• >> Your local pharmacist can help advise you on steps to take and medicines to help ease an upset stomach
• >> Antibiotics will not treat cold or flu symptoms, as these illnesses are caused by a viral infection not bacterial
• >> In most cases, fever is due to a common and harmless illness and will get better by itself within around 5 days
• >> A plaster is just for protection, it won't help the cut heal so only leave it on for between 24 and 48 hours
• >> A cough can last for up to 3 weeks and there is usually no need to see a doctor
• >> Feeling unwell but not sure what to do? Call NHS 111 – it's free and open 24 hours a day, every day
• >> Most people will be as good as new within 6-8 weeks of a sprain or strain

• Common causes

  A cough is often caused by a cold or flu or sometimes allergies such as hay fever or long-term conditions like asthma.

  You might get a dry cough when you have a cold or flu because your brain thinks the inflammation in your throat is a foreign object and tries to remove it by coughing.

  With a chesty cough you will usually produce phlegm (which is often called mucus). It might not feel great, but this kind of cough is helpful because it’s clearing the phlegm from your lung passages.

• Recovery

  It can take up to 3 weeks for a cough to clear up and there is usually no need to see a doctor.
  
  

  Did you know?

  Unfortunately there’s no quick fix for getting rid of a cough caused by a viral infection. It will usually clear up after your immune system has fought off the virus.

• Treating a cough

  You can usually treat a cough yourself. A home remedy of honey and lemon in hot water has the best ingredients to treat a cough.
  
  

  Did you know?

  Honey is a ‘demulcent’, which means it coats the throat and relieves the irritation that causes coughing.

  
  
  There is little evidence that cough medicines are any more effective than this classic home remedy.
  
  

  Did you know?

  Honey shouldn’t be given to babies under one year old

  
  
  Some ingredients in cough medicines may help to treat symptoms appearing alongside a cough, such as a blocked nose or fever. Speak to your pharmacist for advice on which medicine is best for you. Don’t forget, medicines containing paracetamol shouldn’t be taken for longer than two weeks (always read the leaflet!).
  
  Lozenges can help to sooth a sore throat caused by a cough.
  
  

  Did you know?

  Cough medicines are usually sugar-based, so diabetics should try to steer clear of them.

• When to seek medical advice

  If you have any of the symptoms below, see your GP or call NHS 111 for medical advice:

  • a high temperature (fever) of 39°C (102.2°F) that doesn’t come down even after taking ibuprofen or paracetamol
  • feeling confused or disorientated
  • a sharp pain in your chest
  • difficulty breathing
  • coughing up blood-stained phlegm (thick mucus)
  • swollen glands in your neck and/or armpits
  • if your symptoms last longer than three weeks.

  If your child has a bad cough that won’t go away, make an appointment with your GP to rule out whooping cough or a respiratory tract infection.
  
  Symptoms of whooping cough include:

  • intense, hacking bouts of coughing and bringing up thick phlegm
  • a ‘whoop’ sound with each sharp intake of breath after coughing
  • vomiting in infants and young children
  • fatigue and redness in the face from the effort of coughing.

If you're concerned about yourself, a relative or friend, call NHS 111 for medical advice, this free service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The advisors taking 111 calls are in the same room as those answering 999 calls, so if urgent attention is needed, they can arrange it immediately for you.