General Health

camStudent health

The box below contains links for general health advice. Click on the conditions for further information 

General advice is available from:

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

www.patient.co.uk

www.medicines.org.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/health

www.bad.org.uk   Good website about skin problems from the British Assocaition of Dermatologists

www.hpa.org.uk   Health Protection Agency

 

 

 

 

Emergency treatment of Allergic reactions

Emergency treatment of Allergic reactions  NB ALWAY KEEP YOUR EPIPEN WITH YOU

This depends on their severity

Mild

Itching of the skin, rash swelling e.g. of the face
Treatment – take antihistamine e.g. cetirizine 2 tablets 20mg
Go to a doctor if necessary

Moderate

If there is mild difficulty in breathing or slight tightness in the throat, take the antihistamines as above and go to a doctor or Accident and Emergency Department quickly.

Severe

The symptoms are:
•    Difficulty in breathing or choking (a feeling of closing up of the throat) and/or
•    Floppiness, Collapse or loss of consciousness

Treatment

•    Immediately send someone to call an ambulance. Say this is an emergency, a case of anaphylactic (pronounced ana-fi-lac-tic) shock with collapse.
•    If there is collapse or the difficulty in breathing is worse or gets worse, immediately give an injection of Adrenaline from the preloaded syringe (EpiPen) in your treatment pack. This delivers a fixed dose of 0.3ml of 1/1000 strength. This can be injected into the front or side of the thigh. If you faint you should be kept lying on your side.


Please keep your EpiPen with you at all times.

Trainer pens are available from www.epipen.co.uk


Source: Addenbrooke’s Hospital