Minor Ailements Community Health Nursing

1. Minor Ailments
Mr.KuldeepVyas
M.Sc.NursingCommunityHealthNursing

2. INTRODUCTION
• Community health nurse is responsible to provide
primary health care in the community
• Treatment of minor ailments and emergencies is an
important component of community health nursing
• Nurse should be able to identify the signs and
symptoms of a patient and treat them according to
the standing orders
• Minor ailments indicate slight illnesses and
emergencies of smaller nature.

3. PRINCIPLES OF MANAGING MINOR
AILMENTS
ENSURE SAFE AND HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT TO
THE PATIENT
TREAT THE RISK / INJURED PERSON PROMPTLY TO
PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE COMPLICATION
IN CASE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE, TAKE
APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD OF INFECTION
KEEP CONTINOUS WATCH OVER THE PATIENTS
AND VITAL SIGNS DURING THE PERIOD OF CARE
HELP THE PATIENT TO GET WELL SOON AS
POSSIBLE AND IN HIS ADL

4. USE THE OPPORTUNITIES OF HEALTH
EDUCATION DURING THE CARE
ALWAYS REMEMBER THE LIMITATIONS IN
PROVIDING THE TREATMENT OR FOLLOW
THE PHYSICIANS INSTRUCTIONS
HELP THE FAMILY MEMEBERS IN COPING
WITH THE SITUATION AND PREPARE THEM
FOR TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS AT HOME
RESPECT THE BELIEFS OF PATIENT
IN CASE OF SERIOUS CONDITIONS REFER THE
PATIENT WITH OUT ANY DELAY

5. CLASSIFICATION OF MINOR AILMENTS
• Minor ailments can be classified into two
• 1. GENERAL MINOR AILMENTS :- it include common
accidents and emergencies which need immediate
first aid
• In this category – injuries and falls , dog bite , burns
,high fever , heat stroke , diarrhea , fainting etc

6. Systemic minor ailments
• EYE
• EAR
• EYE ACCIDENTS
• FOREIGN BODIES
• INFECTIONS
• POOR EYE SIGHT
• DRY EYES
• NIGHT BLINDNESS
• EAR ACHGE
• FOREIGN BODY
• OTTITS MEDIA
• DISCHARGE
• DEAFNESS

7. • RESPIRATORY TRACT
• CVS
• ALLERGIC RHINITIS
• COMMON COLD
• SINUSITIS
• SORE THROAT
• COUGH
• DYSPONEA
• CHEST PAIN
• ASTHMA
• HYPERTENSION
• ANEMIA
• RHD

8. • DIGESTIVE SYSTEM • TOOTH ACHE
• STOMATITIS
• SORENESS IN MOUTH
• CONSTIPATION
• DIARRHOEA
• INDIGESTION
• VOMITING
• ABDOMINAL PAIN
• INTESTINAL
OBSTRUCTION
• HAEMORRHOIDS

9. • URINARY SYSTEM
• NEURO MUSCULAR
SYSTEM
• REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• BURNING MICTURATION
• RETENTION OF URINE
• URINARY INFECTION
• RENAL STONES
• HEAD ACHE
• BACK ACHE
• CONVULSIONS
• EPILEPTIC FITS
• DYSMENORRHOEA
• HEAVY BLEEDING
• SORES AND DISCHARGES
• BREAST LUMP

10. MANAGEMENT OF MINOR AILMENTS
• ASSESSMENT – Taking history
- Performing quick physical examination
• FINDING THE CAUSE , MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS AND
PLANNING FOR CARE
• PROVIDING TREATMENT AND NURSING CARE
• EVALUATING THE CARE AND CONDITION OF THE
PATIENT – If the outcome is successful , plan for
follow up
- If condition does not improve or serious signs – refer
to hospital

11. STANDING ORDERS
• Standing orders are directions and orders of specific
nature . On the basics of these on the non availability
of doctors nurses / health workers can provide
treatment at home hospitals or health institutions
and community
• Should be followed in temporary basics / or in
emergency situation

12. OBJECTIVES
• Tomaintain the continuity of treatment of the
patient
• Toprotect the life of the patient / to resuscitate him
• Tocreate the feeling of responsibility in the members
of health team

13. USES
• Providing treatment during emergency
• Enhancing the quality and activity of the health
services
• Strengthening of primary health services in the
community
• Decentralization of health responsibilities
• Developing the feeling of confidence and
responsibility in nursing and other health worker
• Protecting the general public from quacks

14. TYPES OF STANDINGD ORDERS
• The authorized doctor and the registered community
health nurse jointly releases standing orders
Institutional
SpecificGeneral

15. INSTITUTIONAL STANDING ORDERS
• Standing order prepared with a view of the available
resources , staff position and objectivity of hospital
• Difference will be there b/w government and private
hospitals

16. SPECIFIC STANDING ORDERS
• Prepared for the trained medical personnel
• Technical knowledge and special skills are required
• These orders should compensate the need of a
doctor
• Such orders enhance the quality of CHN

17. General standing orders
• Common man is expected to follow some SO
• Eg – in case of diarrhoea – ORS PACKET

18. STANDING ORDERS FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR
AILMENTS – FEVER
• Examine the vital signs
• Gather information about other symptoms
accompanying the fever – head ache , nausea ,
vomiting , shivering cold running nose , allergy , skin
infection , jaundice, fits , cough
• Provide rest and light meal to the patient
• Prepare blood slide to examine malaria parasite
• Give paracetamol tab
• Give lots of liquids to the patient
• If the fever is more than 102 deg F – tepid sponge

19. Contd ….
• Monitor the pattern of fever and wait for two days
• If the fever is accompanying with rashes- isolate the
patient
• In case of delirium , convulsions , unconsciousness
and hyperpyrexia accompanying the fever refer the
patient to the hospital

20. HEAT STROKE
• Person suffering should be kept in shade and in a
well ventilated place
• Note the vitals
• Remove all clothes from the person and wrap in a
wet sheet
• If the patient is conscious give him cold water mixed
salt and other cold drinks
• Keep continuous observation over temp
• As soon as refer to hospital

21. DIARRHOEA – GI SYSTEM
• Monitor the symptoms of dehydration
• If the dehydration is severe or the patient is in the
state of shock – refer him to hospital
• Provide ORS to the patient
• Rice water , coconut water , lemon juice , light tea ,
banana should be given to the patient
• If there is epidemic of diarrhea sample should be
send for stool test
• If cholera is prevalent immunization should be taken

22. Contd ….
• Food and water should be protected
• Notification should be done
• People should be educated about the control of flies

23. BURNS - SKIN
• Try to keep the burned body part immersed in water
• Check the spread of burns
• If the cloth has stuck to wound – DO NOT TRY TO
REMOVE IT
• Rings , bangles , shoes , belts and other tight fitting
articles to be removed
• Do not touch blisters unnecessarily
• Assess the percentage of burns
• Give primary treatment of shock if needed

24. Contd ….
• Give ORS if patient is conscious and not vomiting
• Provide analgesics if required
• Refer patient to further treatment

25. DROWNING - RS
• Loosen the clothes from chest
• Make the person lie on his abdomen and get the
water out of lungs
• Resuscitate the patient immediately and send him to
the health care centre / hospital

26. BITES - DOGBITE
• Thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water
• Use running water
• Apply Betadine or tincture iodine
• If the wound is excessive – check hemorrhage
• Stitches should be done only after 24 hours
• Give injection TT
• Do not kill the dog and observe for 10 days
• Send the patient for ARV therapy

27. SNAKE BITE
• Make the person lie down
• Don not allow to move
• Find out the kind of snake
• Tie tourniquet above the bite and continue to loosen
it every half an hour
• Make a cut of 1 cm length and ½ cm deep at the
place of bite and try to absorb poison from the site (
there should not be any wound in the mouth of the
person sucking )

28. CONTD …
• Clean the place with salt solution / water or ice
• Console the person and send to hospital

29. SCORPION BITE
• Remove the sting and put ice on it , after thoroughly
cleaning the place
• Apply tourniquet above the place of bite and remove
it after half and hour
• Give analgesic tablets and also the sweetened milk to
drink
• If patient is in shock – send to hospital

30. FAINTING - CNS
• Lie down the person .his head should be at a slight
lower level than feet
• If the person is sitting , keep the head bended b/w
both the legs
• Person should get fresh air
• Once the person gain consciousness ask him to take
deep breath and give him liquids to drink
• If unconsciousness continue refer to hospital

31. INJURIES AND FRACTURES – SKELTAL
• Clean the wound with soap and water
• Apply the spirit around the place of wound
• Apply Betadine solution and bandage the wound
with sterile solution
• Monitor the condition of the patient
• Treat the patient for shock
• Immobilize the fractured area
• Give analgesic and TT

32. WOUND- SKIN
• Wash the wound with clean boiled water and
antiseptic solution
• Apply spirit around the wound
• Remove the foreign bodies present in the wound
• Bandage the wound using Betadine
• Give injection TT
• In case the wound is large and need suture , or
caused by bullet or weapon refer to hospital

33. Standing orders for MCH CARE
• Give tablets to check vomiting and nausea
in early stages of pregnancy
• In case of toxemia of pregnancy , advice
her restricted salt diet and complete rest
• Send to hospital if there is edema/ APH /
PPH
• If the mother develop fever after delivery
try to ascertain the cause
• Keep newborn in proper warmth
• Initiate breast feeding

34. Convulsions in children
• Lie down the child safely on a bed
• Loosen the clothes from the chest
and let the fresh air come
• Clean the secretions from his
mouth and let the respiratory tract
function properly
• In case of fever give cold sponge
• Evaluate the cause

35. HEMORRHAGE
• Lie down the person on back
• Take BP
• Press a pad on the site of
bleeding
• Give him liquids
• Try to find out the cause of
bleeding
• Monitor the state of shock
and in case of bleeding or
condition of shock getting out
of control send the patient for
further treatment

36. Unconsciousness
• Lie down the person in a well
ventilated area
• Remove dentures
• Clean the secretions from mouth
• Loosen the clothes from neck ,
chest and waist
• Provide artificial respiration in
case of blocked breathing
• Try to find out the reason

37. SORE THROAT - RS
• Record vitals
• Inspect for white patches – if yes its s/s of diphtheria
– need hospitalization
• Take throat swab
• If pharyngities – saline gargle
• Give aspirin tablets
• Advice honey syrup with lemon juice and hot water
• If history of recurrent illness need surgery

38. Cough - RS
• Find out the duration , type , color and consistency of
sputum , weight loss etc
• If TB is suspected refer to hospital for investigation
• Advise rest
• Give aspirin tablets
• Give steam inhalations

39. INFLAMMED EYES / EYE DISCHARGE
• Bathe eyes with water and
clean with cotton swab
• Apply sulphacetamide eye
drops
• Demonstrate cleaning and
application of eye ointment
• Cover with sterile eye pad
and bandage
• Refer if vision diminishes
• Infection that is not
responding to treatment or
• Wounds / injuries

40. EAR ACHE AND DISCHARGE
• Clean the ears
• Apply sulphacetamide ear drops
• Give analgesics , if not coming down refer
• If discharge is present clean with boric acid and apply
ear drops
• If s/s not subsiding refer

41. TOOTH ACHE - GI
• If tooth ache with out fever
give potassium permanganate
solution mouth wash tds
• If with fever aspirin 5 gms for
children and 10 gms for adults
• Advise dental care
• Encourge to eat amala ,
orange , lemon , guava ,,
sprouted gram ,tomatoes ,
raggi and bajra
• Ask patient to chew a clove
with affected teeth

42. CONSTIPATION – GI
• Advise more fluids . Leafy vegetables
• Discourage laxatives and purgatives

43. ANEMIA – BLOOD DISORDER
• Encourage to eat ragi, GLV
• Advise dry fruits
• Advise oral iron supplements
• Get the stool examined for hook worms

44. Bleeding nose
• Make patient sit with head erect
and bend forward
• Loosen all clothes at neck
• Ask the patient to pinch nose at
the junction of hard and soft
palate
• Don’t let to blow the nose
• Check vitals
• Apply cold compress
• Refer to hospital

45. ROLE OF CHN
• History collection / assessment
• Finding out the actions/ complications
and any specifications
• Vitals monitoring
• Identifying the needs and problems
• Nursing services under standing orders
• Implementing referral system
• Informing authorities – out break of
diseases
• Keeping medicine kit ready
• Representing nurses view point in
meting
• Being careful about limits
• Ensure safe and healthy environment