What are the symptoms of Cold and Flu?
These are the common cold signs and symptoms:
- Cough
- Fever
- Runny/blocked nose
- Sore throat with a cold
- Muscles aches and pains
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting sometimes, which is more common in children than adults.
- Chest pain and flu.
Flu viral infection symptoms last for 7-10 days. Chest pain flu symptom is also very common.
What are the causes of Cold & Flu?
Viruses are contagious and they are passed on when infected patients sneeze and cough; this can be transmitted directly or indirectly. If a person touches contaminated surfaces or infected foods, viruses can also be passed on.
How to avoid infecting others?
This can be quite challenging as symptoms tend to show after a few days of exposure. You should isolate and avoid people until a few days after symptoms have stopped. Good hygiene for hand washing and covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing can prevent the spread of viruses.
What treatment is available?
For self management, promote faster healing and best cold medicine:
- Keep warm
- Rest
- Well hydrated, drink plenty of fluids and water
- Take paracetamol to treat aches and pains and fever.
Cold and flu medications:
The best cold and flu medicine if the infection is viral; you will require over the counter liquid which should contain paracetamol, a decongestant e.g. pseudoephedrine and cough expectorant e.g. guaifenesin. These are the best flu medications over the counter, which will give you symptom relief.
Antibiotics are generally not required for the flu as it is a viral infection, but sometimes it can turn into a bacterial infection where you can get yellow/green mucus/phlegm. This is when antibiotics would be required and is the best flu medicine UK. Please speak to our clinicians for diagnosis and to recommend the best treatment for you based on your symptoms.
If antibiotic treatment is not effective and symptoms are persisting for longer than 2 weeks, you need to see your doctor urgently for flu medical face to face assessment.
Call 999 or go to A+E:
- If you are coughing up blood.
- Sudden chest pain
- Have difficulty breathing.
If your would like more information on chest infection flu, please click the NHS link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/
If you would like information on chest infections, please click the link:/product/chest-infection-2/