How are illnesses treated?
If you feel unwell, tell an adult and see a doctor. The doctor first asks about the symptoms — temperature, cough, runny nose, pain. Then there is an examination: with a stethoscope the doctor listens to breathing and heart, with a thermometer measures temperature, with a blood-pressure meter measures blood pressure. For a precise diagnosis tests are sometimes needed: blood, urine, a nose swab, ultrasound or X-ray. After the diagnosis the doctor writes a prescription — a list of medicines and treatments. A simple illness can be treated at home; a serious one in hospital. Do not be afraid of hospitals. Never treat yourself on your own and take only the medicine the doctor ordered, in the amount an adult gives you. Sometimes after recovery a follow-up test is needed. Prevention means what we do to avoid illness: washing hands, vaccination, healthy food, sleep, exercise. Doctors have different specialities: therapist, surgeon, dentist (teeth), ophthalmologist (eyes), ENT doctor (ear-nose-throat), cardiologist (heart).
Role play “At the doctor’s”: one pupil is the patient (tells symptoms), another is the doctor (asks questions, shows pictures of a thermometer and stethoscope). Say that medicines are bought on prescription. Do not use real medicine.