Scenario

Skin and nail,

Practice scenario: Generalised, widespread rash

A man in his 40s asks to speak with you. He tells you he has been bothered by an itchy rash on his legs for the last week or so but now it is also on his arms. He has not tried any medication to get rid of the rash but has been taking an antihistamine to help with the itching. Otherwise, he is fit and healthy and takes no prescribed medicines. What do you advise?

20 Oct 2025

Child health,

Practice scenario: Childhood diarrhoea

A father seeks advice for his four-year-old daughter, who is at home. She has had diarrhoea for the last 36 hours, with frequent trips to the toilet, where she passes very loose and watery stools. She has also been sick a couple of times during the last 24 hours. Both he and his wife have been trying to make their daughter eat and drink but have restricted her to soup. What would you advise him to do? By Professor Paul Rutter, University of Portsmouth

02 Sep 2025

child-rash-chicken-pox-scarlet-fever-summary

Child health,

Practice scenario: maculopapular rash in young boy

The parents of a six-year-old boy come to see you. They tell you that Jake has been poorly for the past two days. He complained originally of a sore throat but, while that is getting better, Jake now has a temperature and they have also noticed a distinctive rash spreading up his trunk. He is normally fit and healthy with no other medical problems. What do you advise?

07 Jul 2025

Musculoskeletal,

Practice scenario: non-trauma related bruising

A 46-year-old woman presents in the pharmacy asking for advice about how she can stop getting bruised. She tells you that most of the time she cannot even remember banging an arm or leg, but bruises just seem to appear. She says this has been going on for ages. Although she doesn’t mind too much when this happens, they can look unsightly. Her history reveals no medical conditions and only one trip to hospital when she was a teenager for a broken left arm. What should you do next?

06 May 2025

Problem Skin,

Generalised pruritus

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

Child health,

Croup-like symptoms

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

Gastrointestinal,

Lower abdominal pain

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

Musculoskeletal,

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

Eyes,

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

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Practice scenario: Generalised, widespread rash