5 days
- Rigors
- Limb/joint swelling
What is measles? Signs? Complications?
Highly contagious respiratory disease with all body rash - 14 day incubation
Initially runny nose and sore eyes, then macular rash that may become papular
Common complications involve otitis media, encephalitis, bronchopneumonia, brain damage
Vaccine
What is rubella? Signs? Complications?
Highly contagious viral infection - initial rash at 4 days - pink macules which later spread - 14 day incubation
Main complication - birth defects if in early pregnancy
Vaccine
What is chickenpox? Signs? Complications? Treatment?
Highly contagious viral infection
Rash starts as erythematous lesions then becomes vesicular then pustular
Can effect oral mucosa
Potentially dangerous in pregnancy and in immunodeficiency disorders
Treat with calamine for rash (antipruritic) and aciclovir (antiviral)
Can reoccur as shingles - smaller area of blisters
Vaccine
What is roseola infantum? Signs? Complications?
Contagious viral infection with very high temperature (may be 40) that drops when red maculopapular rashes appear.
Convulsions may be a complication.
What is mumps? Signs? Complications?
Contagious viral infection transmitted in fluid drops. Usually affects parotid salivary glands - swelling. Can affect brain, testes, ovaries, pancreas and complications involve encephalitis, deafness and sterility.
Resolves in around 10 days.
No treatment - prevent by vaccine
What is meningitis? Signs? Complications?
Usually benign infection if viral - fairly common complication of viral infections.
when bacterial - fever and headache, vomiting. Serious: neck and back stiffness, photophobia, severe headache, drowsiness
Diarrhoea and/or rash may occur in meningococcal meningitis
What does RICE stand for in first aid of sprains, strains and joint injuries?
Rest - avoid use for 48-72 hours
Ice - apply for 20 mins every 2 hours for first 48-72 hours
Compresssion - firm elastic bandage
Elevation - above heart
