Colds and flu self-care
Colds and flu are among the most common minor illnesses in the UK. Most colds settle within a week or two, and most cases of flu improve within seven to ten days. This section explains what you can do at home, how to tell colds and flu apart, and when to get medical help.
Get advice about your symptoms
If you are unwell and unsure what to do, use one of the routes below. They are free and available across the UK, and can direct you to the right service.
- Check your symptoms online at 111.nhs.uk
- Call 111 for free 24-hour advice from NHS 111
- Speak to a pharmacist for advice on minor problems — no appointment needed
- Contact your GP for non-urgent medical problems
Call 999 immediately in a life-threatening emergency — for example loss of consciousness, severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding or a suspected stroke.
What this section covers
- How to tell a cold from flu
- Cough, sore throat and blocked nose
- When to use paracetamol or ibuprofen
- How to take a temperature
- When to speak to NHS 111 or a pharmacist
Explore this section
Choose a topic from the list below for more detail. Every page on NHS Direct is general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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In this section
- CoughCough — general information and where to get advice about your symptoms in the UK. Includes links to…
- Earache with a cold or fluEarache with a cold — why it happens, self-care with paracetamol and warmth, and when to speak to…
- Hay feverHay fever — sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose. Antihistamines, nasal sprays and reducing pollen exposure.
- High temperature with a cold or fluHigh temperature (fever) with cold or flu — self-care, when to call NHS 111, and warning signs to…
- How to take a temperatureHow to take a temperature accurately with a digital thermometer, in adults, children and babies.
- Pain relief for colds and fluParacetamol, ibuprofen and cold-and-flu combinations — how to take them safely and what to avoid.
- Sore ThroatSore Throat — general information and where to get advice about your symptoms in the UK. Includes links…