Winter health

Flu and Norovirus are unpleasant but most people do not need hospital care. Accident and Emergency departments are very busy and spreading germs can put other vulnerable people at risk.

NHS 111

For health advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year telephone 111. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.

Flu

Vaccination against flu is the most effective way to protect you and your family.

Eligibility for vaccination

You are eligible for a free flu vaccination if you are:

• A frontline health and social care worker,
• Aged 65+
• Under 65 with a long-term health condition
• Pregnant
• A main carer of an elderly or disabled person or live with someone with a weakened immune system.

Children aged 2-8/9 years (up to school year 4) are usually offered the nasal spray vaccination by their local GP or in school.

If you are not eligible for a free flu vaccination, there are many pharmacies now offering a private vaccination service at a small fee.

How to feel better

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

When to see your doctor

• If your symptoms don't improve after seven days
• You're worried about your child's symptoms
• You're 65 or over
• You're pregnant
• You have a long-term medical condition – for example, diabetes or a heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease
• You have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or HIV

Norovirus (Winter Vomiting Bug)

Norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK and can be caught at any time of the year.

Norovirus can be very unpleasant but it usually clears up by itself in a few days. You can normally look after yourself or your child at home.

Try to avoid going to your doctor, as norovirus can spread to others very easily.

If you have sudden diarrhoea and vomiting, the best thing to do is to stay at home until you're feeling better.

• There's no cure for norovirus, you have to let it run its course
• You don't usually need to get medical advice unless there's a risk of a more serious problem
• Norovirus can spread very easily, so you should wash your hands regularly while you're ill
• Stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have cleared to reduce the risk of passing it on
• Visit: NHS Norovirus webpage

When to see your doctor

• Your baby or child has passed 6 or more watery stools in the past 24 hours, or has vomited 3 times or more in the past 24 hours
• Your baby or child is less responsive, feverish, or has pale or mottled skin
• You or your child is showing signs of dehydration, such as persistent dizziness only passing small amounts of urine or no urine at all, or reduced consciousness – babies and elderly people have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated
• You have bloody diarrhoea
• Your symptoms haven't started to improve after a few day
• You or your child have a serious underlying condition and have diarrhoea and vomiting