Cold & flu health centre

News and features related to cold & flu

Nasal steroids offer little benefit for sinusitis

Sinusitis is swelling (inflammation) of the passages on either side of the nose. It can cause uncomfortable pressure inside the nose. Most cases of sinusitis are caused by a viral infection. Sinusitis often clears up by itself within a few weeks. Most people who get sinusitis do not need to see thei
Read Full Article
Should you take zinc for the common cold?

The common cold is caused by a virus, which means it can't be treated with antibiotics. Often the best thing to do is rest, as colds usually go away on their own after a few days. You can also take remedies from a pharmacy to help you feel better while your body fights off the cold. Painkillers may
Read Full Article
Have we dodged flu this season?

20th March 2012 - A big outbreak of flu is something the NHS dreads, advising people in at-risk groups to have flu jabs, and reminding us to "Catch it. Bin it. Kill it". However, this flu season, infection rates have been low throughout. Why is this year different from the previous flu season? Was i
Read Full Article
Were Team GB's Olympic handshake concerns right?

7th March 2012 - Shaking hands is a very sporting gesture before any competition - but for Team GB it seems the risk of picking up bugs at the 2012 Olympics is a big concern. Could a simple handshake upset the medal hopes for Sir Chris Hoy, Jessica Ennis and Rebecca Adlington? The concern was raised
Read Full Article
Got sinusitis? Antibiotics are unlikely to help

If you have sinusitis, your sinuses are inflamed and swollen. This can cause nasal congestion, as well as pain in your forehead, upper jaw, teeth, cheeks, or around your eyes. People often get sinusitis after they’ve had a viral infection such as a cold or the flu. But, if your symptoms last longer
Read Full Article
Beauty tips: How to cover up a cold

Your nose is red and runny; your eyes are all puffy and so bloodshot they look like a road map. On top of everything else, a cold sore is threatening to break out on your upper lip. There's no denying it, you've got a stinking cold. However, you've also got a commitment you can?t break. Whether it's
Read Full Article
Hand hygiene important in flu season

Seasonal flu occurs every year in the winter months. Most people recover despite it making them feel very unwell, but for older people and those with other illnesses, flu can be more serious. Vaccines protect against the flu and are offered to those for whom a flu infection can cause more serious il
Read Full Article
Warning over possible saline nasal spray contamination

16th January 2012 - The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is warning of possible bacterial contamination in batches of the saline nasal spray Sterimar Isotonic. The spray, which is commonly used to cleanse nasal passages, is sold online and in shops. The manufacturer, Church
Read Full Article
Antibiotic awareness still poor

18th November 2011 - A new survey has found 20% of adults have visited their doctor because of a cough, cold, flu or sore throat and half expected to be prescribed antibiotics. The findings are the result of research commissioned by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). 1,767 people in England were qu
Read Full Article
Most 'at risk' people yet to have flu jab

11th November 2011 - The elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions are being urged to have their flu vaccination before the virus begins to circulate widely. Figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Thursday show that 63% of those under-65 years of age whos
Read Full Article