BBC doctor and 24 Hours in A&E star shares unusual 55p remedy to help cold and flu symptoms

An expert has said that a simple remedy could help people deal with the cold and flu - and it costs just pennies. With the kids being back at school and the colder weather here, people are going to start getting ill and catching the annual bug that goes around as people once again ponder 'do I have the cold or flu?'.

But what actually works to help these symptoms? Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Dr Oscar Duke who shot to fame in the award-winning documentary, 24 Hours in A&E said: "Some studies have shown that temperature may have a slight impact on the immune system but there's nothing really conclusive.

"Of course at this time of year everyone is back at school, when the weather isn't as nice outside, people are confined [to one space inside] and all of these viruses that cause colds and flus are airborne" meaning that with people crowded in one place, illnesses can spread far easier. "So being in close proximity in colder weather makes you more likely to get it, and it just happens at this time of year", Dr Duke added.

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Discussing flu jabs, Dr Xand Van Tulleken asked who was eligible for it with Dr Duke explaining: "For adults it is going to be slightly later this year from October 3 and that's because we know that the peak time for getting the flu is December and January and that the flu jab, which you need to get every year to get the up-to-date version, actually wears out with time so we've pushed it a little bit later for adults into October rather than normally September so you hopefully have maximum effect from it when there is most flu around in December and January." It's also a little bit earlier for children too, he said.

You can have the flu jab if you fit the following:

• Children age 2 or 3 on August 31 2024 - given as a nasal spray

• Pregnant women

• Anyone over 65

• Under 65s in clinical risk groups

• Carers

• Long stay care home residents

• Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals

• Frontline health and social care workers

School children may also be offered the jab. You can read more about the flu jab here.

Do I have a cold or the flu?

One of the most commonly asked questions is this, and is there actually a way to know? Dr Duke explains: "It's difficult to say because a lot of the symptoms overlap. These are all viral infections so you get a runny nose, a sore throat and maybe a fever" but there are some ways you can tell.

If you have a cold...

• Symptoms appear gradually

• Affects mainly your nose and throat

• Feel unwell but okay to carry on as normal

If you have the flu...

• Appears quickly within a few hours

• Affects more than your nose and throat

• Feel exhausted and unable to carry on as normal

The salt water remedy to help the flu and cold symptoms

Whilst there is no cure, one thing to try is salt water to help get rid of your awful cold or flu quickly - and you can pick it up for as little as 55p. As well as the age old 'gargling salt' to help a sore throat remedy, there is one that many may have not heard of.

The health expert said that there has been a recent study in Edinburgh, Scotland, with around 400 children and they found that by using salt water "you could reduce the symptom duration by about two days", said Dr Duke. He added that whilst the virus may likely still be there, you can reduce symptoms and some of the gunk that's building up and making you feel like rubbish.

You can do this at home by following these steps:

1. Boil some water and allow it to cool completely

2. Get 3 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and mix together

3. Next pop the mixture into the cooled boiled water

4. Add one teaspoon of your mixture to 250ml of water - this is about one cup of water

5. Dr Duke says at this stage, "you can use a little spray you get from the pharmacy or a dropper or you can sniff it up from your palm."

This won't make a massive difference, he warns, but it can help to slightly reduce symptoms especially if you're feeling blocked up. You can also try having chicken soup, honey and keeping up with having healthy and nutritious food to help you recover from the flu and cold faster.