Ask A Pharmacist For Medical Care On Minor Ailments

It is allergy season – and it’s also the season when kids are set free outdoors, often coming home with bites, scrapes, and bruises. These need attention and a quick way to get reliable care may be just around the corner. Pharmacists are a convenient source for medical advice and products.

“Pharmacists are trained to assess your health condition and to help provide the most appropriate treatment option for you,” says John Papastergiou, a pharmacist-owner at Shoppers Drug Mart.“ He or she may start by recommending over-the-counter products or medications, and if it is assessed to be a minor ailment, the pharmacist might write a prescription for you.”

A “minor ailment” is a health condition that can generally be self-diagnosed and self-managed, Papastergiou points out. It may even improve on its own over time. However, despite the term “minor”, these ailments can have a major impact on your wellbeing and may sometimes require prescription medication. Examples of minor ailments include among others, skin rashes, allergies and acne.

If appropriate, the pharmacist will discuss your condition with you and ask questions about the symptoms and how long you have had them. You will also be asked about other medical conditions, the medications you currently take, and if you have any allergies. At this point, a pharmacist will either make a treatment recommendation, which may include writing a prescription, or, on the determination that your condition is more serious, you may be referred to your doctor.

So if this Minor Ailment Service is appealing to you, here are three more benefits to add the next time you need it:

1. Increased access and reduced wait times: Pharmacies are easy to get to and generally have extended hours.

2. Improved outcomes: Minor Ailment Services could reduce the time between the onset and the treatment of symptoms and prevent certain ailments from progressing before traditional care can be accessed.

3. More choices: You get to choose where you go and how to get the first step in the treatment of your ailment. Pharmacists are widely recognized as trusted health care providers in the community.

newscanada.com