Every winter, flu circulates widely in Ireland, and every winter we see the same thing: some people who could safely have stayed at home, and some people who waited too long before picking up the phone. This article is intended to help you tell the difference — for yourself and for your children.
What flu actually feels like
Flu is not a heavy cold. Flu symptoms come on very quickly, and can include a sudden fever of 38°C or above, an aching body, feeling tired or exhausted, a dry cough, a sore throat, a headache, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, and diarrhoea or tummy pain. Symptoms in children are similar, but a child may also get ear pain and seem less active than usual. HSE.ie
The rule of thumb: a cold builds over a day or two and you can usually carry on. Flu tends to arrive suddenly and put you flat on your back.
How long it lasts
Flu often gets better by itself in three to seven days, though some symptoms linger — tiredness can last up to two weeks, and a cough can last three weeks or more, particularly in children, older adults and people with chronic lung disease. A cough that outstays the illness is common and not, on its own, a cause for alarm.
Looking after yourself at home
Most healthy adults and children recover at home without ever needing to see a doctor. Get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids to avoid feeling thirsty, and use paracetamol to help ease symptoms — a high temperature is a sign the body is fighting the infection and usually settles by itself.
Your pharmacist is an excellent and often overlooked resource here — they can recommend over-the-counter remedies suited to you. One important caution: many cold and flu remedies already contain paracetamol, so check the label before taking additional paracetamol tablets, and take particular care with medicines given to children.
Antibiotics do not work against viral infections such as flu. They will not ease your symptoms or speed up your recovery. An antiviral may be prescribed for people at higher risk of severe illness, but it needs to be started early to be of benefit, which is one reason it’s worth ringing us promptly if you’re in an at-risk group.
When to contact the practice
Please contact us if:
- You are in an at-risk group — over 65, pregnant, or living with a long-term condition such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart, kidney or liver disease, or a weakened immune system
- You start to improve and then get worse again, with a returning fever or a worsening cough
- Your symptoms are not settling after a week, or you’re becoming more unwell rather than less
- You’re simply not sure how worried to be. That’s a legitimate reason to ring, and we would far rather hear from you early.
When it’s an emergency
Go to your nearest Emergency Department, or call 112 or 999, if you or someone you’re caring for has:
- Significant difficulty breathing or breathlessness at rest
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Confusion, or becoming difficult to rouse
- Blue or grey lips or skin
Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of infection — if you or your child has any of the symptoms, seek urgent medical advice.
If it’s your child
Parents know their children better than anyone, and that instinct is worth trusting. The HSE advises calling your GP urgently if your child is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C or higher; has unusually dry nappies or fewer than four wet nappies in 24 hours; has had a first febrile seizure; is quiet and listless even when their temperature is not high; becomes drowsy or irritable and cannot be settled — especially after their temperature has come down. Get urgent help if your baby or child stops breathing, will not wake, or seems seriously unwell — and if they have a spotty, purple or red rash anywhere on the body that does not fade when you press a glass against it.
If we are closed, the GP out-of-hours service (Caredoc, 0818 300 365) is there for urgent care outside surgery hours.
Stopping the spread
Cover coughs and sneezes or cough into your upper sleeve rather than your hands. Wash your hands often. Stay at home if you are unwell, and avoid contact with other people until 48 hours after your symptoms improve — you do not need to stay at home for a lingering cough or tiredness once you are otherwise better.
If there is someone frail or immunosuppressed in your household or family, keeping your distance while you’re infectious is one of the kindest things you can do.
And the vaccine
The single most effective thing you can do about flu is not to get it. The flu vaccine is offered to people at higher risk of serious infection, and it’s important to get it if you’re advised to — talk to your GP, as you may be eligible for a free vaccine. Protection takes about two weeks to build, so earlier in the season is better than later. The nasal flu vaccine is available for children free of charge from GPs.
Start dates for this season will be October 2026. We will run flu vaccine clinics as we have done every year. Keep an eye on our website and social media for dates and register interest with reception.
Most people who get flu this winter will be fine. Knowing what to do at home, and knowing the handful of signs that mean it’s time to ring us, is what makes the difference.