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Minor Ailments

minor ailments

Minor Ailments

Pharmacists in Ontario can now prescribe medication for minor conditions such as pink eye, eczema, and urinary tract infections. These conditions are called minor ailments. They are common, uncomplicated, and short-term health conditions that can be diagnosed and managed with minimal treatment and self-care at home.

Allergies
(Allergic Rhinitis)

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Sneezing
Stuffy nose or runny nose
Itchy nose, eye, or throat
Typically, more than 7 days of continuous symptoms

Impetigo

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Bump that changes into a blister surrounded by rash
Yellow discharge that dries to form a "golden" or "honey-colored" crust
Can affect face, arms or legs

Menstrual Cramps

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Pain and cramps in the lower abdominal area
Pain in the lower back and starting a few hours before onset of a period
Pain can last a few hours to days

Dermatitis
(Atopic, Eczema)

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Dry, red, and itchy skin
Cracked and oozed blisters
Darker or lighter patches of skin
Scaly and patchy skin

Diaper Dermatitis

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Rashes and redness around the diaper area of babies and toddlers for more than 3 days.
Pain and crying while urinating, diaper changes and during defecating.
Can affect the sleep pattern

Pink Eye
(Conjunctivitis)

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Eye redness and difficulty opening eyes in the morning
Appearance of sticky or watery fluids from the eye
Mild scratching, itching, or burning sensation
Bright lights hurt your eyes

Cold Sores

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Rash or bump around border of the lip
Presence of clear, sticky fluid around the rash
Itching, tingling, or burning may lead to the rash
Redness or inflamed skin around the rash

Muscle Aches and Pain
(Sprains and Strains

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Pain, swelling or tenderness (light to medium)
Redness or bruising
Limited motion and muscle weakness
Injury is associated with overworking or muscle / joint injured

Insect Bites and Hives

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Small bump or blister. May feel pain, itching, redness or swelling.
Feeling of a sharp burning pain which can sting

Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Nausea or vomiting at any time of the day due to pregnancy
Not able to keep food or drink down for more than 12 hours

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
(Yeast Infection)

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Thick, white, odor-free vaginal discharge with a cottage cheese appearance
Itching, burning and pain during urination and/or sexual intercourse
Rash and redness of vaginal area

Acne (mild)

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Presence of whiteheads and blackheads
Small red bumps and pimples with pus
Less than 30 total bumps/pimples and not all are inflamed (red in appearance)

Aphthous Ulcers
(Canker Sores)

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Painful and shallow White- or cream-coloured ulcers with a raised red border that are round or oval
Presence of ulcers inside cheeks, lips, sides of tongue, roof, and floor of the mouth
Less than 1cm in diameter

Hemerhoids

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Itching, burning or swollen (with or without pain) around the anal / rectum area
Bright red blood during / after bowel movement
Constipation and difficulty in having a bowel movement
Presence of a lump in the anal / rectum area

Tick Bites
(Prevention of Lyme Disease)

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Tick bite by black-legged tick
A red lump present, but swelling, blistering, bruising, itching or other infections may develop
Mild allergic reaction (hives, rash, and light swelling at the bite site)

Oral Thrush

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

White or creamy-white spots / patches on the lips, inside of mouth, tongue and / or the roof of the mouth
Cottage cheese-like appearance
Patches can be scraped off
Dry mouth and / or loss of taste

Acid Reflux

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Burping / stomach acid rise from the stomach into the mouth
Burning feeling in the stomach or lower chest rising to the neck
Trouble getting a good night's sleep because of heartburn
Pain in the middle of the upper stomach area
Nausea

UTI's
(Urinary Tract Infections)

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Frequent urination, pain while urinating and difficulty holding in urine
Pain in lower abdomen and a small amount of blood in the urine
Absence of vaginal discharge
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine

NOTE: Pharmacists can only assess and prescribe for Females.

Pinworms and Threadworms

You may experience some of the symptoms below:

Detection of worms in stool or near anus
Anal itching, especially at night
Restless sleep
There may be itching in your vaginal area if adult worms move there
Feeling irritable and having trouble concentrating
Abdominal pain that comes and goes

COVID-19 (Paxlovid)

To obtain a Paxlovid prescription, please review the steps below:

You must have tested positive for COVID-19.
Determine your eligibility to receive a Paxlovid prescription. Please visit the government of Ontario website HERE for eligibility details.
Book a virtual appointment or a phone consultation to get assessed by a Pharmacist and receive a prescription for Paxlovid.
Your Pharmacy team will coordinate with you how to receive the prescription.

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