Symptoms
Symptoms of colds and flu
Overlap is common. What matters for safety is how unwell you are, not the colour of mucus. Coloured sputum does not automatically mean you need antibiotics.
Treatments
Cold and Flu Treatment Online
Get advice and cold and flu treatment online. UK-registered clinicians review your symptoms and medicines, with discreet UK delivery if treatment is suitable.
Introduction
Treatment overview
Colds and flu are viral. Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever, and aching. Flu is often more sudden and severe than a typical cold.
Antibiotics do not treat viruses. We will focus on safety-netting, symptom relief where appropriate, and spotting people who need urgent NHS care or antivirals for flu in high-risk groups.
The condition
What are colds and flu?
Colds and influenza are viral infections of the nose, throat and sometimes the chest. A cold usually builds over a day or two with a runny or blocked nose, sore throat and mild cough. Flu often starts more suddenly with fever, marked aches, exhaustion and a dry cough.
Antibiotics do not treat viruses. Most healthy adults improve with rest, fluids and simple symptom relief. Flu can cause pneumonia and is more dangerous for older people, pregnant people, and anyone with heart, lung or immune conditions. Those groups may need same-day NHS advice about antivirals.
Private Pharmacy Care will focus on safety-netting and appropriate symptom relief when this service is open. A clinician decides if any medicine is suitable. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription. Severe breathlessness, confusion, or a non-blanching rash needs emergency care now.
Causes
Causes of colds and flu
Many different viruses cause colds. Influenza viruses cause flu. Being cold or going outside with wet hair does not cause the infection, though winter crowding helps viruses spread.
Products
Available products
Benefits
Benefits and uses
Most healthy adults recover with rest, fluids, and simple pain relief. A consultation can help you decide if something else is going on.
Sensible symptom relief
Painkillers and decongestants may be discussed if they are safe for you.
No unnecessary antibiotics
We will explain why antibiotics are not used for simple viral illness.
High-risk flu advice
People with lung, heart, or immune conditions may need same-day NHS advice about antivirals.
Red-flag guidance
Breathlessness, confusion, or a non-blanching rash needs urgent care.
Eligibility
Eligibility
This pathway is for typical viral upper-respiratory symptoms in adults who are not severely unwell.
May be suitable if
- Typical cold or flu-like symptoms you can manage at home with advice
- You can rest, drink fluids, and use simple pain relief if suitable
- You will seek help if you become short of breath or much more unwell
- You can tell us about asthma, COPD, pregnancy, and other conditions
May not be suitable if
- Severe breathlessness, blue lips, confusion, or chest pain
- A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it
- Symptoms in a baby or someone who cannot keep fluids down
- You need a sick note only — use the appropriate service
A clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Start a consultation
Ready to check if Cold and flu support is right for you?
Start a confidential consultation. Seek urgent NHS care if you are struggling to breathe or feeling severely unwell.
- UK-registered clinician review
- Confidential online consultation
- Discreet UK delivery
How it works
How it works
Viruses run their course. Symptom medicines ease discomfort; they do not shorten every cold. Flu antivirals are a separate, time-critical NHS decision for eligible people.
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Complete a consultation
Answer a short, confidential questionnaire about your symptoms, medical history and current medicines.
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Clinician review
A UK-registered clinician reviews your answers to check the treatment is safe and appropriate for you.
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Dispensing and delivery
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses the medicine and sends it in discreet UK packaging.
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Support if you need it
Questions after you start treatment? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
Safety
Safety information
Influenza can cause pneumonia. Worsening breathlessness or drowsiness is urgent.
Do not give aspirin to children under 16 for cold and flu symptoms.
- Go to A&E for severe breathing difficulty.
- Stay away from vulnerable people while you are infectious if you can.
- Check decongestants if you have high blood pressure.
- Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Side effects
Side effects
Symptom-relief medicines each have their own leaflet. Decongestants can raise blood pressure and disturb sleep.
- Drowsiness (some cough or night products) Do not drive.
- Raised blood pressure or palpitations (decongestants) Avoid if you have been told they are unsafe for you.
- Stomach upset from painkillers Stay within dose limits. NSAIDs can irritate the stomach.
- Rebound blocked nose Do not use decongestant sprays for more than a few days.
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Using treatment
How to take or use the treatment
Always read the patient information leaflet and the pharmacy label. Do not combine several products that contain the same painkiller. The steps below are general.
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Match the product to the symptom
Use a painkiller for pain and fever, a decongestant only if your nose is blocked and the medicine is safe for you, and avoid “everything” night mixtures if you only have a runny nose.
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Space doses correctly
Leave at least 4 hours between paracetamol doses and do not exceed 4 grams in 24 hours for most adults (less if you are small, malnourished, or have liver disease).
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Stop decongestant sprays on time
A few days only, unless a clinician has given different advice, to avoid rebound blockage.
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Rest while you have a fever
Do not exercise hard. Seek help rather than adding extra medicines if you become short of breath.
Safety netting
When to seek medical advice
Most colds last 1 to 2 weeks. Flu can deteriorate quickly in vulnerable people. Trust how ill you feel more than the colour of mucus.
Seek urgent help (A&E) if
- Severe difficulty breathing, blue lips, or you cannot complete a sentence — go to A&E.
- Chest pain, collapse, confusion, or a seizure — go to A&E.
- A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it — go to A&E.
- You cannot keep any fluids down and are becoming drowsy or not passing urine.
Contact a clinician or NHS 111 if
- You are pregnant, over 65, or have lung, heart or immune disease and think you have flu — contact NHS 111 the same day.
- A cough, fever or breathlessness that is getting worse after about a week, or you cough up blood.
- Symptoms last more than 3 weeks, or you keep getting recurrences — see a GP.
- A child who is not drinking, has fewer wet nappies, or is much less responsive — seek urgent paediatric advice.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to see the answer. If you still need help, our team is ready to assist.
Is this service available now?
Yes. Start an online consultation. Use NHS 111 if you are in a high-risk group and think you have flu.
Do I need antibiotics?
Not for a simple viral cold or flu. They are considered only if a bacterial complication is likely.
How long should a cold last?
Often 1 to 2 weeks. See a GP if you are not improving or keep getting worse.
Can I exercise?
Rest while you have fever. Return to activity gradually when you feel better.
Why choose us
Why choose Private Pharmacy Care?
A regulated UK pharmacy service with clinician review, discreet delivery and support if you have questions after treatment is supplied.
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UK-registered clinicians
Every request is reviewed by a UK-registered clinician before a medicine can be prescribed.
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Confidential consultations
Complete a private questionnaire from home. Your information is used to check that treatment is safe and appropriate.
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Discreet UK dispensing
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses it and sends it in plain packaging.
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Clear safety checks
We ask about your symptoms, medical history and other medicines. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription.
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Support after you order
Questions about side effects or how to take a medicine? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
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Regulated pharmacy care
Private Pharmacy Care is a UK pharmacy service. Named clinicians and public register details are listed on our clinical team page.
Sources
References and medical sources
This page is general information for UK patients. It is not a substitute for the patient information leaflet or personalised clinical advice.
- NHS: Cold and flu Patient-facing NHS guidance.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries UK clinical reference used by healthcare professionals.
- Electronic Medicines Compendium (emc) UK Summaries of Product Characteristics and patient information leaflets.
- MHRA UK medicines regulator.
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