Infections – articles and advice
Chest and lung infections
Features on infections, immunity and prevention, from colds to more serious conditions. For trusted details, see our Patient Information Leaflets on infections.
Chest and lung infections
Chest infections can make breathing difficult and cause serious illness. Find out how to recognise the symptoms and what treatments can speed recovery.
Flu and vaccination
Find out how to help prevent getting flu, stopping it spreading, and everything else you really need to know about this virus.
- What is freshers' flu and how long does it last?
- Flu, colds and fever videos
- What you need to know about flu
- How to book your flu jab before winter
- Can zinc lozenges protect against coughs, colds, flu, and COVID-19?
- Where to get your flu jab this year
- When should I get my flu vaccine?
- Will we have a bad flu season this year?
- Does the flu jab make you immune to flu?
- When to seek medical treatment for flu
- Do any traditional or herbal remedies work for flu?
- Should young adults worry about flu?
- How to manage your flu symptoms at home
- How will the new flu vaccination programme work?
- Is it safe to have the flu jab when you're pregnant?
- Can I have the flu jab if ...?
- Can the flu jab really give you the flu?
- Will flu vaccinations be available after Brexit?
- I regret not getting the flu jab
- Flu vaccine in pregnancy does not lead to health problems in children
- How do you die from the flu?
- When is the flu most contagious?
- Is it the flu or just a cold?
- What are the most effective flu prevention methods?
- Why you should consider the flu vaccine
Gastroenteritis
Gastro bugs can cause nausea, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps. Learn about the causes, how to avoid dehydration, and when to seek medical advice.
Meningitis and sepsis
Meningitis and sepsis are medical emergencies. Learn the symptoms to watch for, how early treatment saves lives, and steps to reduce your risk.
- Sepsis warning signs you need to know
- Meningitis videos
- The meningitis and sepsis warning signs everyone should know
- Video: How do you get bacterial meningitis?
- Should you and your family get the meningitis vaccination?
- Get fighting fit after meningitis
- How universities promote meningitis vaccinations
- Meningitis symptoms checklist
- Do you need the meningitis vaccine?
Other infections
Not every infection fits neatly into a category. Discover more unusual infections and how doctors diagnose and treat them.
- Which foods help to fight infection?
- General infections videos
- How to treat an infected piercing
- Rise in scabies cases across the UK
- How to spot bedbugs and get rid of them
- What to do if you have an infected ingrown hair
- Strep A: What is invasive Group A streptococcus?
- Do you need to worry about tick-borne encephalitis?
- New strain of toxin-producing Strep A emerges in UK
- UK Lyme disease cases may be three times higher than estimated
- How to avoid tick bites and Lyme disease
Sexually transmitted infections
STIs can be common and often show few symptoms. Learn how to protect yourself, get tested, and access discreet, effective treatment.
In this topic:Sexually transmitted infectionsHIV and AIDS
- STI videos
- Simple ways to help prevent vaginal thrush
- Home STI tests: how they work and what to expect
- Can you get chlamydia from kissing?
- How often should you visit a sexual health clinic for a check-up?
- What are universities doing to support student sexual health?
- Oral sex: what you need to know to stay healthy
- The STIs you've never heard of
- A chlamydia vaccine has passed initial safety tests
- Why are STIs on the rise in older people?
- Calls for improved access to sexual health services as STI rates soar
- Why regular STI checks are so important
- The best way to treat a herpes outbreak
- What you need to know about HPV
- Why is syphilis on the rise?
- How to cope with a genital herpes diagnosis
- Video: What are the different types of STI?
- Is oral sex less risky than intercourse?
- What to do if you think you have an STI
- Telling current and past partners about your STI
- How quickly do different STIs spread?
- Safeguarding your sexual health at university
HIV and AIDS
- HIV in women: what you should know
- Can you live a long, healthy life with HIV?
- Stigma of HIV and representations in the media
- Is it easy to have an HIV test?
- How to cope with an HIV diagnosis
- Who should take the HIV prevention drug PrEP?
- World AIDS Day: Where are we now with HIV?
- Women's HIV prevention: the importance of the vaginal ring
- Dispelling common myths about HIV and AIDS
- What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
- First long-acting injectable HIV treatment approved
- How do you know if you have HIV?
- What not to say to someone with HIV
- Why is PrEP still not available on the NHS in England?
- Scientists identify a mechanism to 'neutralise' HIV
- How good is PEP for preventing HIV?
- What living with HIV is like today
- Should HIV prevention pills be available on the NHS?
- Living with HIV from birth
Treatments for infections
Antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals are used to treat infections. Learn when these medications are needed and how to take them safely and effectively.
Urinary tract infections and symptoms
Burning when you pee? UTIs are common and can spread to the kidneys. Learn about symptoms, prevention, and treatment.
- Why you constantly need to pee
- What causes blood in urine?
- 9 ways to get rid of a UTI
- Cystitis in men
- Honeymoon cystitis: what is it and how to avoid
- Cranberry juice for cystitis: does it work?
- What is a UTI and how do you get it?
- Pee yourself laughing? How stand-up comedy can tackle incontinence
- How many times should you pee a day?
- Will a UTI go away on its own?
- What your pee says about your health
- What to do about constant UTIs
- Video: What is the best way to cure a UTI?
- Why you need to look after your pelvic floor
- Incontinence chart
Vaccinations
Vaccines protect individuals and communities from serious illness. Learn how they work and which ones are recommended for different age groups.
- Free chickenpox vaccine to be offered to children in England for the first time
- Measles is back: why vaccines matter
- Should your child get the chickenpox vaccine?
- Why have I been offered the shingles vaccine
- How to speak to someone who's hesitant about vaccines
- Where does a fear of vaccines come from?
- Why do kids need the flu jab?
- Do you need to worry about side effects from vaccines?
- Parents urged to vaccinate children as UK loses measles-free status
- What side effects are associated with the yellow fever vaccine?
- HPV vaccine could one day eliminate cervical cancer
- Vaccination myths you need to stop believing
- Why isn't the chickenpox vaccine available on the NHS?
- We ask a GP what to expect after vaccinations
- Everything you need to know about the rabies jab
- Why vaccinations are so important
- How long before you travel should you get vaccinated?
- Should all children have the flu vaccine?
Viral infections
Viruses cause colds and more serious illnesses. Learn how they spread, what symptoms to expect, and when to get medical advice.
- Why measles is on the rise
- What is HMPV and should we be worried?
- Mpox - what do we know so far?
- Do any natural cold remedies work?
- Swine flu in the UK: What are the symptoms of the new strain?
- Polio virus found in London sewage: should we be worried?
- Should you wear a face mask if you have a cold this winter?
- How to tell the differences between winter viruses in kids
- What you need to know about post-viral fatigue
- Why are some viruses seasonal?
- Why is there still stigma around HPV?
- Could a cure for the common cold be on the horizon?
- Shingles myths you should stop believing
- Can you catch a cold in summer?
- How to protect yourself from shingles
- Why do some people get worse colds than others?