Around a third of adults are likely to become unwell
Thousands of people across the UK have fallen ill during the first half of September, estimates suggest. Boots pharmacist Sanjay Nathwani has said a number of bugs are already starting to spread as we head into Autumn.
He said: “Kids have been back to school for two weeks now, and we are already starting to see children and parents alike feeling the back to school bugs. We know it can be hard for parents to find the time to speak to a healthcare professional when they are poorly, which is why we are reminding people that pharmacists like me are here to help.
“Our role has expanded massively in recent years – we can now diagnose, advise and provide treatment where appropriate for a wide range of ailments from simple coughs and colds, to even contraception, blood pressure checks, menopause, UTIs and more.”
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Boots data reveals that a third of adults (32%) fall ill post-summer, often catching colds (37%), coughs (29%) and flu (16%) from children returning to school. According to the NHS, here are the symptoms for cold and flu:
Common cold
- feeling tired and unwell
- a sore throat
- a hoarse voice
- sneezing
- a cough
- a blocked or runny nose
Cold symptoms usually come on gradually and people may also experience a feeling of pressure in ears and face, aching muscles, a high temperature, and a loss of taste and smell. You can usually treat a cold at home and should drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.
You may also find breathing in steam helps a blocked nose. For a sore throat, you can try gargling salt water or drinking a hot lemon and honey drink.
Flu
Unlike with a cold, flu symptoms usually come on quickly and can include:
- a sudden high temperature
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- feeling sick and being sick
- difficulty sleeping
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- loss of appetite
- an aching body
- a headache
- feeling tired or exhausted
If you have flu, you should keep yourself warm, and get plenty of sleep and rest. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and ease any aches.
However, it’s important not to take paracetamol and flu remedies that contain paracetamol at the same time as it’s easy to take more than the recommended dose. You should also drink plenty of water.