Managing Winter Viruses in Altrincham & Hale: GP Advice

By Dr Kiran Morjaria, GP at Mayfield Clinic Altrincham & Hale

In early December 2024 daily hospital admissions for flu skyrocketed to an average of 1,099 patients per day compared to 243 the previous year. With colder weather and more indoor mixing across the UK, I’m seeing these viral winter illnesses every day at our Hale and Altrincham practices. In this guide I'll explain why this is happening, and what you can do to help stay safe.

Why Winter Viruses Spike Now

Respiratory viruses thrive in cold conditions. We pick up respiratory illnesses when infectious droplets or tiny airborne particles enter our nose, mouth, or eyes. These particles are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or even breathes. Viruses can also spread via contaminated hands and surfaces when we touch our face. Crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces make transmission much more likely. Most patients present with fever, cough and full body aches. I've heard this described before as being 'hit by a train' the body aches can be that severe. For viral infections antibiotics won’t help and can cause more grief than good.

Practical Steps to Ease Symptoms

Drink plenty of fluids and rest well - this means not catching up on emails in bed. Paracetamol can ease fever and aches; try a warm paracetamol drink such as Lemsip. Keep an eye on your breathing, if you struggle to breathe or feel chest pain, this is a sign to see a doctor. Equally if you cough up coloured phlegm this can be a sign of a bacterial chest infection that may need treatment with antibiotics. If symptoms worsen after a few days or don’t improve after a week, book an appointment.

Who Should Be Extra Vigilant

Certain groups face higher risk of complications from respiratory illnesses: people with asthma, COPD, heart disease or diabetes, pregnant women, children, older adults and anyone who is immunocompromised.

Typical Timeline of a Winter Viral Illness

Most winter viral infections last about 7 to 10 days. Here’s the usual arc:

Days 1 to 3: Fever, aches, sore throat, cough, fatigue.

Days 4 to 6: Some improvement, even if cough or tiredness persists.

Days 7 to 10: Most recover, although a cough can linger for 3 to 4 weeks as airways stay irritated.

Common Myths Debunked

"You always need antibiotics." Although these infections can make you feel awful, they are often viral and so they cannot be treated with antibiotics.

"No fever means I’m better." Temperature settling doesn’t always mean full recovery; symptoms including fatigue and cough can take time to resolve

"It’s fine I’ll go into work." Respiratory infections spread easily - through coughing, sneezing or even touching objects. If you're not feeling well - the best advice is to stay at home to recover.

At Mayfield Clinic Altrincham and Mayfield Clinic Hale we offer fast access and the same GP each visit. Book an appointment today.