These usually present with a runny nose, cough and temperature, and you may feel achy. Colds and flu are caused by viruses and antibiotics are of no use in their treatment.

Management consists of:

• keeping warm (but not getting overheated with too many blankets, etc.)
• taking Paracetamol for the temperature and aches and pains
• making sure you drink plenty of fluids.

In adults and older children diarrhoea and vomiting will usually get better on its own.

• Treatment consists of replacing the fluid you lost with either water or Lucozade. Sachets of powders such as Dioralyte and Rehidrate, which can be made into a drink for this purpose, are available from the chemist.
• The digestive system should be rested by not having solids for 24 hours.
• Milk and milk products should be avoided for several days, as they tend to make the condition worse.

Many acute sprains and strains will respond to a few days rest with Paracetamol taken for the pain.

Backache, especially that following over use of the back muscles and not coinciding with pain going down one or the other leg, or urinary symptoms, will often respond to a few days spent lying on a firm bed flat on your back.

Acute sporting injuries are helped by rest, application of an ice pack, e.g. ice cubes in a plastic bag, and compression and elevation of the injured part.

General advice for treating sunburns

• Staying out of the sun 
  Avoid direct sunlight by covering up and staying in the shade until the sunburn has healed.
• Water 
  Drink plenty of fluids to replace the water lost. Dehydration is a potentially dangerous side effect of too much sun exposure. Do not drink alcohol, because it will dehydrate you further.
• Moisturisers 
  For mild sunburn, apply a moisturising lotion or a special aftersun cream from a pharmacy. Even though it will not prevent peeling, moisturising will prevent the new skin below from drying out.
• Painkillers 
  For adults, painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help relieve pain and reduce swelling.

Treating severe sunburns

Severe burns may require special burn cream and burn dressings. Ask your pharmacist for advice. You may need to see your GP and have your burns dressed by a practice nurse. In severe cases, you may need treatment at your local accident and emergency department.

If a baby or small child has been sunburnt, or if blisters or fever occurs, seek medical advice from your GP or an NHS walk-in centre, or by phoning NHS Direct on telephone: 0845 4647.

Antihistamine tablets can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will usually relieve most symptoms.

Note:
Bee and wasp stings should be scraped away rather than plucked in order to avoid squeezing the contents of the venom sac in the wound.

Sit in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for approximately 10 minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped. Avoid hot drinks. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.

The pain may come in waves: sharp enough that you catch your breath, then gone as quickly as it came. Or perhaps it's a dull, constant ache. The reasons may be obvious, but a lot of the time, it may be hard to figure out. With so many organs in the abdomen, different problems can have similar symptoms.

Prevention

There are lots of different reasons for stomach pain, most are easy to treat. To lessen your chances of getting pain take a few simple precautions:

• Wash your hands before eating.
• Don't overeat, and try not to eat right before going to sleep.
• Eat fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to keep food moving through your digestive system.
• If you have a food allergy or intolerance, avoid eating foods that make you sick.

Also:  Always use a condom when having sex to protect against STDs and pregnancy.

Emotional Distress

When people get too stressed out, anxious, or depressed, their emotions can trigger physical symptoms, such as stomach pain. If stress or anxiety seem to be behind the pain, talking to a counsellor or therapist may be recommended. They are trained to help people figure out what's behind their stress.

When to See a Doctor

Sometimes, what seems like one problem - food poisoning, for example - can turn out to be something more serious, like appendicitis. So, it's a good idea to see a doctor if:

• pain is very strong
• you're vomiting a lot
• you get a rash
• you have a high temperature
• you already have another health condition, or
• the discomfort gets worse over time or doesn't go away.

Most cuts and grazes are minor and can be easily treated at home. However, if your injury is more severe, you may need to receive treatment in hospital.

Treating minor cuts and grazes

For most cuts and grazes, cleaning them thoroughly and covering them with a plaster or dressing is usually all that is needed.

Stopping the bleeding

• If your cut or graze is bleeding heavily, or is on a particularly delicate area of your body such as the palm of your hand, you should stop the bleeding before applying any kind of dressing. Apply pressure to the area using a bandage or a towel.
• If the cut is to your hand or arm, raise it above your head. If the injury is to a lower limb, lie down and raise the affected area above the level of your heart so the bleeding slows down and stops.

Dressing

To dress a cut or graze at home:

• Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
• Clean the wound under running tap water, but do not use antiseptic because it may damage the tissue and slow down healing.
• Pat the area dry with a clean towel, and apply a sterile, adhesive dressing, such as a plaster.

Keep the dressing clean by changing it as often as necessary and keep the wound dry by using waterproof dressings, which allow light wetting (showering).

Painkillers

The wound should heal by itself in a few days. If the wound is painful, you can take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, you should not take ibuprofen if you have certain conditions, such as a stomach ulcer or asthma, and children under the age of 16 should not take aspirin. When taking medication, always check the packaging for recommendations regarding use and dose.

If you are unsure how serious your injury is, or if it has not healed after a few days, see your GP.

Always seek medical advice if:

• Your injury does not stop bleeding (go straight to A&E, if this is the case).
• Your injury is very large or very deep.
• Your injury was caused by a bite.
• There is something in your cut or graze, like grit.