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practice scenario

baby
Pregnancy & baby care

Practice scenario: a crying baby

Rob and Louise Davies have been struggling for the last couple of weeks with their baby May, who has been crying much more than usual. They understand that babies cry a lot, but are concerned that May is not happy or ill. They tell you that in between the crying, she seems generally to be fine. They have been giving her colic mixture, but this does not seem to have helped. What do you advise?

16 Jan 2025 , 5 Min Article

elderly-man-hand
Skin conditions

Practice scenario: Blister-like rash

Mr K, an 80-year-old man with multimorbidity and a long history of generalised dry and itchy skin, presents in the pharmacy with acute hand blistering that has developed over the last few days. What should you do next?

03 Dec 2024 , 5 Min Article

weightloss
Nutrition & weight management

Practice scenario: Unintentional weight loss

A patient, Grace Foden, is struggling with her energy levels and feels so tired by the end of the day that she just wants to sit around watching TV. She says she has dropped a dress size over the past four months but hasn’t been on any specific diet. Grace is not on any medicines apart from the contraceptive pill. What do you advise?

30 Oct 2024 , 4 Min Article

elbow-pain-male
Pain relief

Everyday scenario: Dealing with elbow pain

Andrew Cotton, a man in his mid-40s, asks for a “good painkiller” to ease the pain he has been experiencing in his elbow for a number of weeks. He says it seems to be getting worse. He has been taking paracetamol on a regular basis and has no other conditions. What do you advise?

13 May 2024 , 5 Min Article

male-suspected-heart-attack
Clinical

Everyday scenario: Sudden chest pain

Larry Cooper calls the pharmacy wanting advice. He has tried to contact his GP surgery but could not get through. He has been getting chest pain and feels nauseous. He says his symptoms have been present for about 20 to 30 minutes and have eased a little but are still bothersome. What should you do next?

23 Apr 2024 , 5 Min Article

woman-in-70s
Problem Skin

Generalised pruritus

Scenario: Jane Morris, a 71-year-old regular patient, has been bothered with generalised itchy skin for the past two to three months, which is causing sleeping difficulties. The itching started on her return from an extended break in Spain. She takes atorvastatin for hyperlipidaemia and seems to have a residual tan from her holiday. What do you advise?

13 Sep 2023 , 5 Min Module

toddler-crying
Child & teen health

Croup-like symptoms

Scenario: A young mum is anxious about her 18-month-old boy, who has been coughing violently and had some difficulty breathing the previous night. While things seem easier this morning, he is still coughing a lot and breathless as well. What do you advise?

16 Aug 2023 , 5 Min Module

male-appendix-pain
Gastrointestinal

Lower abdominal pain

Scenario: Chris Colville, 30 years old, presents at the pharmacy on a Friday morning complaining of quite severe stomach pain. He tells you the pain is in an area below and to the right of his belly button and started hurting about four hours ago. What do you advise?

16 Jul 2023 , 5 Min Module

wrist pain, woman.jpg
Musculoskeletal & joint diseases

Wrist pain in an adult

Victoria Atkins, a 44-year-old regular patient, presents with wrist pain that she has had for six weeks. She describes soreness and aching as well as tingling in her fingers. There are no additional symptoms and she is not taking any other medication. What do you advise?

18 May 2023 , 5 Min Module

female, sore eyes.jpg
Eyes & ears

Eye irritation in an adult

Louise Rowe comes to the pharmacy complaining of irritation in both her eyes for the last three to four months. Her predominant symptoms are intermittent itching and watery eyes. She has tried OTC chloramphenicol but the symptoms returned. On initial inspection both eyes appeared to be generally healthy but her eyelid margins were inflamed and sore.

25 Apr 2023 , 12 Min Module

sinusitis, female.jpg
Cough & cold

Upper respiratory tract infection

Scenario: Lauren Hutton has a 10-day history of cold-like symptoms but with a continuing troublesome blocked-up nose accompanied by discharge. She is experiencing pain across her nose and face. What is your advice?

11 Nov 2022 , 5 Min Module

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