Winter health update

This module provides an overview of the diagnosis, symptoms and management of colds and flu.

The aim is to help reduce unnecessary primary care referrals and antibiotic use by maximising the skills and expertise of the pharmacy team; triage and recognise which symptoms warrant urgent and non-urgent referral; explain the typical duration of common respiratory infections to patients; and suggest self-help measures and OTC products they can use to help relieve symptoms.

Contributing author: Dr Martin Duerden FRCGP, medical adviser, diploma in therapeutics, Cardiff University; co-author of Symptoms in the Pharmacy. Additional contributions from Asha Fowells and Alison Blenkinsopp.