There are certain symptoms that should ring alarm bells. Get your pharmacist involved if a customer is under six years of age, is pregnant or breastfeeding, or reports any of the following:
- Coughing up mucus or phlegm that is not clear or white, or coughing up blood – these are signs of a complication such as a chest infection
- Signs of another complications such as sinusitis or an ear infection
- A health problem that means that they are more likely to suffer complications, for example, someone with a long-term condition or a weakened immune system because of chemotherapy or other treatment
- A high fever that will not go down or lasts several days
- Sudden deterioration or worsening or persisting symptoms
- Finding it hard to breathe or chest pain
- Symptoms that have lasted for longer than three weeks
- Being on other medication.
Signposting
For more information, you can:
- Use your Counter Intelligence Plus training guide
- Visit the NHS website: common cold and flu
- Visit Scotland’s NHS Inform website
- Read the NICE clinical knowledge summary.