The document discusses the treatment of minor ailments by community health nurses. It outlines principles like ensuring patient safety, treating injuries promptly, and providing health education. It describes how to classify and manage common minor issues like fever, diarrhea, burns, and cough. Standing orders are provided to guide treatment for these and other minor conditions in the absence of a doctor. The role of the community health nurse is to assess patients, provide nursing care under standing orders, monitor for complications, and make referrals when needed.

1. Treatment of Minor
ailments

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
• To maintain the continuity of treatment of
the patient
• To protect the life of the patient / to resuscitate
him
• To create 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
Institutiona
l
Specifi
c
Gener
al

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 toblow the nose
• Check vitals
• Apply cold compress
• Refer to hospital

45. ROLE OF Community Health Nurse
• 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