What to do if you have flu

If you have the flu, there are some things you can do to help support your recovery.

Symptoms of Flu 

• Sudden high temperature, aching body, feeling tired or exhausted
• Dry cough, a sore throat, headache, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea or tummy pain, feeling sick and being sick

Look after yourself 

• Keep warm
• Rest and sleep
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
• Take paracetamol and ibuprofen to lower your temperature and reduce aches and pains

Reduce the spread

Flu is very infectious and easily spread to other people. You're more likely to give it to others in the first 5 days.

Flu is spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading flu: 

• wash your hands often with warm water and soap
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (if you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow, not into your hand)
• bin used tissues as quickly as possible

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people to limit the spread.

Please avoid hospitals if you have flu-like symptoms. 

That’s the message from infection control experts at the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire as this season’s flu-bug starts to impact NHS services.

Emergency departments at Kettering and Northampton general hospitals are always open for people who have serious and life-threatening conditions, but flu is not usually one of them.

Most viral illnesses - like flu, covid, and other coughs and colds - are usually best treated at home with support from a pharmacist using over the counter medicines.

So far both hospitals have started to see flu-cases – this week there have been 15 flu-positive inpatient cases at KGH and 14 at NGH.

UHN’s Associate Director of Infection Prevention & Control Holly Slyne said: “Like many other hospitals across the country we are starting to see the impact of flu and clearly for us we need to do everything we can to protect our patients, many of whom are elderly and more vulnerable to viral illnesses.

“One thing the public can do to support us is not to visit relatives or friends in hospitals if you are unwell with flu-like symptoms right now, or have been unwell in the last 48 hours.

“Also please do not attend our emergency departments with these symptoms as in most cases we will redirect you to community services such as pharmacies to help you relieve your symptoms.”

Ask for help 

A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies. 

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

Call 999 or go to A&E if you: 

• get sudden chest pain

• have difficulty breathing

• start coughing up a lot of blood

Get protected 

The flu vaccine is the strongest and best protection against flu.

Dr Thomas Waite, deputy chief medical officer, said: “Flu can be an unpleasant infection for many and life-threatening for some; vaccination is the best form of defence.

“Early data from the UKHSA shows this year’s vaccine is continuing to provide good protection against flu variants circulating this year. The flu season has started early this year. Now is the time to get vaccinated if you are eligible.” 

To learn more about how you can get vaccinated please read our article How to get a flu vaccine