You can often treat the flu without seeing your GP and should begin to feel better in about a week.
Your Community Pharmacist can help if concerned.
FLU SYMPTOMS
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
– a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
– aching body
– feeling tired or exhausted
– dry, chesty cough
– sore throat
– headache
– difficulty sleeping
– loss of appetite
– diarrhoea or tummy pain
– nausea and being sick
The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.
HOW TO TREAT FLU YOURSELF:
To help you get better more quickly:
– rest and sleep
– keep warm
– take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
– drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
YOUR COMMUNITY PHARMACIST CAN HELP WITH FLU
A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies.
Be careful not to use flu remedies if you’re taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets as it’s easy to take more than the recommended dose.
Speak to a pharmacist before giving medicines to children.
CALL NHS 111 OR SEE YOUR GP IF:
- you’re worried about your baby’s or child’s symptoms
- you’re 65 or over
- you’re pregnant
- you have a long-term medical condition – for example, diabetes or a heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease
- you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or HIV
- your symptoms don’t improve after 7 days
ANTIBIOTICS
GPs don’t recommend antibiotics for flu because they won’t relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.
Call 999 OR GO TO A&E IF YOU:
- develop sudden chest pain
- have difficulty breathing
- start coughing up blood
