There are certain symptoms that should ring alarm bells. Get your pharmacist involved if a customer is under six years of age, is pregnant or breastfeeding, or reports any of the following: 

• Coughing up mucus or phlegm that is not clear or white, or coughing up blood – these are signs of a complication such as a chest infection
• Signs of other complications such as sinusitis or an ear infection
• A health problem that means that they are more likely to suffer complications, for example, someone with a long-term condition or a weakened immune system because of chemotherapy or other treatment
• A high fever that will not go down or lasts several days
• Sudden deterioration, worsening or persisting symptoms
• Finding it hard to breathe or chest pain
• Symptoms that have lasted for longer than three weeks
• Being on other medication. 

Signposting

• Use your Counter Intelligence Plus training guide
• Visit the NHS website 
• Visit Scotland’s NHS Inform website 
• Read the NICE clinical knowledge summary.