A guide to cold and flu medicine

Symptoms, Remedies & How do the remedies work?
S R ?	High temperature, headache, aches and pains Take pain relievers containing paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin. Do not give aspirin to children under 12. Aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol are all analgesics with anti-pyretic effects. This means they reduce fever and help to relieve pain.
S R ?	Sore throat Suck pastilles or lozenges which may contain local anaesthetic. You can also get sprays containing local anaesthetic. Sucking pastilles helps soothe your throat by keeping it moist. A local anaesthetic, whether in a spray or lozenge, can help numb the pain in the area where you use the product.
S R	Runny nose Try a decongestant. You can get decongestants as liquids, sprays, drops, tablets or capsules.
S R	Stuffy nose Try a decongestant or inhalant. You can get inhalants in many forms including rubs, drops and capsules which you can empty into hot water.
S R ?	Blocked sinuses Try a decongestant liquid, tablet or capsule. Decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels in the lining of your nose. This reduces swelling, inflammation and the amount of mucus that your nose produces. Inhalants are remedies that you breathe in. They help to stop your nose feeling blocked up, and are particularly useful for children.
S R ?	All the above symptoms You can get cold and flu remedies as hot drinks, liquids or tablets. These contain a number of ingredients to soothe many of your symptoms at once. These remedies are specially developed to relieve all the symptoms of colds and flu, such as sore throat, aches and pains, stuffy nose and fever.
S R ?	Dry or tickly cough You can get suppressants as liquids or lozenges. A suppressant stops your cough and reduces tickly feelings in your throat.
S R ?	Chesty cough (and clear phlegm) You can get expectorants as a liquid. Expectorants loosen the phlegm and may help to clear your chest.
S R ?	Sore nose Moisturiser. Some moisturisers help to soothe the skin. Some can help build up a protective layer to prevent your skin from chapping.