From October onwards, sniffles and coughs are everywhere, in shared houses, lecture halls, offices and on the bus. Most winter bugs get better on their own, but knowing what you are dealing with helps you look after yourself and protect the people around you.
How to tell them apart
- A cold usually comes on gradually. Expect a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat and feeling a bit run down. You can normally carry on with daily life.
- Flu tends to hit suddenly. A high temperature, aching muscles, exhaustion and a dry cough are common, and many people feel too unwell to get out of bed.
- Covid-19 can feel like either. Symptoms include a high temperature, a new continuous cough, tiredness, aches, a sore throat and a change to your sense of smell or taste.
Because the symptoms overlap, you cannot always tell which one you have. The self care advice is similar for all three.
What helps
- Rest, and drink plenty of fluids.
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease a high temperature and aches. Always follow the instructions on the pack.
- Decongestants, throat lozenges and saline sprays can help cold symptoms. Ask a pharmacist which options suit you, especially if you take other medicines.
- Try to stay at home and avoid contact with others while you have a high temperature or feel unwell.
- Wash your hands often. For sickness bugs like norovirus, soap and water works better than alcohol gel.
When the pharmacy can help
Pharmacists can advise on symptoms and the right remedies without an appointment. Under NHS Pharmacy First, we can also assess and treat some infections that often follow a cold, including sore throat and sinusitis, without you needing to see a GP.
Protect yourself with vaccinations
- NHS flu jabs are available now at our Bristol Road pharmacy for eligible people. Book online, call 0121 472 0155, WhatsApp 07425 614023, or walk in. Check who is eligible on pages 14 and 15 of the UKHSA Green Book influenza chapter (PDF), or see our NHS flu jabs page.
- NHS Covid-19 vaccinations start on 1 October 2026 for eligible people. See our Covid jabs page.
- Not eligible on the NHS? Our private flu vaccination runs from 13 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, and a private Covid-19 vaccination is also available.
- For extra protection, ask about the pneumonia vaccination.
When to get urgent help
Call NHS 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk if you are worried, your symptoms are getting worse, or you are not improving after a week. Call 999 if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, blue or grey lips or skin, or you become confused or very drowsy.
Questions? Pop into our Bristol Road pharmacy or Selly Pharmacy in Campus, call 0121 472 0155, WhatsApp 07425 614023 or email hello@sellypharmacy.co.uk.
This article is general health information and does not replace advice from a pharmacist, GP or other healthcare professional.