My daughter got the flu and I have had it over the last 3 days, and my other daughter might have it too. Can we re-infect each other? I feel really run down as I have had to look after kids while very sick. What will help?

I am sorry to hear that you have been unwell.

Yes, viral infections can cause a round of re-infection in friends, colleagues or family. The key reason is that viruses can mutate as they multiply giving rise to something we call antigenic drift or shift.

This means that the second time round, your immune system may not recognise the virus even though it had been around a week or so previously.

There is another possible reason for you continuing to feel unwell. It could be that, due to your busy life, you have not fully recovered from your initial infection.

The treatment we would recommend in both cases is the same – to use Echinacea to build up your immune system and also for its anti-viral effects.