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Help Centre


Should haemorrhoid patients see a doctor?

If there’s no improvement after 7 days of treatment at home or they keep getting haemorrhoids, patients should see a doctor.

If there’s no improvement after home treatments, patients may need hospital treatment.

Patients should ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if:

  • They have haemorrhoids and their temperature is very high or they feel hot and shivery and generally unwell
  • They have pus leaking from their haemorrhoids

What are the symptoms of haemorrhoids?

Symptoms of haemorrhoids include:

  • Bright red blood after passing stool
  • An itchy anus
  • Feeling the need to poo after going to the toilet
  • Slimy mucus in underwear or on toilet paper after wiping bottom
  • Lumps around the anus
  • Pain around the anus

When should a patient seek further medical advice for a pressure ulcer?

If in hospital or a care home, the patient should tell their healthcare team as soon as possible if they develop symptoms of a pressure ulcer. It’ll probably continue to get worse if nothing is done about it.


If the patient is recovering from illness or surgery at home, or are caring for someone confined to bed or a wheelchair, they should contact their GP surgery if they think they or the person they’re caring for might have a pressure ulcer.

What are the symptoms of a pressure ulcer?

Early symptoms of a pressure ulcer include:

  • Discoloured patches not turning white when pressed
  • A patch of skin that feels warm, spongy or hard
  • Pain or itchiness in the affected area

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

If your patient has gum disease, their gums may bleed when they brush their teeth and they may have bad breath.

This early stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated, a condition called periodontitis can develop. This affects the tissues that support teeth and hold them in place. If periodontitis is not treated, the bone in the jaw may be damaged and small spaces can open up between the gum and teeth. Teeth can become loose and may eventually fall out.

How to advise when a fungal nail infection has cleared?

A patient will know when the infection is cured when they see healthy nail growing back at the base.

Which nails do fungal nail infections infect?

Fungal nail infections usually affect toenails but they can affect fingernails too.

How long does it take to treat a fungal nail infection?

Fungal nail infections are common.

They’re not serious but they can take a long time to treat – sometimes up to 12 months.

How long will nasal congestion last?


How long will low mood last?

A low mood will tend to lift after a few days or weeks.


What’s the difference between low mood and depression?

A general low mood can include: Sadness, feeling anxious or panicky, worry, tiredness, low self-esteem, frustration and anger.

Symptoms of depression can include the following: Low mood lasting 2 weeks or more; Not getting any enjoyment out of life; Feeling hopeless; Feeling tired or lacking energy.

What causes migraines?



What’s the difference between cold and flu?

Colds  appear gradually and affects mainly the nose and throat. The patient will feel unwell but it’s OK to carry on as normal, for example, go to work.

Flu – Appears quickly within a few hours, affects more than just the nose and throat, makes people feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal.

Do patients need to see a GP?

Colds can be treated over-the-counter, without seeing a GP.

Patients should begin to feel better in about a week or two.

What are symptoms of a cold?

Cold symptoms come on gradually and can include:

  • Blocked or runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Headaches
  • Muscle aches
  • Coughs
  • Sneezing
  • A raised temperature

What are the symptoms of PMS?

The most common symptoms of PMS include:

  • mood swings
  • feeling upset, anxious or irritable
  • tiredness or trouble sleeping
  • bloating or tummy pain
  • breast tenderness
  • headaches
  • spotty skin or greasy hair
  • changes in appetite and sex drive

What is a boil or carbuncle?


How long do minor wounds take to heal?

Minor wounds should start to heal within a few days.

If dry, itchy skin isn’t relieved by a moisturiser, what advice can be given?


What does nappy rash look like?

There may be red patches on a baby’s bottom, or the whole area may be red.


What causes nappy rash?

  • A baby’s skin being in contact with wee or poo for a long time
  • The nappy rubbing against a baby’s skin
  • Not cleaning the nappy area or changing the nappy often enough
  • Soap, detergent or bubble bath, alcohol-based baby wipes
  • A baby recently taking antibiotics

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?

Chickenpox starts with red spots. They can appear anywhere on the body.

The spots fill with fluid. The blisters may burst. They might spread or stay in a small area. The spots scab over. More blisters might appear while others scab over.

There may be other symptoms before or after the spots, including:

  • A high temperature above 38C
  • Aches and pains
  • Generally feeling unwell
  • Loss of appetite


What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus which is passed through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person.

It is an extremely common childhood condition.

How does a patient use Care Co-Lactase?

Care Co-Lactase can be used in the following ways and advice to patients should be given as such:

  • Breastfeeding: express a few tablespoons of breast milk into a small sterilised container. Add 4 drops of Care Co-Lactase. Give this to the baby on a sterilised plastic spoon or by using a syringe and continue breast feeding as normal.
  • Expressed Breast Milk: defrost the milk if necessary and warm to normal feeding temperature as usual. Add 4 drops of Care Co-Lactase to the milk when warm. Do not add Care Co-Lactase to the milk if it is too hot. Shake the milk and feed as normal.
  • Infant formula: Prepare the baby formula according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Add 4 drops of Care Co-Lactase to the formula when at feeding temperature. Do not add Care Co-Lactase to the formula if it is hot. Shake the formula and feed as normal.
  • Ready to feed formula: Warm the formula to feeding temperature and add 4 drops of Care Co-Lactase to the formula when warm. Do not add Care Co-Lactase to the formula if it is hot. Shake the formula and feed as normal.

From what age can parents start using Care Co-Lactase for their baby?

Care Co-Lactase can be used from birth onwards.

It should only be used for as long as it takes for the baby to begin to produce enough of their own lactase enzyme as the gut develops – typically around 3-4 months. Further advice should be sought from their doctor or health visitor.

How do you know if a baby is suffering from Transient Lactase Deficiency?

Babies experiencing transient lactase deficiency display colicky symptoms, which include intense crying bouts, crying in the late afternoon or evening that lasts several hours, a baby’s face being red and flushed when they cry, a baby clenching their fists, drawing their knees up to their tummy, or arching their back while crying.

If a baby has colic, they may appear to be in distress. But the crying outbursts are not harmful, and a baby should continue to feed and gain weight normally. A one week trial of infant lactase enzyme drops such as Care Co-Lactase is recommended by the NHS Choices website as one of the options if a baby is showing colic-like symptoms. If a parent is unsure it’s best to advise them to check with their health visitor or doctor.

Lactose intolerance is a separate condition to temporary lactase deficiency. Lactose intolerance is usually lifelong, unlike the effects of temporary lactase deficiency, which usually resolve at around 3 – 4 months when the infant produces enough of its own lactase enzyme as the gut develops.

Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops may help a baby, but if a parent is unsure it’s best to get advice from health visitors or doctors. Further details can be found here.

Does this help with transitions to cow’s milk?

Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops are for the reduction of lactose content in breast milk and infant formula for babies 0 – 6 months who are showing symptoms of transient lactase deficiency (the immature digestive system of young babies can sometimes have trouble producing the enzyme lactase which breaks down the sugars in breast milk and infant formula to make them easier for your baby to digest).

Doctors or health visitors will be able to provide more information on transitioning a baby to cow’s milk.

What does it mean if a baby is showing signs of temporary lactase deficiency?

Temporary Lactase Deficiency is quite a common issue in young babies.

It occurs when the immature digestive system of the young child doesn’t produce enough lactase to break down the lactose in milk. Lactase enzyme drops, like Care Co-Lactase, can help the baby digest the lactose until their digestive system is able to handle it. If symptoms persist, parents should speak to a doctor.

Can Care Co-Lactase be used with anti-reflux milk?

Anti-reflux milk is usually designed to be of a thicker consistency than regular formula milk and breast milk.

Care Co-Lactase drops can still be added to this sort of milk, as they will help to break down any lactase the milk may contain. NHS choices recommend that a one week trial of lactase drops may help some babies showing symptoms of colic, so patients can try Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops with their baby to see if there is any improvement. Their doctor or health visitor can advise them further.

Can Care Co-Lactase be used with breast milk?

Yes, Care Co-Lactase works with both breast milk and infant formula.

Ensure patients follow the manufacturer’s instructions on adding Care Co-Lactase to breast milk and make sure that it is fed to your baby before breastfeeding begins. Their doctor or health visitor can advise with any further queries.

What about the use of lactose free formula?

Lactose free formula already contains lactase enzyme to break down lactose, which is the same effect which our infant drops have. You may advise on the interactions between Care Co-Lactase and lactose free formula before trying Care Co-Lactase.

Are Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops similar to competitor products?

Yes, the only difference between the use of Care Co-Lactase and competitor products is that with Care Co-Lactase parents can feed instantly once added to breast milk or infant formula.

What do Care-Co Lactase drops contain?

Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops contain lactase enzyme to reduce lactose content in milk.

Other colic preparations contain ingredients such as simethicone, an anti-foaming agent. Dill oil, to relax the tummy and Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, to neutralise acid. These remedies won’t help with Transient Lactase Deficiency.

How long can parents feed a baby after adding Care Co-Lactase?

Babies can be fed straightaway with Care Co-Lactase as they contain a powder based lactase, as oppose to a liquid lactase enzyme.

The powder lactase has a stable pH which helps it to remain in the stomach where the lactose in milk can be broken down into more simple sugars. Liquid lactase drops aren’t pH stable and so the process of breaking down the lactose has to happen before the milk is consumed, which is why with some other colic remedies you have to wait 30 minutes before feeding.

Can Care Co-Lactase be used with comfort milk?

Yes, Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops can be used with comfort milk.

Comfort milk has much less lactose than normal formula milk, but if a baby is still having trouble digesting the lactose in it then Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops may help to break down the sugars even further. However, temporary lactase deficiency might not be the only cause of discomfort. If a baby still shows no improvement after trialling Care Co-Lactase for a week then you should recommend that the parents speak to their doctor or health visitor.

How is a baby affected by undigested Lactose?

The immature digestive system of babies can have trouble breaking down lactose into more simple sugars.

Doctors or pharmacists can tell you more about how this may affect babies.

How does Care Co-Lactase work?

Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose, the main sugar in milk (especially in breast milk).

Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops help to break down the lactose in your baby’s feed into more simple sugars which can be more easily digested by the body. Sometimes, young babies can struggle temporarily to create enough lactase on their own to digest the whole of their feed, therefore lactase drops such as Care Co-Lactase can help. The drops should not be given directly to a baby.

What is Care Co-Lactase?

Care Co-Lactase Infant Drops are an enzyme preparation containing lactase and are designed to be added to a baby’s feed, (breast milk or infant formula), before feeding.

How long does it take to recover from a fever?


What causes a fever?

Fever is very common in young children.

More than 60% of parents with children aged between 6 months and 5 years say their child has had one. It’s usually caused by a minor viral infection, such as a cough or cold, and can normally be treated at home.

Grey Angle

Care Pharmacy