I took my son to the GP with what I thought was a cold. Now he is hospitalised every winter
At nearly two years old, he had a snotty nose and a cough. A common cold, or so I thought.
The GP gave him a check over, including his oxygen saturation. It was dipping to 91 per cent.
She explained anything under 92 per cent and the patient should be in a hospital bed, hooked up to oxygen.
What happened next was a stressful whirlwind, rushing him to Perth Children's Hospital, before doctors stuck nasal prongs on his face and started administering oxygen.
We were told he had parainfluenza, a relatively common virus which had triggered a viral induced wheeze – similar to an asthma attack. He remained in hospital for eight days.
It unfortunately didn't end there. Every winter since, my son has been hospitalised with different viruses, from RSV to the common cold, all triggering wheeze.
Unfortunately, his experience isn't isolated. Hundreds, if not thousands of other WA children are admitted with virus-induced respiratory problems every year. Some doctors say these incidents became much worse post covid, because of our border closures.
University of Western Australia's head of Paediatrics, Professor Peter Richmond, says the state's covid lockdowns meant viruses like influenza and RSV weren't circulating in the community, creating an immunity gap in young children.
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
I have a bit of a cold. Am I sick enough to take a day off work?
Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID, you'll want to stay away from others, and to rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others like students or customers. The risks may be even greater for those working with vulnerable communities, such as in aged care work, where the consequences can be severe. From an organisational perspective, you are likely less productive when you are not feeling well. So, whenever possible, avoid going into work when you're feeling unwell. The COVID pandemic normalised working from home. Since then, more people work from home when they're unwell, rather than taking sick leave. Some employees join Zoom or Teams meetings out of guilt, not wanting to let their co-workers down. Others - and in particular, some men - feel the need to maintain their performance at work, even if it's at the expense of their health. A downside of powering through is that workers may prolong their illness by not looking after themselves. Employees in Australia can take either paid or unpaid time off when they are unwell. Most full-time employees get ten days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro-rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Similarly, most self-employed people such as tradies and gig workers do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. Research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions has found more than half of insecure workers don't take time off when injured or sick. So a significant proportion of workers in Australia simply cannot afford to call in sick. "Presenteeism" is the phenomenon of people reporting for work even when they are unwell or not fully functioning, affecting their health and productivity. While exact figures are hard to determine, since most organisations don't systematically track it, estimates suggest 30 per cent to 90 per cent of employees work while sick at least once a year. People work while sick for different reasons. Some choose to because they love their job or enjoy the social side of work - this is called voluntary presenteeism. READ MORE: But many don't have a real choice, facing financial pressure or job insecurity. That's involuntary presenteeism, and it's a much bigger problem. Research has found industry norms may be shaping the prevalence of "involuntary presenteeism", with workers in the health and education sectors more likely to feel obligated to work when sick due to "at work" caring responsibilities. Leaders set the tone, especially around health and wellbeing. When they role-model healthy behaviour and support time off, it gives others permission to do the same. Supportive leaders can help reduce presenteeism, while pressure from demanding leaders can make it worse. Your co-workers matter too. When teams step up and share the load, it creates a culture where people feel safe to take leave. A supportive environment makes wellbeing a shared responsibility. But for some workers, leave isn't an option. Fixing this requires policy change across industries and society more broadly, not just inside the workplace. Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID, you'll want to stay away from others, and to rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others like students or customers. The risks may be even greater for those working with vulnerable communities, such as in aged care work, where the consequences can be severe. From an organisational perspective, you are likely less productive when you are not feeling well. So, whenever possible, avoid going into work when you're feeling unwell. The COVID pandemic normalised working from home. Since then, more people work from home when they're unwell, rather than taking sick leave. Some employees join Zoom or Teams meetings out of guilt, not wanting to let their co-workers down. Others - and in particular, some men - feel the need to maintain their performance at work, even if it's at the expense of their health. A downside of powering through is that workers may prolong their illness by not looking after themselves. Employees in Australia can take either paid or unpaid time off when they are unwell. Most full-time employees get ten days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro-rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Similarly, most self-employed people such as tradies and gig workers do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. Research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions has found more than half of insecure workers don't take time off when injured or sick. So a significant proportion of workers in Australia simply cannot afford to call in sick. "Presenteeism" is the phenomenon of people reporting for work even when they are unwell or not fully functioning, affecting their health and productivity. While exact figures are hard to determine, since most organisations don't systematically track it, estimates suggest 30 per cent to 90 per cent of employees work while sick at least once a year. People work while sick for different reasons. Some choose to because they love their job or enjoy the social side of work - this is called voluntary presenteeism. READ MORE: But many don't have a real choice, facing financial pressure or job insecurity. That's involuntary presenteeism, and it's a much bigger problem. Research has found industry norms may be shaping the prevalence of "involuntary presenteeism", with workers in the health and education sectors more likely to feel obligated to work when sick due to "at work" caring responsibilities. Leaders set the tone, especially around health and wellbeing. When they role-model healthy behaviour and support time off, it gives others permission to do the same. Supportive leaders can help reduce presenteeism, while pressure from demanding leaders can make it worse. Your co-workers matter too. When teams step up and share the load, it creates a culture where people feel safe to take leave. A supportive environment makes wellbeing a shared responsibility. But for some workers, leave isn't an option. Fixing this requires policy change across industries and society more broadly, not just inside the workplace. Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID, you'll want to stay away from others, and to rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others like students or customers. The risks may be even greater for those working with vulnerable communities, such as in aged care work, where the consequences can be severe. From an organisational perspective, you are likely less productive when you are not feeling well. So, whenever possible, avoid going into work when you're feeling unwell. The COVID pandemic normalised working from home. Since then, more people work from home when they're unwell, rather than taking sick leave. Some employees join Zoom or Teams meetings out of guilt, not wanting to let their co-workers down. Others - and in particular, some men - feel the need to maintain their performance at work, even if it's at the expense of their health. A downside of powering through is that workers may prolong their illness by not looking after themselves. Employees in Australia can take either paid or unpaid time off when they are unwell. Most full-time employees get ten days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro-rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Similarly, most self-employed people such as tradies and gig workers do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. Research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions has found more than half of insecure workers don't take time off when injured or sick. So a significant proportion of workers in Australia simply cannot afford to call in sick. "Presenteeism" is the phenomenon of people reporting for work even when they are unwell or not fully functioning, affecting their health and productivity. While exact figures are hard to determine, since most organisations don't systematically track it, estimates suggest 30 per cent to 90 per cent of employees work while sick at least once a year. People work while sick for different reasons. Some choose to because they love their job or enjoy the social side of work - this is called voluntary presenteeism. READ MORE: But many don't have a real choice, facing financial pressure or job insecurity. That's involuntary presenteeism, and it's a much bigger problem. Research has found industry norms may be shaping the prevalence of "involuntary presenteeism", with workers in the health and education sectors more likely to feel obligated to work when sick due to "at work" caring responsibilities. Leaders set the tone, especially around health and wellbeing. When they role-model healthy behaviour and support time off, it gives others permission to do the same. Supportive leaders can help reduce presenteeism, while pressure from demanding leaders can make it worse. Your co-workers matter too. When teams step up and share the load, it creates a culture where people feel safe to take leave. A supportive environment makes wellbeing a shared responsibility. But for some workers, leave isn't an option. Fixing this requires policy change across industries and society more broadly, not just inside the workplace. Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID, you'll want to stay away from others, and to rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others like students or customers. The risks may be even greater for those working with vulnerable communities, such as in aged care work, where the consequences can be severe. From an organisational perspective, you are likely less productive when you are not feeling well. So, whenever possible, avoid going into work when you're feeling unwell. The COVID pandemic normalised working from home. Since then, more people work from home when they're unwell, rather than taking sick leave. Some employees join Zoom or Teams meetings out of guilt, not wanting to let their co-workers down. Others - and in particular, some men - feel the need to maintain their performance at work, even if it's at the expense of their health. A downside of powering through is that workers may prolong their illness by not looking after themselves. Employees in Australia can take either paid or unpaid time off when they are unwell. Most full-time employees get ten days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro-rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Similarly, most self-employed people such as tradies and gig workers do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. Research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions has found more than half of insecure workers don't take time off when injured or sick. So a significant proportion of workers in Australia simply cannot afford to call in sick. "Presenteeism" is the phenomenon of people reporting for work even when they are unwell or not fully functioning, affecting their health and productivity. While exact figures are hard to determine, since most organisations don't systematically track it, estimates suggest 30 per cent to 90 per cent of employees work while sick at least once a year. People work while sick for different reasons. Some choose to because they love their job or enjoy the social side of work - this is called voluntary presenteeism. READ MORE: But many don't have a real choice, facing financial pressure or job insecurity. That's involuntary presenteeism, and it's a much bigger problem. Research has found industry norms may be shaping the prevalence of "involuntary presenteeism", with workers in the health and education sectors more likely to feel obligated to work when sick due to "at work" caring responsibilities. Leaders set the tone, especially around health and wellbeing. When they role-model healthy behaviour and support time off, it gives others permission to do the same. Supportive leaders can help reduce presenteeism, while pressure from demanding leaders can make it worse. Your co-workers matter too. When teams step up and share the load, it creates a culture where people feel safe to take leave. A supportive environment makes wellbeing a shared responsibility. But for some workers, leave isn't an option. Fixing this requires policy change across industries and society more broadly, not just inside the workplace.
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Mid West flu cases surge to 326, surpassing 2024 total amid spike in respiratory illness and low vax rates
Influenza cases in the Mid West have already surpassed last year's total, with local health professionals urging residents to take precautions and get the flu shot amid a sharp spike in respiratory illnesses. As of July 23, 326 influenza cases have been recorded in the Mid West so far this year, eclipsing the 314 cases reported in 2024. Alarmingly, 224 of those have been reported in just the past three months, up from 136 in the same period last year. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are also climbing, with 151 cases recorded so far this year, well on their way to surpassing the 217 cases recorded in 2024. 'Lots of presentations for viral infections, upper respiratory tract infections and influenza-type symptoms presented to both pharmacies and so we've definitely seen the effect of that.' Despite free flu shots being available through the National Immunisation Program, Mr Buise said the number of people coming in for the vaccine appeared to be lagging. 'Unfortunately, with vaccination rates, I don't think we're achieving what we should be,' he said. 'I'm not sure whether it's vaccine fatigue or not, but we've seen lower rates of flu vaccines and an increased rate of presentations with flu-like symptoms.' With the season far from over, Midwest GP Network chair Richard Taylor urged those feeling unwell to look after themselves and the community. 'It is really important to stay home if you're unwell as airborne transmission of these very infectious viruses is how they spread. 'The key message is please stay home; your work colleagues will thank you for it. For those vulnerable people, it really is important if you're unwell to stay home.' Mr Buise encouraged those who have not had their flu jab yet to get it done. 'Getting in now and having your flu vaccine is better than not at all,' he said. 'It's providing protection for (your) family and for our aged community as well.'
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
I took my son to the GP with what I thought was a cold. Now he is hospitalised every winter
As I sat in a Perth doctor's surgery with my young son in 2022, I had no idea how serious his condition was. At nearly two years old, he had a snotty nose and a cough. A common cold, or so I thought. The GP gave him a check over, including his oxygen saturation. It was dipping to 91 per cent. She explained anything under 92 per cent and the patient should be in a hospital bed, hooked up to oxygen. What happened next was a stressful whirlwind, rushing him to Perth Children's Hospital, before doctors stuck nasal prongs on his face and started administering oxygen. We were told he had parainfluenza, a relatively common virus which had triggered a viral induced wheeze – similar to an asthma attack. He remained in hospital for eight days. It unfortunately didn't end there. Every winter since, my son has been hospitalised with different viruses, from RSV to the common cold, all triggering wheeze. Unfortunately, his experience isn't isolated. Hundreds, if not thousands of other WA children are admitted with virus-induced respiratory problems every year. Some doctors say these incidents became much worse post covid, because of our border closures. University of Western Australia's head of Paediatrics, Professor Peter Richmond, says the state's covid lockdowns meant viruses like influenza and RSV weren't circulating in the community, creating an immunity gap in young children.
