Jock itch, ringworm and athlete’s foot sound like three different problems, but they’re all caused by the same group of fungi, called dermatophytes. The name just changes with where the infection is on your body. The treatment is similar too.

How to tell them apart

• Ringworm (tinea corporis): a red, scaly, ring-shaped patch on the body, arms or legs, often clearer in the middle. Despite the name, no worm is involved.
• Jock itch (tinea cruris): an itchy red rash in the groin and inner thighs, with a sharp, raised edge. It usually spares the scrotum.
• Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis): itchy, peeling or cracked skin between the toes or on the soles.

The same fungus can spread from one area to another. Athlete’s foot often spreads to the groin on towels or underwear.

How to treat them

Over-the-counter antifungal creams work for most skin infections. Butenafine (Mentax) is one of the fastest options:

• Jock itch and ringworm: apply once a day for 2 weeks.
• Athlete’s foot: see our athlete’s foot guide.
• Spread the cream over the rash and about 2 cm (1 inch) of normal skin around it.
• Keep going for the full course, even if the rash fades sooner.

Avoid steroid creams on their own (like hydrocortisone). They can calm the redness but make a fungal infection spread and harder to treat.

Stop it spreading or coming back

• Keep the area clean and dry. Dry the groin and feet last, with a separate towel.
• Wear loose cotton underwear and change it daily.
• Put socks on before underwear, so fungus from your feet doesn’t reach the groin.
• Don’t share towels, clothes or sports gear.
• Pets can carry ringworm. If a pet has bald, scaly patches, take it to a vet.

When to see a doctor

• No improvement after 2 weeks of treatment
• Ringworm on the scalp or in a beard. These need tablets, not cream.
• The rash is spreading fast, very painful, oozing or blistered
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system

More in our Skin and Fungal Infections guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.

Children get hay fever, dust-mite and pet allergies too, and the itching, sneezing and poor sleep can affect school and mood. The good news: the same non-drowsy antihistamines adults use come in children’s versions. The key is choosing the right form and dose for your child’s age.

Non-drowsy antihistamines for children

• Cetirizine (Zyrtec): children 6 and over usually take 5 or 10 mg once a day. A children’s liquid is used for ages 2 to 5.
• Loratadine (Claritin): children 6 and over take 10 mg once a day. A children’s liquid or chewable is used for ages 2 to 5.
• Fexofenadine (Allegra): children 6 to 11 take 30 mg twice a day. Children’s formulas exist for younger ages.

Always use the product and measuring device made for children, and follow the label for your child’s age. Under 2 years old, don’t give any allergy medicine without a doctor’s advice.

Why to avoid older, sedating antihistamines

Older antihistamines such as diphenhydramine cause drowsiness, and in some children they cause the opposite: restlessness and agitation. Don’t use them to help a child sleep. The newer non-drowsy options above are generally preferred for allergies.

Tips that reduce symptoms

• Give the antihistamine at the same time each day during allergy season, ideally before symptoms peak.
• Wash your child’s hands and face after outdoor play, and change their clothes.
• Keep bedroom windows closed on high-pollen days.
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water to reduce dust mites.
• Keep pets out of your child’s bedroom if pet dander is a trigger.

When to see a doctor

• Wheezing, coughing at night, or shortness of breath. These can be signs of asthma.
• Symptoms that don’t improve with an antihistamine
• Frequent ear or sinus infections
• Your child is under 2
• To arrange allergy testing if you’re not sure what the trigger is

Call emergency services if a child has swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or becomes floppy or drowsy after eating a food or being stung.

For adults and children 6+

Our 10 mg tablets are for adults and children 6 and over: Zyrtec, Claritin and Alavert. Read our Zyrtec vs Claritin vs Allegra comparison.

More in our Allergies guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.

Antibiotics kill the bacteria causing an infection, but they also affect the “good” bacteria that live in your gut. That’s why up to 1 in 3 people get loose stools or diarrhoea during or after a course. Probiotics are often suggested to help. Here’s what they can and can’t do.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live “friendly” bacteria or yeasts, found in supplements like Lactic acid bacillus (Vizylac) and in foods such as yoghurt with live cultures, kefir and some fermented foods.

Do they help after antibiotics?

Research suggests some probiotics can reduce the chance of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, especially in children. The evidence is strongest for certain strains, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. Results vary by strain and dose, so not every probiotic will work the same way.

How to take them with antibiotics

• Space them out. Take the probiotic at least 2 hours before or after your antibiotic dose, so the antibiotic doesn’t kill it.
• Start early. Begin on the first day of the antibiotic course.
• Keep going a little longer. Many people continue for 1–2 weeks after the antibiotics finish.
• Follow the pack. Doses and storage (some need the fridge) differ between products.
• Always finish your antibiotics as prescribed, even if you feel better.

Food that helps your gut recover

• Fibre-rich foods: oats, beans, lentils, fruit and vegetables feed your good bacteria.
• Fermented foods: live yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi.
• Plenty of fluids, especially if you have loose stools.

Who should check with a doctor first

• People with a weakened immune system, for example during chemotherapy or after a transplant
• People who are seriously ill, or have a central line or catheter
• Premature babies
• Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding

When diarrhoea needs a doctor

See a doctor straight away if you have severe or watery diarrhoea many times a day, blood in your stool, a fever, or bad stomach cramps during or after antibiotics. These can be signs of a C. difficile infection, which needs treatment. Read more in our guide to stopping diarrhoea.

More in our Digestive Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.

Getting ill abroad is stressful enough without hunting for a pharmacy in a language you don’t speak. A small travel health kit takes ten minutes to pack and covers the most common problems on the road.

Your regular medicines

• Pack enough for the whole trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays.
• Keep them in your hand luggage, in their original labelled packs.
• Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor, especially for injections, controlled medicines or large quantities.
• Check the rules of the country you’re visiting. Some medicines that are legal at home are restricted elsewhere.

Stomach and travel sickness

• Motion sickness tablets such as Dramamine, taken 30–60 minutes before travelling. See our motion sickness guide.
• An anti-diarrhoeal such as Imodium for adults and children 12+. Read when to use it and when not to.
• Oral rehydration salts, to replace fluids if you get a stomach bug.
• A probiotic such as Vizylac, if you like to take one.

Allergies, aches and skin

• An antihistamine such as Claritin, Zyrtec or Allegra for hay fever, insect bites and hives. Which one?
• A pain and fever reliever such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
• An antifungal cream such as Mentax: hot, sweaty shoes are a classic cause of athlete’s foot.
• Sunscreen (SPF 30+), after-sun and lip balm with SPF.
• Insect repellent, especially where mosquitoes carry disease.

First aid basics

• Plasters in different sizes and blister plasters
• Antiseptic wipes or cream
• A small roll of tape and gauze
• Tweezers and a digital thermometer
• Hand sanitiser

Before you go

• Check whether you need any vaccinations or malaria tablets. See a doctor or travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you leave.
• Get travel insurance that covers medical treatment and repatriation.
• Save the local emergency number and your insurer’s helpline in your phone.

More in our Travel Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.

Vaginal yeast infections (thrush, or vaginal candidiasis) are very common: most women get at least one in their lifetime. They’re caused by an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that normally lives in the body in small amounts. They aren’t usually serious and respond well to treatment, but other conditions can look similar.

Common symptoms

• Itching and irritation in and around the vagina
• Burning, especially when urinating or during sex
• Redness and swelling of the vulva
• Thick, white, “cottage cheese” discharge, usually without a strong smell

What raises your risk

• Recent antibiotics, which reduce the “good” bacteria that keep yeast in check
• Pregnancy and hormonal changes
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• A weakened immune system
• Tight, non-breathable clothing and staying in damp clothes

Is it a yeast infection or something else?

Several conditions cause similar symptoms but need different treatment:

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV): thin, grey-white discharge with a strong fishy smell, especially after sex. Usually less itchy.
• Trichomoniasis: a sexually transmitted infection with frothy, yellow-green discharge and a bad smell.
• Urinary tract infection: burning, frequent urge to urinate, and cloudy urine, usually without itching.

Antifungal treatment won’t help these, so if you’re not sure, see a doctor or sexual health clinic.

Treatment

If you’ve had a yeast infection diagnosed by a doctor before and recognise the same symptoms, an over-the-counter antifungal can treat it. Clotrimazole vaginal tablets (Femcare) are inserted at bedtime for 7 nights in a row.

• Finish the full course, even if symptoms improve sooner.
• Avoid sex, tampons and douches during treatment.
• Clotrimazole can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms.
• Symptoms usually improve within 3 days. See a doctor if they don’t, or if they last more than 7 days.

See a doctor if

• It’s your first yeast infection, or you’re not sure that’s what it is
• You’re pregnant
• You have a fever, lower abdominal pain, or a foul-smelling discharge
• You get 4 or more infections a year, or it comes back within 2 months
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system
• You’re under 12 or the person affected is a child

Prevention tips

• Wear breathable cotton underwear and change out of wet swimwear or sweaty clothes quickly.
• Avoid perfumed soaps, bubble baths, douches and vaginal deodorants.
• Wipe from front to back.
• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar well controlled.

More in our Skin and Fungal Infections guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.