passing small amounts of urine infrequently (less than three or four times a day)
Dehydration can also lead to a loss of strength and stamina. It’s a main cause of heat exhaustion.
You should be able to reverse dehydration at this stage by drinking more fluids.
If dehydration is ongoing (chronic), it can affect your kidney function and increase the risk of kidney stones. It can also lead to muscle damage and constipation.
When to see your GP
See your GP if your symptoms continue despite drinking fluids, or if you suspect that your baby or toddler is dehydrated.
You should also contact your GP if your baby has had six or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours, or if they have vomited three times or more in the past 24 hours.
If dehydration is suspected, you may be given a blood test or a urine test to check the balance of salts (sodium and potassium) in your body.
Severe dehydration
If dehydration is left untreated, it can become severe.
Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
If severe dehydration is not treated immediately, it can lead to complications. This level of dehydration needs hospital treatment and you will be put on a drip to restore the substantial loss of fluids.
In antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), the immune system produces abnormal antibodies that make the blood ‘stickier’ than normal.
This means people with APS are more likely to develop blood clots in their veins and arteries, which can cause serious or life-threatening health problems such as:
Women with APS have a much higher risk of developing complications during pregnancy, particularly if it’s not treated. Possible complications include:
recurrent (three or more) early miscarriages, usually during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy
one or more later miscarriages, usually after week 10 of pregnancy
premature birth, usually at or before week 34 of pregnancy, which may be caused by pre-eclampsia (where a woman develops high blood pressure during pregnancy)
Livedo reticularis
Livedo reticularis is a skin condition caused by small blood clots that develop inside the blood vessels of the skin.
It causes the skin to take on a blotchy red or blue appearance. Some people also develop ulcers (sores) and nodules (bumps). These symptoms are often more severe in cold weather.
Superficial thrombophlebitis
Superficial thrombophlebitis is inflammation of the veins just under your skin, usually in your leg. The symptoms are similar to DVT but they’re not usually as severe.
The symptoms of superficial thrombophlebitis include:
swelling
redness and tenderness along the affected vein
a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above (although this is less common)
The symptoms usually resolve within two to six weeks.
Slapped cheek syndrome (also called fifth disease or parvovirus B19) is a viral infection that’s most common in children, although it can affect people of any age. It usually causes a bright red rash on the cheeks.
Although the rash can look alarming, slapped cheek syndrome is normally a mild infection that clears up by itself in one to three weeks. Once you’ve had the infection, you’re usually immune to it for life.
However, slapped cheek syndrome can be more serious for some people. If you’re pregnant, have a blood disorder or a weakened immune system and have been exposed to the virus, you should get medical advice.
Symptoms of slapped cheek syndrome
Symptoms of slapped cheek syndrome usually develop 4-14 days after becoming infected, but sometimes may not appear for up to 21 days.
Initial symptoms
Some people with slapped cheek syndrome won’t notice any early symptoms, but most people will have the following symptoms for a few days:
a slightly high temperature (fever) of around 38C (100.4F)
The infection is most contagious during this initial period.
In adults, these symptoms are often accompanied by joint pain and stiffness, which may continue for several weeks or even months after the other symptoms have passed.
Slapped cheek rash
After a few days, a distinctive bright red rash on both cheeks (the so-called “slapped cheeks”) normally appears, although adults may not get this.
By the time this rash develops, the condition is no longer contagious.
After another few days, a light pink rash may also appear on the chest, stomach, arms and thighs. This often has a raised, lace-like appearance and may be itchy.
The rashes will normally fade within a week or two, although occasionally the body rash may come and go for a few weeks after the infection has passed. This can be triggered by exercise, heat, anxiety or stress.
When to get medical advice
You don't usually need to see your GP if you think you or your child has slapped cheek syndrome, as the condition normally gets better on its own.
However, you should contact your GP, call NHS 111 or contact your local out-of-hours service if you have been exposed to anyone with slapped cheek or you have symptoms of the infection and:
you're pregnant - infection in pregnancy, particularly early pregnancy, carries a risk of causing miscarriage, stillbirth or other complications; however, this risk is small and most pregnant women will already be immune (read more about the risks of slapped cheek syndrome in pregnancy)
you have a blood disorder, such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia, or a weakened immune system - the infection can cause severe anaemia that may need to be treated in hospital
you have symptoms of severe anaemia, such as very pale skin, severe shortness of breath, extreme tiredness or fainting
In these cases, a blood test may be carried out to see if you're immune to the infection. If you're not immune, you'll be monitored carefully to check for any problems.
If you develop severe anaemia, it's likely that you'll need to be admitted to hospital and have a blood transfusion to replace your damaged blood cells.
What to do if you or your child has slapped cheek
Slapped cheek syndrome is usually mild and should clear up without specific treatment.
If you or your child is feeling unwell, you can try the following to ease the symptoms:
Erythema infectiosum
rest and drink plenty of fluids - babies should continue their normal feeds
for a fever, headaches or joint pain, you can take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen- children under 16 shouldn't take aspirin
to reduce itchiness,you cantake antihistamines or use an emollient (moisturising lotion) - some antihistamines are not suitable for young children, so check with your pharmacist first
Unless you or your child is feeling unwell, there's no need to stay away from school or work once the rash has developed, as the infection is no longer contagious by this point.
It's a good idea to notify your child's school about the infection, so children who develop early symptoms can be spotted quickly and vulnerable people can be made aware that they may need to get medical advice.
How do you get slapped cheek syndrome?
Slapped cheek syndrome is caused by a virus called parvovirus B19. This is found in the droplets in the coughs and sneezes of someone with the infection.
The virus is spread in a similar way to colds and flu. You can become infected by:
inhaling droplets that are sneezed or coughed out by someone with the infection
touching a contaminated surface or object and then touching your mouth or nose
Someone with slapped cheek syndrome is infectious during the period before the rash develops. Once the rash appears, the condition can no longer be passed on.
Preventing slapped cheek syndrome
It's very difficult to prevent slapped cheek syndrome, because people who have the infection are most contagious before they develop any obvious symptoms.
However, making sure that everyone in your household washes their hands frequently may help stop the infection from spreading.
There's currently no vaccine available to protect you against the condition.
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are any infection of the sinuses, throat, airways or lungs.
They’re usually caused by viruses, but can be caused by bacteria.
RTIs are thought to be one of the main reasons why people visit their GP or pharmacist. The common cold is the most widespread RTI.
Healthcare professionals generally make a distinction between:
upper respiratory tract infections – which affect the nose, sinuses and throat
lower respiratory tract infections – which affect the airways and lungs
Children tend to get more upper RTIs than adults because they haven’t built up immunity (resistance) to the many viruses that can cause these infections.
How respiratory infections spread
RTIs can spread in several ways. If you have an infection such as a cold, tiny droplets of fluid containing the cold virus are launched into the air whenever you sneeze or cough. If these are breathed in by someone else, they may also become infected.
Infections can also be spread through indirect contact. For example, if you have a cold and you touch your nose or eyes before touching an object or surface, the virus may be passed to someone else when they touch that object or surface.
The best way to prevent spreading infections is to practise good hygiene, such as regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water.
A cough is the most common symptom of an upper RTI. Other symptoms include headaches, a stuffy or runny nose, a sore throat, sneezing and muscle aches.
Lower respiratory tract infections
Common lower RTIs include:
flu – which can affect either the upper or lower respiratory tract
bronchiolitis – an infection of the small airways that affects babies and children aged under two
tuberculosis – persistent bacterial infection of the lungs
As with upper RTIs, the main symptom of a lower RTI is a cough. However, it’s usually more severe and you may bring up phlegm and mucus. Other possible symptoms are a tight feeling in your chest, an increased rate of breathing, breathlessness and wheezing.
Managing your symptoms at home
Most RTIs pass without the need for treatment and you won’t usually need to see your GP. You can treat your symptoms at home by taking over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, drinking plenty of fluids and resting.
In most cases, antibiotics aren’t recommended because they’re only effective if the infection is caused by bacteria.
The symptoms of an upper RTI usually pass within one to two weeks.
When you should see your GP
Visit your GP if:
your symptoms suggest you may have pneumonia – for example, if you’re coughing up bloody mucus and phlegm
you have a pre-existing heart, lung, liver or kidney condition
your cough has persisted for more than three weeks, you’re losing weight, you have chest pain or if there are any lumps in your neck
It’s also recommended that you visit your GP if you’re over 65 years of age and you have a cough and two or more of the factors listed below, or you’re over 80 years of age and have a cough and one of the following factors:
you’ve been admitted to hospital at some point during the past year
you’re currently taking a type of steroid medication known as oral glucocorticoids – for example, prednisolone
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