WWHAM questions

Who is it for? It might not be the customer who needs the treatment. Remember, some products for travel sickness can cause drowsiness and should not be taken by anyone who is driving.

What are the symptoms? Ask the customer to describe all of the symptoms so that you can establish whether you need to refer them to the pharmacist.

How long have the symptoms been present? Find out if the symptoms began while on holiday or when they returned home.

Action already taken? If the customer became ill while abroad, they may have been given a medicine or treatment that needs to be identified before further action is taken.

Medication? It is important to find out if the customer is taking prescribed or OTC medicines. Certain prescribed medicines are not suitable to take alongside antimalarial products.

When to refer to the pharmacist

• If the customer has flulike symptoms and has travelled to a malaria-risk country in the last six months
• If a bee sting cannot be removed
• Anyone with a bite or sting who is showing signs of a severe allergic reaction, e.g. swollen lips and mouth, difficulty breathing, etc
• Anyone with severe or painful sunburn, e.g. with fluid-filled blisters
• Children with sunburn
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.