Flu
Flu (influenza) is a viral infection that comes on suddenly and can make you feel very unwell. Most healthy people recover at home in about a week, but flu can be serious for older people, pregnant women, very young children and people with long-term health conditions.
- Usually lasts
- About a week
- Feeling tired
- Can last 2 to 3 weeks
- Best protection
- Getting the flu vaccine
Common symptoms
- A sudden high temperature, and feeling hot and shivery
- Aching muscles and joints
- Extreme tiredness and feeling too unwell to get out of bed
- A dry, chesty cough
- A sore throat and headache
- A blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite, and sometimes feeling sick or having diarrhoea (more common in children)
What you can do yourself
- Rest, keep warm and drink plenty of fluids so you do not become dehydrated.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a temperature and ease aches if they are suitable for you. Ask us if you are unsure.
- Stay at home until you feel better, to avoid passing it on. Avoid contact with people who are at higher risk.
- Wash your hands often and use tissues for coughs and sneezes.
- Antibiotics do not work on flu, because it is caused by a virus.
Higher-risk groups
You are at higher risk of complications if you are aged 65 or over, pregnant, have a long-term condition (for example asthma, COPD, heart disease, kidney disease or diabetes), or have a weakened immune system. If you are in a higher-risk group and think you have flu, contact your GP practice or call 111 early — in some cases antiviral medicine can be prescribed, and it works best when started early.
The flu vaccine
The best way to protect yourself is the annual flu vaccine. It is offered free to eligible groups, which include older adults, pregnant women, people with certain long-term conditions, some children, and carers. Ask us or your GP practice whether you are eligible. Flu vaccination is booked through the national booking service — see our Vaccinations page for how to book at one of our branches.
How PRX Pharmacy can help
Our pharmacists can recommend medicines to ease flu symptoms and check that they are safe alongside anything else you take. If you might need a doctor, we will tell you.
When to get medical help
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- • You are struggling to breathe, or have severe chest pain
- • You have blue, grey or very pale lips or skin
- • You are confused, extremely drowsy, or very hard to wake
- • You have a seizure (fit), or a stiff neck with a severe headache and dislike of bright light
- • A child is floppy, breathing very fast, or seems seriously unwell
Contact your GP practice or call 111 the same day if:
- • You are in a higher-risk group (65 or over, pregnant, a long-term condition or weakened immune system) and think you have flu
- • You are breathing fast, wheezy, or getting more short of breath
- • Your symptoms have not improved after about a week, or you get better and then suddenly worse
- • You have chest pain when breathing or coughing, or you cough up blood
- • A baby under 3 months has a temperature of 38°C or above
- • A child is not drinking, has far fewer wet nappies, or is unusually sleepy
If you are ever worried and unsure, ask us or call 111. Trust your instincts — it is always better to ask.
This guide is general information written by the PRX Pharmacy team. It does not replace advice from a pharmacist or doctor who knows your medical history.
Last updated 24 September 2026. Clinically reviewed by Milan Patel, Pharmacist on 24 September 2026.
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