Treating Common Illnesses

Illness Symptoms & Treatment
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) Symptom:
Redness and swelling of eyelids, tearing, pus, itching and burning

Treatment:
Place warm washcloth on each eye, clean from inner to outer corner of eye. Contact your doctor.
Ear infection Symptom:
Sharp, piercing pain, restlessness, irritability, fever, nausea and vomiting; pus or blood in ear canal if eardrum ruptures

Treatment:
Antibiotics to stop infection, decongestants to shrink mucous membranes. Contact your doctor.
Diarrhea Symptom:
Frequent, loose, watery bowel movements. Risk of dehydration—symptoms include poor elasticity of skin, dry parched lips, mouth and tongue, decreased urine, sunken eye appearance, behavioral changes.

Treatment:
Drink fluids such as weak tea, Gatorade, bouillon, “flat” soft drinks. For nausea and vomiting, eat ice chips or Popsicles. Slowly add bland foods such as rice cereal, yogurt and cottage cheese to diet. Coat rectal area with petroleum jelly. Rinse mouth with water to relieve dryness and bad taste. Contact your doctor.
Respiratory illnesses Symptom:
See specific illness below

Treatment:
Your doctor may prescribe: pain relievers, antibiotics, and expectorant to liquefy mucus secretions, decongestants to shrink swollen mucous membrane. At home, you should: drink fluids, including beverages with crushed ice for sore throat, tea for nasal drainage and relief of chest tightness. Use vaporizer to increase room humidity. Rinse mouth with water to relieve dryness and bad taste. Change bed linens and clothing as often as needed. Get adequate rest.
Sore throat Symptom:
Raw or tickling sensation in back of throat, difficulty swallowing

Treatment:
Contact your doctor; see Respiratory Illnesses above.
Acute sinusitis Symptom:
Headache, aching in forehead and cheekbones, tenderness over face, pain around eyes and teeth

Treatment:
Contact your doctor; see Respiratory Illnesses above.
Croup Symptom:
Tight “barking” cough

Treatment:
Contact your doctor immediately.
Acute bronchitis Symptom:
Fever and cough, at first dry cough, gradually mucus-producing

Treatment:
Contact your doctor; see Respiratory Illnesses above.
Pneumonia Symptom:
Chills, high fever, cough, chest pain; possibly nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

Treatment:
Contact your doctor; see Respiratory Illnesses above.