East Moons Moat, Redditch -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/15/2011 -- Furthermore, with the cold, dark nights drawing in, it is once again the time of year where illnesses are common and colds and flu are spreading fast. This can be an extremely worrying and stressful time for both parents and their children. With children at increasingly high risk of catching colds and flu, due to the close contact they have with other children who might already be infected at playgroups, nurseries and schools.

Colds tend to develop gradually and can take up to ten to 14 days to disappear out of your child’s system, in children aged five and under. Symptoms may include a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, coughing, a sore throat and possibly even a fever. Flu, on the other hand, tends to appear a lot more suddenly than a cold and the symptoms tend to be more severe. Your child may feel uncomfortable and achy, and symptoms can last for a week or more. Flu symptoms can include a fever that comes on rapidly, aches and pains in muscles and joints, a sore throat, headaches, extreme tiredness, a runny nose, chills, stomach upsets, a dry cough and a loss of appetite.

Unfortunately colds and flu cannot be treated with antibiotics, because they are caused by viruses rather than bacteria, but over-the-counter medicines can help to ease the symptoms. Do choose ones that have been specially formulated for your child's age and always check with the pharmacist if you are not sure. A paracetamol or ibuprofen suspension, such as Calpol Infant Suspension, Calprofen Ibuprofen Suspension or Calpol Six Plus, which are available via UK based online pharmacy, chemist.net. These can help to reduce fever and ease aches and pains in your child.

If your child is restless, then one solution can be to use a soothing vapour plug, such as Calpol Vapour Plug and Nightlight. This electrical plug device, emits lavender and camomile vapours to help create a relaxing environment in which your baby or child can enjoy a fitful sleep. The device also includes a nightlight, this creates a soft blue light to help comfort and reassure the child, whilst at the same time providing you with enough light to easily check on the child without disturbing them. The Calpol Vapour Plug can be refilled and the refills last for up to eight hours. The Calpol Vapour Plug and Nightlight is suitable for children from 3 months of age.

Colds and flu can prove to be stressful for both you and your child. Using cold and flu relief products that have been specially formulated for children, such as Calpol, will make your child more comfortable and should help them to return to normal as quickly as possible.

Chemist.net is a leading UK Online Chemist and is Royal Pharmaceutical Society registered. Chemist.net supplies thousands of top brand medicines and offers exceptional value for vitamins, health supplements, skincare, beauty, baby, sexual health and mobility products at superb prices. Trust and use chemist.net for new and repeat orders of Ensure, Fortisip, Vichy, Bio-Oil, glucosamine and Omega-3. Chemist.net always provides fast, discrete shipping with DHL and Royal mail with great customer service for any pharmacy enquiries.