Colds and Coughs
It will come as no surprise that colds and coughs are common illnesses during the winter season. Symptoms such as a blocked/runny nose or sore throat will usually disappear by themselves. With the awareness of antibiotic resistance, it is important to stress that antibiotics will not be effective to treat cold and coughs as they are caused by viruses. You can read our Counter Excellence on Keeping Antibiotics Working module by clicking here.
Apart from recommending paracetamol and ibuprofen to manage symptoms such as aches, pains and fever, ensure you can confidently link to other ways to provide relief for a cold or cough. This is a great way to link sell so, consider other products you sell such as nasal inhalers, throat lozenges, pocket tissues etc.
Self-help Tips
- Use disposable tissues and wash hands regularly
- Drink plenty of fluids and stay warm
- Try inhaling steam to clear the airways and bring up phlegm
Consider promoting the flu vaccination (privately or NHS but check eligibility), especially to those at risk, as it is the best way to prevent flu. For advice and guidance please see our pages on NumarkNet.
Consider offering a sore throat test and treat service. To find out more about this service, take look at our pages on NumarkNet.