If your pantry is stocked with these items you will be prepared for the flu, colds, and repiratory illnesses like hantavirus (which is emerging in May of 2026 as a possible future pandemic contender), covid, and any other plagues that come your way. Cozy up and be prepared to get better at home, without having to run to the pharmacy or drugstore while ill. And, please, consult an actual licensed medical professional for questions about your health.

Essential pantry items for cold and flu:

* Ibuprofen/Advil/ and acetominophen/Tylenol – to reduce fever and treat aches
* Tissues
* Simple foods and fluids: chicken noodle soup, or your favorite soup of choice while sick, crackers, juice/water/soda, jello, and something like frozen orange juice concentrate would be handy
* Thermometer – if your fever gets too high, seek medical care. You need to be able to tell when it’s too high.
* Congestion meds: cough syrup for chest congestion, meds to clear sinus congestion. Anecdotally, I find that pseudoephedrine from the pharmacist works better than the off the shelf products containing phenylephrine.
* Balm for nose chafing if your tissue use is high – mine gets literally chapped
* Disinfecting spray/wipes, particularly in a shared household

Nice extras:

* cough drops
* nasal spray
* a pulse oximeter can give information about your pulse and blood oxygen levels. It can also be reassuring. You may feel awful, but at least you know you’re relatively oxygenated. Note: always consult a licensed medical professional with questions about your health.
* honey
* tea
* bouillon for hot broth
* whiskey – in all seriousness, I have found that when I’m congested a stiff whiskey will help me feel able to breathe better. Obviously this is not advice anyone should follow. I am not medically trained.
* Make sure you have your doctor’s office number handy, or look up a 24/7 nurse line, and have it handy. Not good to have to look for things when feverish or feeling sick.

Consider

* a mask if you have something others might catch and get very ill from, or if you are out and about and there’s some variation of a plague happening.

Always

Consult licensed medical professionals if you have questions about your health.