How can I manage my common infection?
Information for adults aged 16 years and over
What are the symptoms of a common infection?
Eyes
Ears, nose and throat
- Pain or soreness
- Runny nose
- Swollen tonsils
Chest
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Green or yellow mucus
Gut
Skin
- Infected blisters
- Redness or swelling around a wound
- Athlete’s foot (an itchy rash between the toes)
Genital and urinary
- Pain on passing urine
- Passing urine more often at night
- Cloudy urine
- Discharge
- Pain in lower tummy
What if I think I have coronavirus (Covid-19)?
If you think you may have COVID-19 then please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus or https://www.nhs.uk for the latest guidance and information.
How can I treat a common infection?
Get plenty of rest until you feel better.
Take pain relief if you need to (make sure you follow the instructions).
Drink plenty of fluids (6 to 8 drinks, or 2 litres) so that you pass pale-coloured urine regularly.
For coughs, try honey and cough medicines.
For sore throats, try medicated lozenges and pain relief.
Soothe eye infections with a clean warm or cold damp flannel.
For an outer ear infection, apply local heat (such as a warm flannel).
How long could my infection last?
Cough: 21 days
Sore throat or earache: 7 to 8 days
Common cold: 14 days
Norovirus (winter vomiting): 2 to 3 days
Sinus infection: 14 to 21 days
Contact your GP if your symptoms are getting worse or if you are not better by the times above.
Will my infection need antibiotics to get better?
Your body can normally fight off common infections on its own.
You do not usually need antibiotics, unless symptoms of a bacterial infection (such as a urine infection) are severe – a healthcare professional can advise you on this.
Taking antibiotics when you do not need to puts you and your family at risk.
Follow your healthcare professional’s advice on antibiotics.
Find out more about antibiotics at www.antibioticguardian.com
How can I stop my infection from spreading?
If you need to cough or sneeze:
Catch it with a tissue (or your inner elbow)
Bin it: throw away used tissues
Kill it by cleaning your hands
Clean hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or hand sanitiser:
- before preparing and eating food
- after using the toilet
- after touching pets or animals
- when leaving and arriving home
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands.
If possible, keep your distance from others (2 meters or 6 feet), especially vulnerable people in your household.
Do not share items that come into contact with your mouth, such as eating utensils and toothbrushes.
Keep yourself and your family up to date with vaccinations. Always get winter vaccines (such as flu) if you are eligible.
What symptoms of serious illness should I look out for?
- Severe headache and vomiting
- Problems swallowing
- Turning blue around the mouth
- Ongoing fever or chills (temperature above 38ºC or less than 36ºC)
- Coughing blood
- Breathing faster or slower than usual
- Chest pain or tightness
- New very fast or slow pulse
- Kidney pain in your back just under your ribs
- Visible blood in urine
- Severe pain on passing urine, or passing more urine at night
- Cloudy urine not improving in 1 to 2 days with fluid
If you have the symptoms above, contact your GP urgently.
What if I suspect signs of sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. Possible signs are:
- slurred speech, confusion or drowsiness
- extreme shivering
- passing no urine in a day
- severe breathlessness
- it feels like you’re going to die, and
- skin blotchy or discoloured.