Warning as Brits in hospital with flu rising – the 10 signs to watch out for

BRITS have been warned to watch out for signs of flu as more people are hospitalised with the bug.

Experts say that rates of the flu are still relatively low across the country, but that in the last week alone they have increased by 4.6 per cent.

For most people, flu will often get better on its own, but for some, it can make you seriously ill.

Over the winter months the government turbo-charged its flu vaccine drive in order to get the most vulnerable Brits the protection they need.

Medics at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said hospital admissions for the illness have increased in the last week.

Suzanna McDonald, National Programme Lead for Influenza at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “While flu levels are currently low, some indicators have shown increases in recent weeks as more people return to workplaces and mix together more freely.

"Hospitalisations with flu have risen slightly above baseline levels. If you’ve got cold and flu-like symptoms, it’s best to avoid visiting vulnerable relatives and friends, and to take other measures to prevent spread, such as working from home until feeling better, if you can.

"Just as with Covid-19, hand washing can help in keeping flu at bay.”

In most cases, flu is treated at home and if you need treatment then pharmacists can help.

But the NHS says you should be careful to not use these remedies if you're already taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets - as you could end up taking more than the recommended dose.

You can treat flu yourself with rest and staying hydrated and for the majority of people, symptoms will come on suddenly.

The main signs of flu are:

1. high temperature
2. body aches
3. feeling tired
4. dry cough
5. sore throat
6. head ache
7. difficulty sleeping
8. loss of appetite
9. feeling or being sick
10. tummy pain or diarrhoea.

Symptoms are similar for children but if you notice that they are less active and have a pain in their ears then they could have the flu.

The flu is infectious and like Covid-19, can be dangerous for the elderly and clinically vulnerable.

You're most likely to give it to people in the first five days of infection.

If you're struggling with the flu though you might need to seek help and the NHS said you should call 111 if you're 65 and over or you're pregnant.

You should also seek help if you have a long term medical condition or you have a weakened immune system.

Symptoms shouldn't last longer than seven days, but if they do then you need to seek help.

If you're symptoms have continued to get worse and you have developed sudden chest pains, you have difficulty breathing or you start coughing up blood then you should call 999 or go to A&E.