Best Thing For Cold / Flu

[dieseldick]

is it best to take nothing and let it run its course ? take paracetamols etc ? my nose is completely stuffed and ii cannot breath also bad chesty cough but its nothing i cant stick.

my child will no doubt have it soon a will the wife and sons, what is best to give a 5 year old ?

thanks

[janbee]

Go to bed with a good book... or someone who has read one !

[Old_Geezer]

I suggest whatever you find relieves your symptoms (although sometimes I wonder if the symptoms are the bodies defence and ought not be interfered with). Balance enough medication and stuff that gives a feel good (feel better ?) factor, and wait for it to go.

THere are usually kids versions for symptom relief. Your pharmacist can advise on what they need shifting if you ask.

[slinky.kate]

I swear by honey,ginger,fresh lemon and hot lemonade,paracetamol

[2sp_]

It's horrible, but not much will get rid of a cold only ease the symptoms.

Try hot toddies (for adults!) and hot ribena for kids. Also give Calpol (or generic liquid paracetamol) to kids for temperature and general aches and pains. It also helps them sleep better, in my opinion. We also use children's Olbas Oil to help ease the stuffiness.

http://www.olbasforchildren.co.uk/?gclid=COyWwtql_8ICFcjHtAodinsAZA

Hope you are all feeling better soon.

[jno]

if you don't treat it it will last all week; if you do, it will be gone in seven days.

No harm in trying to reduce symptoms, though. I usually take some Night Nurse to help me sleep, otherwise I'd be coughing and spluttering all night, but apart from that let it work itself out during the day.

[mccfluff]

nasal spray stuff seems to be working for me along with paracetamol and ibuprofen, hot water bottle, hot drinks (mulled wine counts)

[Hopkirk]

Lemsip hot lemon max strength

[ChillDoubt]

I concur with Hopkirk but with an added large dash of lemon juice and big dollop of honey.

[solvitquick]

You do not appear to be able to differenciate between the common cold and influenza. Unfortunately, this is the time to learn. If you have 'flu that will lay you out with aches, total loss of energy for weeks as per methyl's earlier post
Nope, your family will not necessarily get it. They may well have become immune when you were incubating the virus.
However your problem could be bacterial follow-up.
Night-Nurse as jno suggests should help Short-Term if you can take anti-histamines.
The main thing is to "hock-up" sputum from the lungs and look at its colour. If it's green then you may, just may, have a bacterial follow-up.
In that case, 'phone your GP and tell him or her you Fear you have pneumonia - you will then get some action whether it is the case or not.
It may not make the tabloids but lung infection is serious and should be seriously addressed.
SIQ.

[Buenchico]

From the NHS website:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cold-common/Pages/Treatment.aspx

[237SJ]

Paracetamol might be ok if you have a temperature and ibuprofen is good if you want to reduce swelling in the throat or wherever but apart from those reasons, I don`t see the point in taking painkillers unless there`s pain. I swear by Sudafed (the pseudoephidrine one without anything else added) as it helps reduce the swelling in the nose which makes it easier to breath (not to be used if you suffer from high blood pressure). Apart from that, just keep hydrated.

[237SJ]

*pseudoephedrine* , *breathe* Blimey, I can tell I`m tired..

[Hopkirk]

I've tried pseudoephidrine (Sudafed) myself several times in the past, with no noticeable effect whatsoever.

[Peaspeculiars]

I had a chesty cough and cold for 2 weeks over christmas and the only thing that really, really helped was a bowl of hot water with Vics dissolved into it - It'll clear your tubes out brilliantly (although temporarily).
Corvonia Liquorice 'Herbal Mucus Cough Syrup' worked very well also for my cough (I hate liquorice, but it's worth it).

With your 5 year old, try a bit of vics on his back and chest before he goes to sleep, this should help him breath better at night.
Hope you all feel better soon.

[Peaspeculiars]

Ps, be careful with the Corvonia Cough Syrup - it has alcohol in it...

[murraymints]

lemsip with Manuka honey ...dab of vic on chest to clear the nose at night....

[boxtops]

For the adults, we can only recommend Beechams All in One, from our own experience. It just makes it a bit more bearable.

A cold is nothing like flu - you've got a cold. If it's flu, you can't get out of bed for a fortnight. I've had flu twice in my life, it's debilitating.