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 advised to.

Check if you have flu

Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:

• a sudden high temperature of 38°C or above
• 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.

NHS 111 Wales has a cold and flu symptom checker that you can use.

How to treat flu yourself

To help you get better more quickly:

• 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 (your pee should be light yellow or clear)

A pharmacist can help with flu

A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies.

Be careful not to use flu remedies if you're taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets as it's easy to take more than the recommended dose.

Call your pharmacy or contact them online before going in person. You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them.

Get advice from 111 now if:

• you're worried about your baby's or 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
• your symptoms do not improve after 7 days

The NHS 111 Wales call handler will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.

If you are in a high risk group it is important to talk to someone if you think you might have flu soon after your symptoms start. You may be prescribed antiviral medicines, and they are best given within a day or two of your symptoms starting.

Antibiotics

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

Call 999 or go to A&E if you:

• develop sudden chest pain
• have difficulty breathing
• start coughing up blood

How to avoid spreading the flu

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
• use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
• bin used tissues as quickly as possible

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.

How to get the flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine. It's offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications.

The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn before flu starts spreading. But you can get the vaccine later.

Flu vaccines are also available at some pharmacies. Local health and wellbeing services across Wales can be accessed at NHS 111 Wales - Services near you

You can use our pharmacy search directory to find your nearest pharmacy and filter your search results by selecting the service you require; e.g., ‘Seasonal flu vaccine’. Find out more about the flu vaccine on the Public Health Wales website Flu Vaccination page.

Leaflets

Flu vaccination leaflets and accessible information resources are available at Leaflets and accessible vaccination information.