Feeling unwell?

   Symptoms Reporter

Respiratory illnesses are more easily spread during winter when we spend more time indoors. If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness, we encourage you to report it and contribute to our surveillance of respiratory illnesses.

Our symptoms reporter helps build a picture of what illnesses are circulating in the Isle of Man.

   Think self care

Many illnesses can be treated in your home by using over-the-counter medicines and getting plenty of rest. Choosing well ensures you receive the rest and recovery you need, meaning busy health services can help those who need them most.

   Think pharmacist

For minor health concerns, your local pharmacist can help by giving advice on illnesses and the medicines you need to treat them. If you can’t get to a pharmacy yourself, ask someone to go for you or phone them. Your pharmacist can also tell you if what you have is more serious and if you need to see a doctor. Visit our Think Pharmacy page for more information on what they offer.

You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them.

Visit our Community Pharmacies page for a list of pharmacies near you.

Read our tips from the pharmacist for advice on feeling better.

   Think GP

You should make an appointment with your local GP if you have a health concern. You may find it more difficult to access these services over winter as more people are needing care. Healthcare professionals are working hard on getting everyone seen by the right person at the right time. Rest assured they have your best interests at heart.

See our Doctors page for a list of Isle of Man GPs and their contact details.

Something more serious?

If you have already contacted your pharmacist or GP and your symptoms have got worse or you have more severe symptoms to those listed above, you may need to contact:

• Manx Emergency Doctor Service (MEDS) - for out-of-hours emergencies that cannot wait until the next day. If you require medical assistance when your doctor’s surgery is closed, telephone 650355. A receptionist will pass your details over to a doctor who will take the appropriate course of action
  
  
• Ramsey MIU – Open 8am - 8pm daily for minor illnesses and injuries that need immediate attention. You do not need an appointment however you can contact them on 811800 before your attendance where you will be seen by an experienced nurse practitioner or GP
  
  
• Emergency Department (ED) or 999 – Emergency services are very busy. They should only be used in very serious or life-threatening situations. If you, or someone you are with is showing signs of being very ill or badly injured, telephone 999 and tell the operator that there is a medical emergency

Could it be coronavirus?

If you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, shortness of breath or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, it could be coronavirus (COVID-19).

See symptoms and testing for more information.

If you have symptoms, you are encouraged to take a lateral flow test. These can be purchased from most pharmacies in the Island. Find out what to do if you test positive

What else could it be?

With winter, comes a range of bugs. It’s often difficult to know how to treat your illness until you analyse the symptoms of what you have. Some of the most common winter bugs cause:

• Colds, runny nose and sore throat – These can generally be treated at home with over-the-counter remedies, plenty of rest and hydration
  
  
• Diarrhoea and vomiting – D&V is common in adults, children and babies and is often caused by a stomach bug. It should stop in a few days. There are several dos and don’ts for treating the illness and stopping it from spreading. As with any stomach bug, you should wait 48 hours after symptoms stop before returning to work or school. Do not visit hospitals or care homes or more vulnerable people who may be more susceptible to illness. Telephone for advice and stay at home
  
  
• Influenza (flu) – Flu is a highly infectious virus that usually occurs in the winter each year. Symptoms come on very quickly and often include a high temperature, tiredness, a headache, general aches and pains and a dry, chesty cough. Some people are more susceptible to the flu virus and for them it can increase the risk of a more serious illness such as bronchitis or pneumonia, which is why a vaccine has been made available for certain groups. In otherwise healthy individuals, the flu usually goes away on its own but it is important to rest at home for a few days to stop it from spreading. More information on the flu
  
  
• Long COVID – Long-COVID or post-COVID syndrome is a condition that occurs when a person who has caught COVID-19 has symptoms lasting for more than four weeks. These symptoms can change and come and go over period of time and are usually related to the severity of your initial infection. There are ways to manage these symptoms and support is available for both self-management and from your GP. For ore more information on Long COVID, visit Long COVID Support and Guidance

• Scarlet fever - Scarlet fever is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mostly affects young children. It is usually mild and easily treated with antibiotics.  The symptoms of scarlet fever include a sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. This is followed by a fine red rash which typically first appears on the chest and stomach, rapidly spreading to other parts of the body. If you think you or your child might have scarlet fever, you should contact your GP for advice and stay at home. Find out more about Scarlet fever