How to use Topical Analgesics

What are topical analgesics?

Medicines that contain ingredients to reduce inflammation or pain are Topical analgesics.

• Topical that is applied directly to the skin
• Analgesic that is acting to relieve pain
• Anti-inflammatory that is acting to reduce swelling and inflammation

These analgesics can be buy from a pharmacy without prescription and usually come as gels or creams that are rubbed into the painful area. These are also called ‘joint pain relief creams’ or ‘muscle pain relief gels’

The topical analgesic products contain these active ingredients:

• ibuprofen
• diclofenac
• piroxicam 

The topical analgesics are used for temporary relief of pain and inflammation due to injury affecting muscles, bones or joints. This can be used in osteoarthritis, sprain, strains, and bursitis.

There is an uncertainty in which serum or gels is best to get relieve from the musculoskeletal pain.

How to use analgesic:

Apply a small amount to an affected area of skin overnight to find the medicine that works best for you, and checks that you don’t have a bad reaction.

All medicines, including those that are applied to the skin, have the potential to cause side effects.

If you are unsure about what medicine to use or have other health conditions, ask your health professional.

Some common Pediatrics diseases

Being a parent, it is necessary to be conscious about the most common diseases that are prevailing among children. With the basic information about diseases, it is necessary to be aware of the treatment plan also.

1. Common Cold: is an infection caused by viruses in the respiratory tract. Symptoms of a cold include runny nose, congestion, and cough. In this antibiotics are not needed; but the infection is detected by your doctor, he will carefully decide whether antibiotics are the best choice based on your child's symptoms and a physical exam.

2. Ear Pain: Ear pain is very common among children. The cause of ear pain can be an ear infection, pressure from a cold or sinus infection, teeth pain up the jaw to the ear.

3. Urinary Tract Infection: UTI’s Stand for Urinary Tract Infection caused when bacteria build up in the urinary tract. Symptoms include burning during urination, frequent urination, abdominal pain, or side or back pain.

4. Skin Infection due to bacterial and virus attack.

5. Bronchitis: is a lung infection occurs in toddlers and children up to the age of 10 years.

6. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: children under age 5 are most likely to catch it, through saliva, fluid from blisters and possibly viral shedding through stool. Painful sores may develop in the back of the throat and Skin rash on the palms and soles.

These are some of the common diseases that can occur in a toddler or a child. If any of the symptoms persist or take a long time to cure, kindly visit the doctor or pediatrician as soon as possible for the right medication.

Right way to store medicines is important

Medicines: which we use to get relief from the pain, stress and any inflammation are very much important to manage properly because if they are not managed, can cause side effects. Good medicine management is necessary as it contains many ingredients that may be active or non-active in medicine. The active part is one that makes the medicine to work and non-active makes it stable. Stability of the medicine means the medicine keeps its shape and also works correctly when you use it. The way these ingredients mix together is important. Sunlight, temperature changes, and humidity can affect how your medicines work.

So how medicine is stored is important, from when it is first made to when it ends up in your home. And if you are unaware of how to store the medicines, you can ask from the pharmacist or medical shop owner, check for information on the medicine's packaging, read the consumer medicine information leaflet.

Some medicines need to store in their original packaging, in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25° or 30° C, away from sunlight or water, in a childproof cupboard. And some need to store at a cold temperature below 2°– 8° C.

·         DO NOT take: Medicine that has changed color, texture, or smell, even if it has not expired.

·         Pills that stick together, are harder or softer than normal or are cracked or chipped.

·         Always the check the expiration date before taking on your medicine.

·         DO NOT keep old or unused medicine around.

·        Give unused medicines to your pharmacist.

Tips to treat Stuffy and Running Nose problem in toddlers/ children

Children having stuffy or running nose is very hard to handle for parents. Children became restless and so their parents.

What causes Congested Nose in Children?

When tissue lining the nose became swollen due to inflammation of blood vessels, the problem of a stuffy nose or running nose occurs. There are many conditions that can cause the nose to run, including Cold and flu, Cold Weather, Infections of the sinuses and or adenoids, Allergic rhinitis, Foreign body insertion, etc.

Often, it is not a serious issue but if it persists for longer or more than 10 days, consult your doctor. But before that try these five gentle and effective home remedies to relieve congestion.

1. Steam: Breathing moist air can help loosen all the mucus causing their congestion. Try using a humidifier, vaporizer, or just make your child sit in a steamy bathroom.

2. Saline drops: These are available over the counter, or can be made at home by mixing a 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Always make it fresh. Apply two to three drops of the saline solution into each nostril. This will help thin the mucus causing the congestion. Saline drops shouldn’t be used for longer than a few days in a row. They can dry out your child’s nose, making them more uncomfortable.

3. Fluid Diet: Give your child a lot of fluids as it will help thin nasal secretions and reduce congestion as Cold can make your child dehydrated.

4. Right position of Sleeping: Your child should sleep in an upright position to reduce congestion. Don’t make him lying at rest.

5. If your little one is old enough, teach her to blow her nose.

If there are other symptoms and your child is not getting relief from these homemade tips, call your pediatrician as soon as possible.

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure: Its Symptoms and Management

Blood pressure is the force that a person's blood exerts against the walls of their blood vessels. High blood pressure is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

Hypertension is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart failure, heart attack and aneurysm. Keeping blood pressure under control is vital for preserving health and reducing the risk of these dangerous conditions.

A few people with high blood pressure may have headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these signs and symptoms aren't specific and usually don't occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.

Management of hypertension

1. Regular physical exercise: People should exercise on at least 5 days of the week. Examples of suitable activities are walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming.

2. Avoiding or learning to manage stress can help a person control blood pressure. Meditation, warm baths, yoga, and simply going on long walks are relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress.

3. People can prevent high blood pressure by following a heart-healthy diet that includes Reducing salt intake, Moderating alcohol consumption, Eating more fruit and vegetables and less fat.

You'll likely have your blood pressure taken as part of a routine doctor's appointment.

Ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every two years starting at age 18. If you're age 40 or older, or you're 18 to 39 with a high risk of high blood pressure, ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading every year.

Some common Dengue symptoms and Prevention

Dengue fever is a tropical disease caused by the biting of a mosquito. Dengue is spread by several species of female mosquito of the Aedes species. Mosquito bite the person and spread the virus. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.

Symptoms of the infection appears three to fourteen days after the infection. 

The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following:

• Nausea, vomiting
• Rash
• Aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain)
• Stomach Pain
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Treatment for Dengue

• See a healthcare provider if you develop a fever or have symptoms of dengue. 
• Rest as much as possible.
• Take acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol )

Prevention

The primary method of controlling Aedes is by eliminating its habitat. This is done by getting rid of open sources of water, or if this is not possible, by adding insecticides or biological control agents to these areas. People can prevent mosquito bites by wearing clothing that fully covers the skin, using mosquito netting while resting, and/or the application of insect repellent.