You can often treat the flu without seeing a GP and should begin to feel better in about a week. Check if you have flu Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include: a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above an aching body feeling tired or exhausted a dry cough a […]

Cold sores are common and usually clear up on their own within 10 days. But there are things you can do to help ease the pain. Check if it's a cold sore A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling. Over the next 48 hours: Small fluid-filled blisters appear. The blisters […]

Constipation is common and it affects people of all ages. You can usually treat it at home with simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. Check if it's constipation It's likely to be constipation if: you or your child have not had a poo at least 3 times in a week the poo is often […]

A cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks. How you can treat a cough yourself There's usually no need to see a GP. You should: rest drink plenty of fluids You could also try: hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old) a herbal medicine […]

Dehydration means your body loses more fluids than you take in. If it's not treated, it can get worse and become a serious problem. Important Babies, children and the elderly are more at risk of dehydration. Check if you're dehydrated Symptoms of dehydration in adults and children include: feeling thirsty dark yellow and strong-smelling pee […]

Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. They're often caused by a stomach bug and should stop in a few days. The advice is the same if you have diarrhoea and vomiting together or separately. How to treat diarrhoea and vomiting yourself You can usually treat yourself or your child at home. […]

Most headaches will go away on their own and are not a sign of something more serious. How you can ease headaches yourself Headaches can last between 30 minutes and several hours. Do drink plenty of water get plenty of rest if you have a cold or the flu try to relax – stress can […]

Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week. How to treat a sore throat yourself To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts, you can: gargle with warm, salty water (children should not try this) drink plenty of water […]