Cold & flu
COLD & FLU
Nicholas, a 35-year-old male, has symptoms of a cold.
Watch the video to learn more about cold and flu symptoms and specific questions you could ask to find out more about his condition, to help manage his discomfort effectively.
CUSTOMER SUMMARY
Nicholas has a sore throat, nasal congestion and a mild headache
He has not tried any treatment yet
NICHOLAS’ OVER THE COUNTER TREATMENT OPTIONS
Nicholas' treatment
Nicholas could take paracetamol or ibuprofen separately or in combination and may also combine these with decongestant tablets. You must be careful when recommending other cold and flu products as many may already contain paracetamol. The choice of other cold and flu formulations should be based on his symptoms and preference for method of administration (for example, nasal drops, nasal sprays, tablets or powders that can be made into hot drinks).
HOLISTIC PAIN MANAGEMENT ADVICE:
There are several ways Nicholas can ease his cold symptoms, including:15,16
Using a vapour rub to ease congestion
Get plenty of rest
Drink plenty of fluids
Hot lemon and honey drinks can be helpful to ease sore throats
Breathing in steam can help with nasal congestion
Discuss good hand hygiene to prevent the spread of colds and flu
Provide relevant information about flu vaccinations
Recommend that he avoids smoking because it can make symptoms worse.
Nicholas should see his GP if:
He has a high temperature for more than three days
His cold symptoms get worse
He develops a very high temperature or feels feel hot and shivery
He feels short of breath or has chest pain
His cold symptoms do not get better after 10 days
He has a cough for more than three weeks.
He should also see his GP if:
He develops cold symptoms alongside a long-term medical condition (for example, diabetes, or a heart, lung or kidney condition)
He develops cold symptoms and has a weakened immune system (for example, because of chemotherapy or HIV).
