COVID-19 positive – how to manage your symptoms

On this page, you can find information on how to manage the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Headaches and body aches
• Blocked or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Vomiting (being sick) or diarrhoea (runny poo)

Fever

Fever is your body’s way of fighting infection and is a common symptom of COVID-19. If you have a high temperature, it can help if you get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration. Drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear.

You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable.

• Make sure the room temperature is comfortable (not too hot or too cold).
• If possible, open a window for fresh air but avoid draughts.
• Wear lightweight clothing and use lighter bedding.
• Use a cool cloth to wash your face, hands and neck.
• Change bed linen and clothing regularly, especially if they are wet from sweat. 
• Do not use hot water bottles or electric blankets.

Read more about fever.

Headaches and body aches

Body aches due to COVID-19 can feel like a dull, aching sensation in your muscles. This sensation could affect one or several parts of your body and may range from mild to severe.

Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with headaches and body aches. A hot water bottle or heating pad may help relieve muscle pain. A warm bath may also be soothing.

Blocked or runny nose 

Use saline nose drops or spray to help soothe or clear a stuffy nose. Medicated decongestants such as oxymetazoline (Drixine®) and xylometazoline (Otrivin®) may also be helpful but be aware that they are only for short term use. Do not use them for longer than 7 days. If you use them for longer than this, a rebound more severe congestion of your nose can happen. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which medication will be the best for you. 

Some people find steam inhalation helpful in relieving congestion. But scientific studies have found that it has few proven benefits and can cause serious harm like burn injuries. A recent study has found a significant increase in burns in children caused by steam inhalation, during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Steam inhalation for adults: If it is something you like to do, and have found helpful for clearing a blocked nose in the past, make sure the water isn't too hot and be careful carrying containers of hot water – especially when there are tamariki around.

Steam inhalation for children: This is not recommended for children, so it is best to find a different way of managing your tamariki with blocked noses. 

Some people find using vapour rubs soothing and helps relieve nose and chest congestion. Vapour rubs are ointments that contain essential oils such as menthol, camphor and eucalyptus. They are usually applied to your skin, on your throat, chest or back. Rub gently and leave clothes loose to allow vapours to be inhaled easily. 

Some brands of paper tissues are eucalyptus scented and these may help with a blocked nose too. 

Sore throat

Suck a teaspoon of honey, gargle with salt water, or gargle with warm water to ease a sore throat. Sucking on sugar-free lollies or lozenges also helps. You can also try medicated lozenges, gargle or throat spray.

Cough

If you have a cough, it's best to avoid lying on your back. Lie on your side or sit upright instead. 

You may find sucking honey or sipping a hot drink helps ease your cough. It can help to sooth the scratchiness in the back of your throat.

There are a number of cough medicines available on the market. They may be sold in combination with other medicines in cold and cough products, or as cough mixtures or cough lozenges. Cough medicine doesn’t cure a cough but may give you some relief from it. There is little evidence to suggest that cough medicine is any more effective than simple home remedies and they're not suitable for everyone. If you are unsure talk to your pharmacist.

Vomiting (being sick) or diarrhoea (runny poo)

Some people with COVID-19 may get diarrhoea (runny poo), feel sick (nausea), or be sick (vomiting). These symptoms should usually settle within a few days. 

Avoid dehydration

The most important thing is to drink plenty of fluids, to avoid dehydration. 

• Try sucking ice cubes or ice blocks if you are having trouble keeping fluids down.
• Drink oral rehydration drinks such as Gastrolyte® (available from pharmacies).
• Eat when you feel able to – you don't need to eat or avoid eating any specific foods. Some people find eating bland foods such as crackers, rice or dry toast helpful.

Fizzy drinks, undiluted juices, tea, coffee and sports drinks are not suitable because of their high sugar content. High sugar content is likely to make diarrhoea worse. Read more about dehydration. 

Nausea

• Eat when you feel able to – you don't need to eat or avoid eating any specific foods. Some people find eating bland foods such as crackers, rice or dry toast helpful.
• Some people find ginger helpful, taken as ginger tea, ginger-containing foods like soups, or ginger capsules.   

If these symptoms are ongoing, talk to your doctor as they may recommend anti-nausea medicines. 

Learn more

Learn more about how to manage other symptoms:

• Positions to make your breathing easier
• Managing tiredness (fatigue)

References

1. Steam inhalation and paediatric burns during the COVID-19 pandemic The Lancet, May 2020