Acute & Critical Care

Chest pain is a common symptom that may be due to serious underlying causes. The pain can originate from the heart, food pipe, lungs and the layer surrounding the lungs, bone, muscle or skin.

What should you do when facing chest pain:

• Keep calm.
Over-stressing yourself and panicking may worsen the pain.
• Take a common painkiller like Ibuprofen or paracetamol.
• Continue to monitor your heart rate and blood pressure.

When should you head to the A&E:

• If you have also been diagnosed with other risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and/ or are smoking.
• If you are facing breathing difficulties.
• If the pain worsen upon exertion.
• If you are experiencing sweating.
• If the pain increases when taking a deep breath or coughing.
• If you start developing rash over chest area.

What to expect at the A&E:

The nurse will check your vital signs and do an ECG (to check your heart rhythm). The doctor will then assess and decide on further investigations such as blood tests and chest x-ray.

This includes injuries such as ankle sprains, wrists injuries, etc...

What should you do when you have a limb injury:

• Keep the limb elevated.
• Apply ice to relieve the swelling.
• Take a common painkiller like Ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the pain. 

When should you head to the A&E:

• If there is a significant swelling of the affected part.
• Inability to walk or use your arm.

What to expect at the A&E:

After the triage process by the nurse, the doctor will examine your limb to ascertain if an x-ray is required and the appropriate type of x-ray to be undertaken.

Your child may experience conditions such as fever, diarrhoea and vomiting.

What should you do if your child is unwell:

• Keep your child well hydrated.
Use plain water, fruit juice, soup, or rice water to ensure he/ she remains hydrated.
• Serve paracetamol to relieve the fever and distress.
• Continue to monitor your child's condition such as,

• Appetite
• Activity and play
• Urine output
• Lethargicness

When should you head to the A&E:

• If the fever continue to last more than 3 days.
• If your child appears lethargic.
• If your child's appetite is less than 50% of usual.
• If your child is not drinking enough fluids and urine output is decreasing.
• If your child is facing symptoms like seizures, persistent vomiting and/ or breathing too fast.

What to expect at the A&E:

The nurse will first check your child’s vital signs. The doctor will then elicit history of the illness and examine your child to look for the source of the illness as well as any signs of potential worsening.