Health Notice

Thursday, 1st August 2024 at 9:05am

TE WHATU ORA / HEALTH NZ

Green Bay High School's Nursing team would like to inform our community of the free sore throat checks for eligible people aged 3-35 years at participating pharmacies until 15 September 2024 (Unichem Medi-Centre - Lincoln Road and/or Chemist Warehouse - Henderson).

For a limited time, the sore throat check is FREE at participating pharmacies in Counties Manukau and West Auckland. The sore throat check only takes a few minutes and the pharmacist will let you know if any treatment or follow-up with a doctor is needed.

People aged 3 to 35 years old who are at high risk of rheumatic fever are eligible. People who are outside of this group can still get a sore throat check at their local hauora Māori provider, Pacific health clinic or doctors. Charges may apply.

What is a sore throat check?

It is a swab test of the throat to see if the Streptococcus bacteria is causing the sore throat, sometimes called strep throat.
Why is it important to get a sore throat checked? Flu and cold viruses can also cause sore throats, so the swab test tells you when strep throat is the cause.
If you are at a higher risk of developing rheumatic fever, you must check a sore throat early and get treatment for strep throat with antibiotics. Without treatment, strep throat can cause rheumatic fever, which can damage your heart.
You are at higher risk of rheumatic fever if:

• you have had rheumatic fever before
• someone in your family or household has had rheumatic fever
• you are of Māori or Pacific ethnicity
• you live closely with many people (e.g. more than 2 people sharing a sleeping room)
  If you are not at higher risk, rheumatic fever is extremely unlikely for you, even if you have strep throat, so you don’t need a swab test.
  If you feel very unwell, have a high fever, or just have questions, seek advice from your doctor or Healthline phone 0800 611 116, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.