Flu

Flu is a common infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It can be very unpleasant, but you’ll usually begin to feel better within about a week. You can catch flu – short for influenza – all year round, but it’s especially common in winter, which is why it’s also known as “seasonal flu”.

It’s not the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses and the symptoms tend to start more suddenly, be more severe and last longer.

Some of the main symptoms of flu include:

• a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
• aching body
• feeling tired or exhausted
• dry 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)

A 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.

You can find a pharmacy using the myhealthlondon service finder:

Call NHS 111 or see your GP if:

• you’re 65 years of age or over
• you’re pregnant
• you have a long-term medical condition – such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease or a neurological disease
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, because you’re having chemotherapy or have HIV
• your symptoms are getting worse over time or don’t improve after 7 days

In these situations, you may need medication to treat or prevent complications of flu. Your doctor may recommend taking antiviral medicine to reduce your symptoms and help you recover more quickly.

Read more about antiviral medication for flu.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you:

• develop sudden chest pain
• have difficulty breathing
• start coughing up blood

Antibiotics

GPs don’t recommend antibiotics for flu because they won’t relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

How long does flu last and is it serious?

If you have flu, you generally start to feel ill within a few days of being infected.

You should begin to feel much better within a week or so, although you may feel tired for much longer.

You will usually be most infectious from the day your symptoms start and for a further three to seven days. Children and people with weaker immune systems may remain infectious for longer.

Most people will make a full recovery and won’t experience any further problems, but elderly people and people with certain long-term medical conditions are more likely to have a bad case of flu or develop a serious complication, such as a chest infection.

Read more about the complications of flu.

How you catch flu

The flu virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes.

These droplets typically spread about one metre. They hang suspended in the air for a while before landing on surfaces, where the virus can survive for up to 24 hours.

Anyone who breathes in the droplets can catch flu. You can also catch the virus by touching the surfaces that the droplets have landed on if you pick up the virus on your hands and then touch your nose or mouth.

Everyday items at home and in public places can easily become contaminated with the flu virus, including food, door handles, remote controls, handrails, telephone handsets and computer keyboards. Therefore, it’s important to wash your hands frequently.

You can catch flu many times, because flu viruses change regularly and your body won’t have natural resistance to the new versions.

Preventing the spread of flu

Flu is very infectious and easily spread to other people. You’re more likely to give it to others in the first 5 days.

Flu is spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading flu:

• wash your hands often with warm water and soap
• use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
• bin used tissues as quickly as possible

See more on how to wash your hands correctly here

Read more about how to stop the spread of flu.

How to prevent flu

The flu vaccine reduces the risk of catching flu, as well as spreading it to others.

It’s more effective to get the vaccine before the start of the flu season (December to March).

Find out if you’re eligible for the free NHS flu vaccine

Flu vaccination and side effects for adults

Flu vaccination and side effects for children

The flu vaccine

A flu vaccine is available for free on the NHS for:

• anyone over the age of 65
• pregnant women
• anyone who is very overweight (with a body mass index over 40)
• children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or lung disease)
• children and adults with weakened immune systems

An annual flu vaccine nasal spray is also now offered to healthy children aged two, three and four years old, and to children in school years one and two.

The best time to have the vaccine is in the autumn, between September and early November. If you think you might need it, contact your local GP surgery.

You should have the flu vaccination every year so you stay protected, as the viruses that cause flu change every year.

For more information on who should have the flu vaccine and how to get it, read the sections on the flu jab for adults, the flu jab for pregnant women and the children’s flu vaccine.