Sparkhill Pharmacy

Sparkhill Pharmacy Local Pharmacy

Whooping Cough & RSV 3Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)This is a common cause of coughs and colds. Almost all children u...
15/07/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 3

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

This is a common cause of coughs and colds. Almost all children under 2 get it at least once. People usually get better by themselves, but it can sometimes be serious for babies and older adults. Those who are at a higher risk of getting ill include:
• Babies under 6 months old
• Young children who were born prematurely
• Adults over 75
• Babies, children and adults with a weakened immune system, or long -term, lung or heart conditions
• People who smoke to***co and babies exposed to to***co smoke.
RSV is spread in the coughs and sneezes of someone who has the virus. The symptoms of an RSV infection usually start within a few days of getting infected. Most people only get cold like symptoms such as:
• A runny or blocked nose
• A cough
• Sneezing
• Tiredness
• A high temperature - signs include your back or chest feeling hotter than usual, sweatiness and shivering
Babies with RSV may also be irritable and feed less than usual. If RSV leads to a more serious infection (such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis) it may also cause:
• A cough that gets worse
• Shortness of breath
• Faster breathing or long gasp between breaths
• Difficulty feeding (in babies) or loss of appetite
• Noisy breathing
• Confusion in older adults.

NIAID, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Whooping Cough & RSV 2Whooping cough (pertussis)Treatment for whooping cough depends on your age and how long you’ve had...
08/07/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 2

Whooping cough (pertussis)

Treatment for whooping cough depends on your age and how long you’ve had the infection. Hospital treatment is needed if you have severe whooping cough, or if your baby is under 6 months old and has whooping cough. If whooping cough is diagnosed within two weeks of your cough starting, you will be given antibiotics to help stop it spreading to others, but these may not reduce the symptoms. It is important to stay off school, work or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics or 2 weeks after your cough started if you’ve not had antibiotics.

The cough may last several weeks or months. A study of 5,222,860 people aged 50 and over between 2009 and 2018 found that there was an increase of direct medical costs of £318 with those diagnosed with pertussis compared to those who were not. This highlights the need for increased awareness of whooping cough infection in the older population.

Whooping Cough & RSV 1Whooping cough (pertussis)This is an infection of your lungs and breathing tubes caused by the bac...
01/07/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 1

Whooping cough (pertussis)

This is an infection of your lungs and breathing tubes caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads very easily and can be serious. It is characterised by severe coughing fits, followed by a high pitched “whoop” sound during the subsequent intake of breath.

This disease although preventable by vaccination has been resurging in the UK in the last couple of years. There were 14,905 cases in the UK in 2024. The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, then after a week you or your child:

• Will get coughing bouts that last a few minutes and are worse at night.
• May make a “whoop” sound – a gasp for breath between breaths
• May have difficulty breathing after a bout and young infants may turn blue
• May bring up thick mucus, which can cause vomiting
• May become very red in the face (more common in adults)

Health on Holiday 5Quiz & AnswersQ1. Can I take medication in my hand luggage?A1. Yes, as long as you have the prope...
24/06/2025

Health on Holiday 5

Quiz & Answers

Q1. Can I take medication in my hand luggage?
A1. Yes, as long as you have the proper paperwork.
Q2. Name two things you should keep in a medical kit.
A2. Travel sickness medicines, painkillers, plasters, anti-diarrhoea medicine, indigestion tablets, tweezers and scissors, insect bite cream, sterile gauze and bandage, after sun lotion, antihistamines.
Q3. How do you avoid creases when packing?
A3. Try rolling your clothes or use packing cubes and compression bags.
Q4. Why is it important that I keep hydrated?
A4. Keeping drinking is essential to keep your kidneys healthy.
Q5. What can I do to keep active while I'm on holiday?
A5. Try hiking, swimming or using the hotel’s gym.
Q6. How do I avoid putting on weight?
A6. Watch your portion sizes especially with creamy curries or buttery pastries and try to stick to lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains.
Q7. Why should I take rest periods when I am on holiday?
A7. A well-rested mind and body not only enhances the enjoyment of each moment but also plays a crucial role in shaping the creation of lasting memories.
Q8. What damage can the sun cause?
A8. Repeated sunburns, particularly in childhood and adolescence, greatly increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.
Q9. What percentage of people in the UK were sunburnt at least once during the heatwave of 2022?
A9. 40%.
Q10. What can I do to keep safe in the sun?
A10. Choose light fitting clothes in light colours, use sunglasses and wear a hat, liberally apply sunscreen above SPF of at least 30 and stay in the shade from noon to 3pm.

Health on Holiday 4QuizQ1. Can I take medication in my hand luggage?Q2. Name two things you should keep in a medical...
17/06/2025

Health on Holiday 4

Quiz

Q1. Can I take medication in my hand luggage?
Q2. Name two things you should keep in a medical kit.
Q3. How do you avoid creases when packing?
Q4. Why is it important that I keep hydrated?
Q5. What can I do to keep active while I'm on holiday?
Q6. How do I avoid putting on weight?
Q7. Why should I take rest periods when I am on holiday?
Q8. What damage can the sun cause?
Q9. What percentage of people in the UK were sunburnt at least once during the heatwave of 2022?
Q10. What can I do to keep safe in the sun?

Health on Holiday 3The Danger of the SunOne of the major draws of travelling is enjoying the sun but it can cause long t...
10/06/2025

Health on Holiday 3

The Danger of the Sun

One of the major draws of travelling is enjoying the sun but it can cause long term damage. Repeated sun burn, especially in childhood and adolescence, increases the risk of skin cancer in later life. Even in this country it is possible to get serious sunburn. In the heatwave of 2022, 40% of people in the UK got sunburnt at least once.

Ways to reduce the chances of sunburn are:

• Choose the right sunscreen for your skin type, where you are travelling to and the time of day
• Apply it 30 minutes before you go out
• Apply the correct thickness – about 30ml to cover a whole adult body. This means you will need 420ml per adult for a two-week holiday.
• Choose light fitting clothes in light colours, use sunglasses and wear a hat
• Remember to re-apply after swimming, strenuous exercise or every two hours.
• Keep babies and young children covered up at all times.
• Avoid the sun between 12 noon and 3pm.

Address

Birmingham

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 10pm
Tuesday 7am - 10pm
Wednesday 7am - 10pm
Thursday 7am - 10pm
Friday 7am - 10pm
Saturday 8am - 10pm
Sunday 9am - 8pm

Telephone

+441217778855

Website

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