Respiratory Illness Advice

Dear patients and whānau,

We are currently seeing a very high number of people with respiratory illness. Here is some information to help you manage this and to know when to give us a call.

Our team is working hard to meet the demand. 💙 If your symptoms are mild and you are otherwise well, home care is appropriate. This helps us keep appointments available for those who need them most.

🦠 What's going around

We are seeing a real mix of respiratory viruses. This includes influenza (flu), COVID-19, RSV, and common colds. These illnesses share many of the same symptoms and most people will recover well at home.

Common symptoms include:

• 🤧 Runny or blocked nose
• 😣 Sore throat
• 😷 Cough
• 🌡️ Fever, aches and chills
• 😴 Fatigue

Most respiratory illnesses are viral and antibiotics will not help. Symptoms typically improve over 7–10 days.

🏠 How to look after yourself at home

Most people can rely on their immune system to fight off the majority of viral infections. Treatment for most viral infections aims to ease symptoms while you wait to recover. This can include:

• 🛏️ Resting at home
• 💧 Sipping water for hydration
• 🍋🍯 Drinking lemon and honey drinks for coughs and colds
• 💊 Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen (if it's safe for you) to relieve pain and fever
• 👃 OTC products such as decongestant sprays or tablets can ease a blocked nose (short-term use only; check with your pharmacist if you take other medications)
• 😷 Wear a mask in public spaces
• 🧼 Practise good hand hygiene
• ❤️ Avoid unnecessary visit to hospitals, rest homes, or people who are vulnerable while you are symptomatic

🚨 When to call us or seek help?

Please contact us or seek medical advice if you or a family member:

• 🫁 Is struggling to breathe or breathing faster than normal
• ❤️ Has chest pain
• 🌡️ Has a high fever that is not settling with paracetamol
• 😴 Is unusually drowsy or confused
• 📅 Having prolonged symptoms more than 1 week without improvement
• 👶 Is a baby or young child who is feeding or having nappies <50% of normal

⚠️ If you belong to vulnerable groups:

• 👵 Adults aged 65 and over
• 🤰 Pregnant people
• 👶 Young babies and children under 2
• 🛡️ People who are immunocompromised
• 🫀 People with chronic conditions (heart, lung, kidney, diabetes, etc.)

🚑 In a life-threatening emergency, call 111 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

📱 Practice Plus Telehealth

Practice Plus, our telehealth partner, is an option for medical advice both during the day and after hours. It is a more affordable option that City Doctors White Cross and is available from the comfort of your own home.

💻 You can book an appointment online at: Practice Plus

For care after hours, you can call the Kauri HealthCare number 06 357 4424 and your call will be forwarded to Practice Plus where you will be triaged and a medical consult organised if needed.

📄 Medical Certificates

Kauri HealthCare’s wonderful nursing team can provide a Medical Certificate for up to three days over the phone. This is at a cost of $33.50. For a longer Medical Certificate, patients need to be seen. Phone us on: 06 357 4424

🧪 Rapid Multi-Viral Swabs

These can be purchased from pharmacies if you would like to test for them.

Please note that antibiotics don’t help if these tests are positive and anti-virals are no longer routinely recommended. It is advisable to treat symptoms as above.

💊 Anti-virals for COVID-19

Recent high-quality studies have shown that antiviral treatment does not reduce the risk of hospitalisation or mortality for people who have been vaccinated. For vaccinated people with COVID-19, the focus is on managing your symptoms at home — rest, fluids, and paracetamol.

Antivirals may still be considered in a small number of exceptional circumstances, such as for people who:

• Have never been vaccinated and have never had a confirmed COVID-19 infection before, or
• Have severe immune system problems (for example, following a recent stem cell transplant), or
• Have end-stage organ failure

If any of these apply to you, please contact us early in your illness to discuss.

💊 Anti-virals for influenza A/B

Tamiflu is also no longer routinely recommended. Evidence shows it is unlikely to meaningfully shorten how long you feel unwell, and does not reduce the risk of hospitalisation or mortality — even in people at higher risk of serious illness.

How local pharmacies can help you

Pharmacies can assess and treat a range of minor ailments, often without the need for a GP appointment. They can help with:

• Scabies
• Head lice
• Dehydration from diarrhoea
• Pain & fever in children
• Eye infection (conjunctivitis)
• Urinary tract infection (UTI) in women aged 16–65
• Emergency contraception (the morning-after pill)

For more information, visit: Healthify – Pharmacy Minor Ailment Scheme

💙 Thank you for your patience and for looking after yourselves and each other this winter.