Flu
Flu (influenza) is a common infectious viral illness. You can catch flu all year round, but it’s especially common in winter. This is why it’s also known as seasonal flu.
You can catch flu many times because flu viruses change regularly. Your body won’t have a natural resistance to the new versions.
Flu symptoms
Some of the main symptoms of flu include:
- a sudden high temperature
- tiredness and weakness
- a headache
- general aches and pains
- a dry, chesty cough
- sore throat
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
- chills
- a runny or blocked nose
- sneezing
The symptoms are similar for children. They may also get pain in their ear and be less active.
How long do symptoms last
The symptoms of flu usually develop 1 to 3 days after becoming infected. Most people will feel better within a week.
But, you may have a lingering cough and still feel very tired for a few more weeks.
Flu-like illness self-help guide
Advice for people of all ages with the symptoms of cold or flu.
Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Immediate action required: Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
Urgent advice: Contact your GP practice urgently if you:
- are more short of breath than usual
- have pain when breathing in or coughing
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.
Get advice from a pharmacist
A pharmacist can give you advice about how to treat flu.
Treating flu at home
If you have flu, there are things you can do to help you recover more quickly.
Do
- rest
- get plenty of sleep
- keep warm
- drink lots of water to avoid dehydration
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
- stay off work or school until you feel better
Don't
- do not take paracetamol and flu remedies that contain paracetamol at the same time
GPs don’t recommend antibiotics for flu. They won’t relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.
Preventing the spread of flu
Flu is spread by germs from coughs and sneezes. These can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
You can help stop yourself catching flu or spreading it to others with good hygiene measures.
Do
- wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water
- clean surfaces like your computer keyboard, telephone and door handles regularly
- use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
- bin used tissues as soon as possible
- avoid unnecessary contact with other people while you’re infectious
- stay off work or school until you’re feeling better
The difference between flu and a cold
It can sometimes be difficult to tell if you have flu or a cold.
Flu symptoms:
- come on quickly
- usually include fever and aching muscles
- are more severe
Cold symptoms:
- come on gradually
- mainly affect your nose and throat
- are fairly mild, so you can still get around and are usually well enough to go to work
Flu vaccine
The annual flu vaccine can help reduce your risk of getting flu each year.
It’s offered every year for free by the NHS to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications.