27/11/2025
During winter, many people see their GP for coughs and colds that don’t need an appointment. This message is to help you know when you (or children at home) do need a doctor – and when you don’t.
Adults who have a cough will need to see a doctor if:
they have a lung problem like asthma or COPD and it’s getting worse
their immune system is weak (for example, they take medicines that lower immunity)
they have had a cough for more than three weeks and it is not getting better
they feel short of breath (not just blocked up)
they have sharp chest pain when they take a deep breath (not just sore from coughing)
they cough up blood
they feel very unwell.
If none of these apply, remember:
a cough helps clear germs from the chest
antibiotics don’t help coughs
a cough can last up to three weeks.
Children who have a cough will need to see a doctor if:
they are under three months old and have a fever above 38°C
they are three to six months old and have a fever above 39°C
they are taking in less than half of normal feeds
their immune system is weak (for example, they take medicines that lower immunity)
they have a lung problem like asthma and it’s getting worse
difficulty breathing – faster breathing or their tummy sucking under their ribs
noisy breathing when they breathe in (wheezing or grunting)
you think they have whooping cough
they seem very unwell
If none of these apply, remember:
a cough helps clear germs from the chest
green mucus (snot) or a noisy chest does not mean that your child has an infection needing antibiotics
antibiotics don’t help coughs
a cough can last up to three weeks.
Find out more at www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk and search ‘Cough, cold or viruses’.
