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Cold and flu

Now that wintertime is drawing closer, alongside your trusty hats, coats and gloves one more crucial item to your winter routine: a strategy to prepare for and prevent colds and flu.

Colds and flu affect 15 million people each year in the UK and are much more common in the winter months. Lancashire and South Cumbria is running a local cold and flu campaign to help raise awareness of how people can prepare for these illnesses, what they can do if they get ill and when they need to see the doctor or visit a community pharmacy.

The information materials in this campaign help explain what you can do to help prevent the spread of germs that can cause colds and flu and simple preparation measures in case you do become ill. They also explain how long you can expect the various symptoms of colds and flu to last. And remember: a few proactive measures can safeguard you, your family and friends from catching a cold or flu.

Cold symptoms come on gradually over 2 to 3 days.

The main symptoms include:

  • a blocked or runny nose
  • sneezing
  • a sore throat
  • a hoarse voice
  • a cough - viral coughs can last up to 3 weeks and antibiotics are not always needed.
  • feeling tired and unwell

You may also have:

  • a high temperature
  • aching muscles
  • a loss of taste and smell
  • a feeling of pressure in your ears and face

Symptoms of a cold can last longer in young children. Young children may also be irritable, have difficulty feeding and sleeping, breathe through their mouth, and get sick after coughing.

Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:

  • a sudden high temperature
  • an aching body
  • feeling tired or exhausted
  • a dry cough
  • a sore throat
  • a headache
  • difficulty sleeping
  • loss of appetite
  • diarrhoea or tummy pain
  • feeling sick and being sick

The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.

Note: There is a children's flu vaccine which helps protect against flu. It's offered to children aged 2 to 3 years, school-aged children (reception to year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions.

Cold and flu tips:

  • Wrap up warm – It’s important to keep warm both indoors and outdoors. Add extra layers of clothing and heat your home to at least 18°C when you can. Find advice on financial help to heat your home in the Keep Warm, Keep Well guidance.
  • Wash your hands regularly - To prevent catching a cold it's important to wash your hands with warm water and soap. It’s a good idea to wash your hands regularly, but it’s especially important:
    • after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
    • before you eat, drink or prepare food
    • after touching surfaces that a lot of other people have touched, like handrails and bathroom surfaces
    • every time you get home. 
  • ‘Think pharmacy first' for fast advice and treatment for colds and flu.
  • Get a flu jab this winter - The flu vaccine is safe and effective and is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to help protect people. To find out more and to check if you are eligible for an NHS flu vaccine see: Flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk) and Children's flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
  • Get a pneumococcal vaccine – The vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis. It's recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses, such as babies and adults aged 65 and over.

A pharmacist can advise you on medicines such as:

  • medicines like paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease aches or lower a temperature
  • decongestant nasal sprays, drops or tablets to unblock your nose (decongestants should not be used by children under 6 or in people on other medicines such as blood pressure medicines or diabetic medications.)
  • vapour rubs to help ease chesty coughs in babies and small children
  • cough medicines to help ease chesty or dry coughs

Remember: Do not take paracetamol and cough/cold/flu remedies that contain paracetamol at the same time as it's easy to take more than the recommended dose.

For more information, visit nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst

Colds and flu are easily spread to other people. Colds and flu are spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading colds and flu:

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.

A person with a cold or flu can start spreading it from a few days before their symptoms begin.

The best ways to avoid catching a cold or flu are:

  • washing your hands with warm water and soap. It’s a good idea to wash your hands regularly, but it’s especially important: 
  • after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
  • before you eat, drink or prepare food
  • after touching surfaces that a lot of other people have touched, like handrails and bathroom surfaces
  • every time you get home. 
  • not sharing towels or household items (like cups or children's toys) with someone who has a cold
  • not touching your eyes or nose without washing your hands first, in case you've come into contact with the virus
  • cleaning surfaces and belongings in your home can help to reduce your risk of catching and spreading infections too. This is because viruses and germs can live on surfaces and belongings. It’s a good idea to clean surfaces you use a lot, like handles, light switches, kitchen worktops, and remote controls. 

You can usually treat a cold or flu at home without seeing a GP.

Things you can do to help you get better more quickly are:

Do

  •  get plenty of rest.
  •  eat a healthy balanced diet. This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions and consuming the right amount of food and drink. The Eatwell Guide shows how to have a healthy, balanced diet and applies to most children aged 2 years and above, and adults.
  •  gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat (gargling is not suitable for children).
  •  drink a hot lemon and honey drink to soothe a sore throat.
  •  breathe in steam to ease a blocked nose – try sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running.
  •  if you have a condition called asthma, managing your asthma well could help prevent asthma attacks caused by colds and flu. Make sure you have an up-to-date asthma action plan and have your annual asthma review with your nurse or GP.
  •  take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains if appropriate. Always check with your pharmacist before taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to make sure they are suitable for you.
  •  give paracetamol or ibuprofen to your child if they're distressed or uncomfortable – check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child, or speak to a pharmacist if you're not sure.
  •  drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear).

 

Don’t

  •  let children breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water because of the risk of scalding.
  •  give aspirin to children under the age of 16.
  •  smoke as this can make your symptoms worse.
  •  give honey to babies under 12 months.

If you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

For further advice on the common cold and when to see your GP, visit the NHS website: Common cold - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

For further advice on flu and when to see your GP, visit the NHS website: Flu - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

FACTS AND FIGURES

  • Colds and flu are types of respiratory infections. Respiratory infections can spread at any time of year, but they’re more common in the winter.
  • Colds and flu affect 15 million people each year in the UK.
  • Colds are caused by over 200 viruses, compared to seasonal flu which is caused by three types of virus; influenza A, B, and C.
  • Colds and flu have similar symptoms and it can be difficult to tell whether you have a heavy cold or flu. The main differences are that flu symptoms are more severe, with a high temperature and symptoms that come on quickly.
  • It has been estimated that adults suffer two to five colds per year, and school children may suffer seven to ten colds per year.
  • The cold and flu season lasts from around September to March. 80% of all annual colds are contracted during this time period.
  • You can often treat a cold without seeing a GP. You should begin to feel better in about one to two weeks.
  • Antibiotics do not work for viral infections such as colds and flu. GPs do not recommend antibiotics for colds and flu because they will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

Self care:

Check your symptoms:

Video: Cold and flu awareness

Video: Cold and flu (Bengali)

Video: How to wash your hands

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