Test your knowledge of minor ailments

An opportunity to test your knowledge on symptoms of minor conditions.

Providing effective advice, treatment and support for patients suffering from minor ailments is an important component of pharmacy practice.

This quiz has been designed to complement the new minor ailments hub page, which has been mapped to cover conditions specified by the Welsh common minor ailments service, NHS ‘Pharmacy First’ Scotland and the proposed ‘Pharmacy First’ service for England.

Each question includes a link to a relevant PJ article providing more information on the topic. Work your way through the quiz by expanding the questions in the boxes below. When you have answered all the questions, select ‘Finish quiz’ at the bottom of the page to see your score.

Sore throat

Sore throat is a common symptom, usually managed through self-care, but patients should be advised on when to seek further medical advice. Expand question 1 to test your knowledge.

Photo of a woman holding her throat.

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This question is from ‘Case based learning: sore throat’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Hay fever

The first steps in the management of hay fever should be avoidance, with further treatment options to be considered depending on severity of symptoms. Expand question 2 to test your knowledge.

Photo of a congested woman is blowing her nose.

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This question is from ‘Hay fever: OTC management’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers affect a high proportion of the population and can be the result of a range of conditions. Asking basic questions can help provide a good indication about the likely cause and suitable management approaches. Pharmacists should be aware of red flags that may indicate cancer. Expand question 3 to test your knowledge.

Photo of a young man pulling his lower lip down to reveal an ulcer.

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This question is from ‘Oral ulceration: causes and management’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections are major drivers of antibiotic prescribing in primary care. Expand question 4 to test your knowledge.

Photo of a stick test for a urinary tract infection

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This question is from ‘Urinary tract infection in adults: diagnosis, management and prevention’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Ear conditions

Community pharmacists can provide management advice on a variety of ear conditions. Expand question 5 to test your knowledge.

Photo of a pharmacist checking a patient's ear.

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This question is from ‘Managing ear problems: hearing loss and tinnitus’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Impetigo

Two forms of impetigo exist: non-bullous (the most common type) and bullous. Expand question 6 to test your knowledge.

Photo of impetigo on someone's mouth and cheek.

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This question is from ‘Case-based learning: impetigo’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Acute rhinosinusitis

Acute rhinosinusitis has a one-year prevalence of 6–15% and often occurs after a viral common cold or flu. Expand question 7 to test your knowledge.

Photo of a man inhaling a nasal spray.

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This question is from ‘Rhinosinusitis: symptoms, diagnosis and management in community pharmacy‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Headache

Migraines, tension-type headaches and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias are types of primary headache, and account for most headache presentations. Expand question 8 to test your knowledge.

Photo of a woman holding her head in pain.

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This question is from ‘Headache: recognition and management‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Haemorrhoids

Simple analgesia may be recommended for pain relief when treating haemorrhoids. Expand question 9 to test your knowledge.

Photo of two pills out of a blister pack.

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This question is from ‘Case-based learning: haemorrhoids‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Motion sickness

The incidence of motion sickness varies greatly, depending on the magnitude of the stimulus and the susceptibility of the individual​. Expand question 10 to test your knowledge.

Photo of a child with motion sickness looking uncomfortable in a moving car.

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This question is from ‘Motion sickness: causes, prevention and management‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Bacterial conjunctivitis

Chloramphenicol is broad spectrum antibiotic that can be used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis. Expand question 11 to test your knowledge.

Photo close up of a sore red eye with conjunctivitis.

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This question is from ‘Bacterial conjunctivitis: diagnosis and management‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Constipation

The Bristol stool chart can be used to determine how constipated a patient is. Expand question 12 to test your knowledge.

Illustration of various stages of the Bristol stool chart.

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This question is from ‘Case-based learning: constipation in adults‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Shingles

Shingles can present in a variety of locations and have different appearances. Expand question 13 to test your knowledge.

Photo of three different types of shingles.

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This question is from ‘Case-based learning: shingles‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Oral candidiasis

Traditionally, topical antifungals are the preferred treatment for oral candidiasis. Expand question 14 to test your knowledge.

Close up photo of a woman sticking her tongue out, revealing a milky foam.

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This question is from ‘Oral candidiasis: causes, types and treatment‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Skin conditions

Identifying common skin conditions in skin of colour may be difficult for healthcare professionals owing to the lack of inclusivity and representation in medical textbooks and practical training. Expand question 15 to test your knowledge.

Close up of raised bumps on the forehead of a person with dark skin.

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This question is from ‘Recognising common skin conditions in people of colour‘. Please refer to the original article if you would like to know more.

Last updated
Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, June 2023, Vol 310, No 7974;310(7974)::DOI:10.1211/PJ.2023.1.188768

2 comments

  • thomas.john6

    I am grateful for your feedback but, of course, in practice one finds there are more than one or two arguably valid option which this quiz setter(s) does not seem to appreciate. I disagree with some of the answers you deemed correct or incorrect!

    • Alex Clabburn

      Thanks very much for your comment. I am the senior editor for research and learning at the PJ. The questions were derived from expert authored articles but I will be glad to look at the specific answers that you disagreed with. Would you be able to send me an email at Alex.Clabburn@rpharms.com so we can continue the conversation? Many thanks.

 

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