Rest, fluids and pharmacy advice.
Most colds improve within 1 to 2 weeks. If symptoms are mild and you are otherwise well, self-care and advice from a pharmacist are sensible first steps.
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Cough, cold or flu? Find your next step.
Feeling under the weather can make it hard to know whether to rest, speak to a pharmacist or see a GP. Explore what to watch for and how to choose the right level of care for your symptoms.
This guide offers general information, not a diagnosis. Breathing difficulty or sudden chest pain needs prompt help.
Choose a suitable route
Where should you start?
The timeline, how unwell you feel and your health history matter. A mild cold and a cough with breathlessness need different next steps.
When symptoms are not settling.
Arrange a GP review if cold symptoms get worse or last more than 10 days, a high temperature lasts more than 3 days, or a cough lasts longer than 3 weeks.
Explore GP appointment optionsWhen it feels more serious.
Ask for an urgent GP assessment or use NHS 111 if you are short of breath, feel very unwell or have flu-like symptoms and are pregnant, aged 65 or over, immunosuppressed or living with a long-term condition.
Get help from NHS 111Do not wait for a routine appointment if breathing becomes difficult, chest pain starts or your condition quickly worsens. Follow the emergency guidance above when symptoms are severe.
What you may notice
Symptoms can overlap.
Colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses can look similar at first. How symptoms started and how they change can help a clinician decide what to check.
Runny or blocked nose
Congestion and sneezing are common with a cold.
Sore throat
A scratchy or painful throat may come with nasal symptoms or a cough.
Cough
A dry or chesty cough can develop as an illness progresses.
Fever and body aches
Sudden fever, aches and exhaustion are more typical of flu than a simple cold.
Symptoms alone do not confirm the cause. If you have a chesty cough with wheezing, breathlessness or chest discomfort, read NHS chest infection guidance and seek help promptly if symptoms are worsening.
A considered GP review
A conversation that looks at the whole picture.
A GP can assess how symptoms have developed, consider your medical history and advise whether self-care, an examination or further investigation is appropriate. Some chest and breathing symptoms need an in-person assessment.
Explore GP appointments01
Understand the pattern.
When symptoms began, whether they came on gradually or suddenly, your temperature and how your cough has changed.
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Check for risk and warning signs.
Breathlessness, chest pain, underlying conditions, pregnancy, medicines and whether you are getting worse all affect the safest route.
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Agree a practical next step.
You may need symptom advice, a chest examination, tests or another service. A clinician can explain what is appropriate for you.
Feeling better safely
Care that suits your symptoms.
Many coughs and colds can be managed at home, but treatment choices depend on your age, health and how unwell you are.
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Rest and fluids
Take time to recover and drink enough water. If you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough for your usual activities, stay at home until you feel better.
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Pharmacy guidance
A pharmacist can advise on suitable symptom relief. Check cold and flu remedies carefully: some already contain paracetamol, so taking them alongside paracetamol can mean taking too much.
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GP-led decisions
If symptoms persist or risk factors are present, a clinician can recommend an examination or treatment when indicated. Antibiotics do not treat viral colds or flu.
Ask a pharmacist or clinician before using cough and cold medicines for a child, during pregnancy or if you take other medicines. Read NHS flu advice.
When it lingers
A cough still there after three weeks?
A cough often settles on its own, but one lasting more than 3 weeks should be checked by a GP. Seek a review sooner if it is getting worse or you have an unexplained weight loss or a long-term condition that increases your risk.
A chesty cough can have different causes. Wheezing, breathlessness, fever or chest discomfort may need a chest examination; NHS chest infection advice explains when to seek help. Coughing up blood or severe breathing difficulty needs emergency care.
Explore general medicine ↗Good to know
Questions about coughs and flu.
Clear answers can make the next step easier to choose.
How can I tell a cold from flu?
A cold usually develops gradually and often affects your nose and throat. Flu tends to come on suddenly and may bring fever, aching and exhaustion. Symptoms can overlap, so seek medical advice if you are high risk or feel very unwell.
How long should a cold or cough last?
A cold usually improves within 1 to 2 weeks. A cough can take 3 to 4 weeks to clear; see a GP if it lasts more than 3 weeks. A high temperature lasting more than 3 days or cold symptoms lasting more than 10 days also warrant a GP review.
Do antibiotics help a cold or flu?
No. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not work against them. A GP can assess whether another condition needs different treatment.
Can a chesty cough be a chest infection?
It can, but a chesty cough alone does not confirm the cause. Fever, wheezing, chest discomfort or breathlessness should be assessed in context. Seek urgent help for worsening breathing or chest pain, and use the emergency guidance above for severe symptoms.
What if a child has a cough or flu-like symptoms?
Children need advice that considers their age and symptoms. Ask a pharmacist about age-appropriate medicines and explore children’s health if you need a GP review. Use NHS 111 if you are worried or symptoms are worsening; severe breathing difficulty is an emergency.
Is a video or telephone GP appointment enough?
It may be suitable for some symptoms, but a GP may need to examine your chest or arrange tests. If you are breathless or have chest pain, seek urgent advice rather than waiting for a routine remote appointment. Explore remote GP formats.
Clinical information: NHS common coldNHS fluNHS coughNHS chest infection. This information is general and does not replace individual medical advice.