Residents across Derby and the wider county have reported experiencing a host of “draining” cold and flu symptoms that are lasting long periods of time – but are testing negative for Covid-19. As we head into the winter months, it is always more common for people to experience flu-like symptoms or colds, but some people are reporting that they have been ill “for months”.
It is advised by the NHS that people should always monitor their symptoms when experiencing flu or Covid-like symptoms to asses whether it is in fact a cold, or something more serious that may need treatment. People have described it as “dreadful” and “draining” and have said that whole households have been suffering from the mystery lurgy.
One user commented on Derbyshire Live’s Facebook page: “I’m in my second week”, with another saying she was “just starting with this now”. Another commenter said: “I am on week 4 now, I had a runny nose and watery eyes in the first week, and now I have chesty cough, it’s really draining”.
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The lurgy is said to be spreading through households, with one user commenting: “Me, my boyfriend and our daughter are on week four”, and another saying: “I started with it a couple of weeks ago, hubby last weekend”.
One Derbyshire mother added: “My son is in week three of a heavy cold, it’s still not gone. My daughter got it at the start of this week and my other daughter came down with tonsillitis last weekend and is on 10 days of antibiotics. Not the best half-term here.”
Another user added: “I’ve had a terrible cough for weeks, I’ve finally got some antibiotics,” with another commenting: “I have almost got rid of it after 2 months as it turned into pneumonia. I had to have 2 courses of antibiotics and a chest X-ray and I still have a cough, especially in the morning.”
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The NHS has guidance in place for treating a common cold on their website, and advise people to “rest and sleep, drink plenty of water (fruit juice or squash mixed with water is OK) to avoid dehydration and to gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat (not suitable for children).
It adds: “If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.
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Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
