Influenza is the name of the virus that causes flu and its symptoms. It is common, and around 15-20% of people develop it each year. Influenza commonly causes a fever, sore throat, cough, sore muscles, significant fatigue and feeling generally poorly. Symptoms tend to come on quite fast, as opposed to the gradual onset that happens with the common cold. For most people, flu leads to some days spent in bed feeling pretty rotten and for the elderly, young children, or people with other serious medical problems it can be serious, and significant numbers of people die from flu each year. The flu virus typically hits in winter, which is why the flu vaccine is offered in the run-up to flu season every autumn. The virus can change from year to year, making it hard for our immune systems to recognise it and so the flu jab is changed every year to keep up with this ever-changing virus. This is why we need it every year.

A yeast called candida can be responsible for infections in the mouth, on the skin and around the genital area. Doctors call the infection candidiasis, but it’s known to most as thrush. Yeast infections are more common in people who are pregnant, those taking antibiotics, or those who are prone to infections due to other medical conditions, such as poorly controlled diabetes or immunosuppression. It is common in the mouths of children and babies, and can be common in people who wear dentures. Most women will suffer from a vaginal thrush infection at some point in their life. Yeast infections are easily treated with antifungal medications. Depending on where your infection is and how widespread, these come in the form of oral drops, pessaries, creams or tablets.

Warts and verrucas are caused by a harmless viral infection in the skin called the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV causes keratin, a hard protein in the top layer of the skin, to grow too much, giving the typical roughened texture of a wart. There are more than 60 different types of viruses known to cause warts, this includes genital warts. They are increasingly common through childhood and adolescence but then their frequency drops drastically again on reaching adulthood. Warts often look different depending on where they are on the body and how thick the skin is, and a wart on the sole of the foot is called a verruca. What do they look like? Warts on the hands are found most frequently around the nails and on the fingers and are often shaped like a cauliflower, whereas verrucas are seen most commonly on the ball of the foot as areas of flat, thicker skin with a harder edge around a softer centre.

Flu is common, and just over 1 in every 10 people suffer from it each year, typically in autumn and winter. Influenza is the name of the virus that causes flu and its symptoms. There are three main types of influenza virus, called A, B and C, although it is usually the type A virus that causes the worst epidemics. Type C influenza is mild to the extent that it is often indistinguishable from a common cold. Type A influenza is usually more debilitating than type B. Symptoms begin after an incubation period of one to four days and include a high temperature up to 39C (103F), headache, loss of appetite, muscular aches and pains, weakness and marked exhaustion or fatigue. Symptoms often continue for about a week unless there are complications, in which case new symptoms may commence in the second week. Symptoms tend to come on quite fast, as opposed to the gradual onset the common cold brings – different viruses are responsible for colds. For most people, the flu will lead to some days spent in bed feeling rotten. For the elderly, young children, or people with other serious medical problems it can be serious, and a number of people die from the flu each year. The flu virus typically hits in winter, where the flu vaccine is offered in the autumn run-up to flu season every autumn. The virus can change in nature from year to year, but flu jabs keep up with this ever-changing virus, and that’s why we need a booster every year. The symptoms of the flu are similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 so it is important if you have a continuous cough, fever or a loss of taste or smell, to follow the current government guidelines in your area.

Verrucas are very common, especially in children, and are not harmful. They usually resolve on their own without treatment but certain products can speed up this process. Verrucas describe warts that appear on the feet, caused by the same virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). They are hard, uneven skin growths that are usually skin-coloured or white, and usually flat as you've compressed them with walking. For this reason, they may feel more sore than warts on your fingers or elsewhere. You may see black specs in the verruca which are usually very small blood vessels. This is also the same virus that causes genital warts. They may develop weeks or months after coming into contact with the virus. Cuts or broken skin makes it easier for the virus to get in, and this is particularly important in shared communal areas such as swimming pool or gym changing rooms where everyone is walking around bare-foot, and verrucas really thrive in warm moist conditions. A lowered immune system puts you at higher risk. Children do not have a fully developed immune system which is why it is common in this age group. The majority of verrucas will heal on their own within a few months but may take up to 18 months. If you want to speed up this process we recommend two options; salicylic acid-containing products that can be purchased from your local pharmacy, or getting the wart frozen off (cryotherapy).

Tonsillitis occurs when a viral or bacterial infection causes the tonsils – immune-fighting glands at the back of the mouth – to become inflamed. You get a sore throat causing pain on swallowing and possibly earache, and you may be able to see or feel that one side of the throat is larger from the outside. Your tonsils will likely look red, possibly with some white dots (pus) on them. You might have a high temperature and headache and feel generally pretty unwell. Children and young adults are more likely to suffer tonsilitis. Most infections are viral and therefore don’t respond to antibiotics – they get better on their own after about a week. Viral tonsilitis can often go with general symptoms of a cold, such as a runny or blocked nose and a cough. Some things make a sore throat or tonsillitis more likely to be bacterial, which may need antibiotics to help your body recover. If you have no symptoms of a cold such as a cough, if you have a fever higher than 38 degrees, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, white spots on a very large tonsil, or symptoms have developed quickly, within 24 hours, this makes a bacterial infection more likely. When your doctor is deciding whether the cause is viral or bacterial, they will sometimes use evidence-based scores that help to decide the likelihood of bacterial infections. If the cause is likely viral, antibiotics won’t help - the infection will get better on its own. The majority of tonsillitis cases will improve on their own however it is important to stay hydrated and rest to help your body fight the infection. You can take over-the-counter pain relief to help with any pain and your pharmacist can advise you on this. Your pharmacist can also advise you on lozenges and throat sprays to help with a sore throat.

Thrush is caused by a yeast called candida can be responsible for infections in the mouth, on the skin and around the genital area. Doctors call the infection candidiasis, but it’s known to most as thrush. Thrush infections are more common in people who are pregnant, those taking antibiotics, or those who are prone to infections due to other medical conditions, such as poorly controlled diabetes or immunosuppression. It is common in the mouths of children and babies, and can be common in people who wear dentures. Most women will suffer from a vaginal thrush infection at some point in their life. Thrush infections are easily treated with anti-fungal medications. Depending on where your infection is and how widespread, these come in the form of oral drops, pessaries, creams or tablets.

Tetanus occurs when bacteria from soil or animal manure enter an open wound. It is a rare but serious and life-threatening condition. There are not many cases of tetanus due to a very successful childhood vaccination programme. 

Most sore throats are caused by viruses, and will not respond to antibiotics. They need good self-care, pain relief, fluids and time to get better. Some sore throats are caused by bacteria, and these will tend to need a course of antibiotics to get better. ‘Strep throat’ is a colloquial term used to describe a bacterial throat infection caused by streptococcus bacteria. Group A Streptococcus (Strep A is one of the causes of bacterial sore throat, and it usually produces more severe symptoms than a viral sore throat. You may have severe pain, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, an absence of other viral symptoms such as cough, and symptoms that last longer than a viral infection would be expected to last. If your doctor suspects a bacterial throat infection, they may take a swab to check the bacteria. Or if they are confident, may start a course of antibiotics immediately.

Parents are understandably anxious about the rise in Group A strep cases currently. Streptococcus A is a very common bacterial infection affecting those from 4 to 14 years old, and it usually causes a mild sore throat and fever. Concerns had been raised in late 2022 that cases are higher than usual at this time of year, with reports of deaths causing parents and teachers alarm. Although rare, some children contract an invasive form of Group A Streptococcus (iGAS), leading to severe illness requiring hospital treatment and possible threat to life. Advice from the public health bodies has emphasised presenting your child when they appear very unwell, but what does this mean? Let’s talk you through how to recognise the signs, when to seek help and when to worry.

A shingles rash is caused by a virus called herpes zoster, and starts as tiny red bumps or blotches that then become weeping blisters (known as vesicles). This most often appears on the chest, back, stomach, neck or face. People sometimes notice a tingling or burning in the days before the rash appears, and may have a headache, mild fever or feel otherwise unwell. It is distinctive in that it will only appear on one half of the body, and usually only covers a small area. This virus was originally caught as chickenpox (varicella zoster virus), usually in childhood. While your body recovers from this, the virus lays asleep, or dormant, in the nerves and is reactivated under stress or illness, usually in those over 60 years old. Following the pathway of nerves means the virus is only activated from the nerves leading off the spine to one side or the other - a so-called dermatomal distribution.

Scarlet fever is the name given to a distinctive collection of symptoms caused by the Group A Streptococcus bacteria, often called Strep A. This bacteria is active every year and usually causes fever and a sore throat in children. Strep throat usually requires antibiotics. It mainly affects children aged 4 to 14 and appears in late winter/early spring. In late 2022, an outbreak caused great alarm as cases quickly rose, and with this, a small proportion of children became very unwell or died. The welcome news is that this is not a new strain and should respond to the usual antibiotics. Public health authorities have sought to reassure that most cases are mild and easily treated but warn to be alert to signs that any child may be becoming unwell. Let's talk you through what signs and symptoms to look for and when there is reason to worry.