NHS warns Brits told to do four things if they have flu symptoms

Brits have been advised to take four steps if they experience symptoms of a common winter illness. The NHS has issued a warning to aid recovery from flu, which can cause serious illness in vulnerable people.

In an update posted to social media platform X, the NHS said: “If you have flu, there are some things you can do to help get better more quickly.

“Flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill. It’s important to get the flu vaccine if you’re eligible.”

The health body continued: “What to do if you have flu. If you have flu, there are some things you can do to help get better more quickly.”

As part of this advice, it recommended four simple steps:

• Rest and sleep
• Keep warm
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration

The recommendations come as flu continues to circulate at “medium levels” in the UK. Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that in the week of December 15 to 21, flu activity decreased across all indicators, “but is still circulating at medium levels”.

Flu had a weekly mean positivity rate of 17.2% compared with 21.1% in the previous week. Overall, flu hospitalisations were decreasing at 7.85 per 100,000 compared with 9.98 per 100,000 in the previous week.

Further to its advice about treating the illness, the NHS shared the following steps to help reduce the spread:

• Wash your hands often with warm water and soap
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities

It added: “A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies.

Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Daily Express

If you are worried about your symptoms, or you’re not getting better, call 111 or get help from 111 online.”

Symptoms of flu

Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:

• A sudden high temperature
• An aching body
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• A dry cough
• A sore throat
• A headache
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea or tummy pain
• Feeling sick and being sick

The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.