Cold and flu symptoms can be similar, but flu tends to be more severe.

A cold usually:

• appears gradually
• mainly affects your nose and throat
• makes you feel unwell, but you can usually carry on with normal activities

Flu usually:

• appears quickly, within a few hours
• affects more than just your nose and throat
• makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal

The flu vaccine helps prevent flu, but it does not prevent colds.

You can usually treat a cold at home. To help you get better more quickly:

• get plenty of rest and sleep
• keep warm
• drink plenty of fluids, such as water, to avoid dehydration
• eat healthy food, although it is common for small children to lose their appetite for a few days
• gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat. This is not suitable for children
• drink a warm lemon and honey drink to soothe a sore throat. Do not give honey to children under 12 months old
• breathe in steam to ease a blocked nose, for example by sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running

Do not let children breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water because of the risk of scalding.

You can buy cough and cold medicines from pharmacies or supermarkets. A pharmacist can advise you on the best medicine for your symptoms.

A pharmacist may suggest:

• paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease aches or lower a temperature
• decongestant nasal sprays, drops or tablets to help unblock your nose
• vapour rubs to help ease chesty coughs in babies and small children

Decongestants should not be used by children under 6. Children aged 6 to 12 should only use them for a short time and should follow the advice on the medicine label or from a pharmacist.

Do not use other cough and cold medicines if you are also taking paracetamol or ibuprofen tablets, as some cough and cold medicines also contain these medicines. This can make it easy to take more than the recommended dose.

Some cough and cold medicines are not suitable for babies, children or pregnant women. Ask a pharmacist for advice.

There is little evidence that supplements such as vitamin C, echinacea or garlic prevent colds or help you get better more quickly.

See a GP if:

• you have a high temperature for more than 3 days
• your cold symptoms get worse
• your temperature is very high or you feel hot and shivery
• you feel short of breath or have chest pain
• you are worried about your child’s cold symptoms
• your cold symptoms do not get better after 10 days
• you have a cough for more than 3 weeks
• you have a long-term medical condition, such as diabetes or a heart, lung or kidney condition
• you have a weakened immune system, for example because you are having chemotherapy

GPs do not recommend antibiotics for colds because they will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

Antibiotics only work for bacterial infections. Colds are caused by viruses.

Colds are caused by viruses and easily spread to other people. You are infectious until all your symptoms have gone. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks and can be longer in babies and young children.

Colds are spread by germs from coughs and sneezes. These germs can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading a cold:

• wash your hands often with warm water and soap
• use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
• bin used tissues as quickly as possible

A person with a cold can start spreading it from a few days before their symptoms begin until the symptoms have finished.

The best ways to avoid catching a cold are:

• washing your hands often with warm water and soap
• not sharing towels or household items, such as cups or children’s toys, with someone who has a cold
• not touching your eyes or nose in case you have come into contact with the virus
• staying fit and healthy

The flu vaccine helps prevent flu, but it does not prevent colds.