Colds and Flu
Common Cold or Full-blown Flu?
Flu Vaccination
Rest and Recover
The Treatment Table

The cold and flu season may be well and truly underway but the battle plans have been drawn - and legions of pharmacists across the country are ready and waiting to help you fight the cold war...


Common Cold or Full-blown Flu? 

Colds and flu are caused by viruses and are spread by coughs, sneezes and hand contact. There are many types of cold and flu viruses – but there's still no medicine available to cure them. Antibiotics are of no use in treating colds and flu because they don't work on infections caused by a virus.

Cold and flu symptoms can be very similar, with a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. But the main difference is that a cold usually develops gradually and the flu develops fast - often within 24 hours. You'll also feel much worse with flu and you're likely to have other symptoms, such as a high temperature, aches and pains, a severe headache and feel exhausted.


Flu Vaccination 

A yearly flu vaccination is often recommended for people who are at high risk of developing other medical complications as a result of catching flu including: 


people with heart or respiratory disease 
people with kidney failure or diabetes 
people whose immune system has been weakened by disease or treatments 
frail or elderly people over 75 years of age 
people living in nursing or residential homes.


Rest and Recover 

A bad cold or bout of flu can make you feel quite unwell and your body will need time and help to recover so: 
Get as much rest as possible and don't go to work – your workmates really won't want to share your bugs! 
Have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks to make up for the fluids lost by sweating or vomiting. 
Don't let your room become hot and stuffy – open a window and let some fresh air in. 
You could also try taking Vitamin C and zinc supplements which are said to help bolster your body's immune system.


The Treatment Table 

Symptom  Remedy 
Temperature, headache and aches and pains.  A painkiller will help reduce fever and relieve pain. 
Sore throat. Suck lozenges to keep the throat moist. If your symptoms are more severe, a spray or lozenges containing a local anaesthetic can help numb the pain – but don't suck the lozenges too hard or you'll just end up with a numb tongue!
Runny or stuffy nose and blocked sinuses.  Breathe in the steam from a bowl of hot (not boiling) water with a drop or two of menthol or eucalyptus inhalant added to it, or ask your pharmacist about decongestant tablets, nasal spray or drops. Don't use decongestant drops or sprays for more than 7 days as they can make congestion worse. 
Dry, tickly cough.  A cough suppressant mixture or lozenges will reduce the tickle and help stop the cough. 
Wet, chesty cough with phlegm  An expectorant mixture will thin the phlegm and make it easier to cough up.


You should see your doctor if: 


You suffer any breathlessness, wheezing or pain in the chest (or if you already have a chest complaint). 
Your cough lasts more than three weeks. 
You are worried about any of your symptoms.