This handy 10-minute clinic is designed to act as a quick reference guide that will help you when advising customers in different category areas. The flowchart leads you through the decision-making process to help you respond to customer queries. This month, we look at the advice you can offer and the products you can recommend to customers suffering from colds and cough

Facts about flu

With the 2018/19 flu vaccination service now underway, it is important for community pharmacy staff to have up-to-date knowledge about the condition.

Although the symptoms of flu are similar to those of a cold, flu is more serious – it can even be life-threatening in some cases, especially in children, the elderly and people with long-term conditions. There are signs that can distinguish flu from a cold:

• Flu usually appears quickly, within a few hours, whereas a cold comes on gradually
• A cold tends to just affect the nose and throat whereas symptoms of flu can include a sudden fever (a temperature of 38°C or above), aching body, feeling tired or exhausted, dry chesty cough, headache, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, diarrhoea or tummy pain, nausea and being sick, as well as nasal congestion and sore throat. The symptoms are similar for children, but can also include pain in the ear and the child may be less active 
• Sufferers can feel very unwell for a few days and it usually takes more than a week to fully recover. Flu is also more likely to cause complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia and middle ear infections. Customers with flu can follow the same treatment advice for colds and should ensure they rest and sleep, keep warm and drink plenty of water.

Whenever you talk to any customer, remember WWHAM:

Who is it for?

It may not be the customer who needs the treatment. Remember that most cough and cold remedies are not suitable for children under six years old.

What are the symptoms? 

Ask the customer to describe all of their symptoms so that you can establish what the most appropriate treatment will be and whether they need to be referred to the pharmacist.

How long have the symptoms been present? 

This will help you find out if the customer has something more serious.

Action already taken? 

This will help establish whether the customer has used a product that didn’t help or wasn’t appropriate for their symptoms.

Medication?

It is important to find out whether the customer is taking prescribed or OTC medicines and, if so, refer them to the pharmacist.

You don’t have to ask these questions in order, and a customer might give you some of this information without you asking. As long as you get them into the conversation, you should be able to find out the information you need in order to make a recommendation. The golden rule to remember is: if in doubt, refer to the pharmacist. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for their advice as they have a lot of information about products and symptoms to hand that you may not be aware of.

Self care tips

• Help prevent viruses from spreading by using disposable tissues and washing hands regularly
• Rest, stay warm and drink plenty of fluids
• Inhale steam to help loosen and bring up phlegm
• Don’t smoke
• Don’t share drinks, cutlery, etc.