Are you ready...to tackle coughs and colds?

Cold remedies (Nyul/Dreamstime.com) As the clocks change and the cold, shorter days begin, so does the annual cold and flu season.

If your staff want to remind themselves about how to deal with demand from sniffling and coughing customers — such as knowing when to suggest an expectorant, when not to use a decongestant or when a coughing patient needs to be referred — these articles are a useful refresher.

Featured article

A-tishoo! All you need to know about treating the under-12s

PJ Online archives

Zinc reduces cold duration and symptoms

Pharmacists have a critical role in the conservation of effective antibiotics

Deal with over-the-counter requests for pseudoephedrine with confidence

Other resources

The British Thoracic Society has produced clinical guidelines on how to manage acute and chronic cough.

What is the evidence behind cough and cold remedies? The Cochrane Library has the answers (although, basically, there’s not a lot).

Patient information can be found on the NHS choices website. This includes:

• Information on the common cold (eg, its causes, treatment and prevention, and a video describing how to differentiate between cold and flu)
• Information on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of cough

A leaflet describing what patients should do to alleviate cold or flu symptoms can be found on the Proprietary Association of Great Britain website.

Over-the-counter advice for coughs

Giving advice on sore throats

Chest infections in the community

Parents rate honey for children’s night-time cough

Doses of vitamin C do not protect against the common cold

Call for more measured antibiotic prescribing

Learning Light: Treatment of childhood bronchiolitis

In 2009, the MHRA issued advice that most cough and cold remedies should not be given to children under six years old. So, just to recap what happened and why…

Codeine-containing liquids not suitable for children's coughs

Cough and cold remedies no longer recommended for children under six years

What to advise for coughs and colds

Use paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat colds in children

Commercial websites

Top tips for fighting cold and flu can be found on the Beechams website, as well as information on all their products.

The Halls website contains a wellness centre, which provides information on cold and flu preventative measures. The website also contains information on Halls products.

Explainations of the different types of coughs can be found on the website for Benylin.

Ever wondered how to tell the difference between a baby with a dry cough and a baby with a chesty cough? The website for Tixylix offers an audio recording of both. Other features include games for children and a tool to help decide which Tixylix product is most suitable.

Examples of different types of cough are available on the website for Covonia, along with some “dos and don’ts” (offered by Stan the Covonia bull) for while you’re ill, and advice on when a GP visit is required. Its “toughness test” might also lift (or dampen) your spirits.

Karvol’s website contains advice on children’s sleeping issues — and bedtime stories sure to put a smile on any face, young or old.

The websites for Lemsip and Strepsils help you select the most appropriate product for your symptoms.

And for something a little different…

Here is your chance to be a virus and see how much of the population your can infect in the game Sneeze...

Go to the Are you ready...? homepage