Guide for Community Assessments on Women's Health Care - ICRW

Boils and abscesses. These are painful, raised, red lumps on the skin that commonly appear on the
groin, buttock, armpits and upper parts of the legs. Treatment can include the following:
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Wash boils and abscesses with salt water (one teaspoonful of salt in a cup of clean water).
Put a hot compress over the wound <strong>for</strong> 20 minutes four times a day. Be careful not to burn the
patient.
If the boil continues to grow, seek medical help.
Difficulties in breathing. People living with HIV often have infections in the lungs and experience
chronic coughing and difficulties in breathing.
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Make the patient lay with pillows under their head, or with the head of the bed raised on
blocks.
Make the patient sit <strong>for</strong>ward with their elbows on the knees or on a low table.
Make sure someone is there to watch over the patient, as not being able to breathe could make
them very frightened.
Coughing. If pain is felt in the chest or ribs during coughing, a pillow or hand should be held tightly
over the area that hurts. This makes the cough less painful. When possible, encourage the patient
to keep walking, turning around in bed or simply sitting up. This helps the lungs to drain. Give the
patient a clean cloth to cover the mouth when coughing.
88 Annex A: Fact Sheets