Staying Ahead of Winter Illness: How to Track Flu and COVID at Home with Thermometers and Oximeters

As winter approaches and respiratory viruses increase in circulation, pharmacists play a central role in supporting their patients through effective self-monitoring strategies. While COVID continues to shape seasonal healthcare pressures, influenza, RSV and other viral respiratory illnesses are also significant contributors to winter morbidity.

In the face of persistent shortages of GP appointments, many patients are turning to self testing kits and home testing kits for their initial health checks, and this makes pharmacy-led guidance on safe, effective monitoring more important than ever. This article provides a concise pharmacy guide to temperature and oxygen saturation monitoring and outlines how pharmacists can help patients identify the early signs of deterioration.

Why monitoring matters in winter respiratory illness:

Fever: a hallmark but not a guarantee

Fever is one of the most recognisable indicators of systemic infection and is frequently seen in influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. For patients presenting with early symptoms such as cough, malaise or sore throat, regular temperature measurement provides objective information that supports safe self-care. Persistent or escalating fever should prompt consideration of early review, particularly in high-risk groups.

Oxygen saturation: the silent indicator

COVID highlighted that deterioration can occur even when patients appear comfortable, with silent hypoxia now a well-recognised clinical feature. Oxygen saturation is therefore a valuable metric for anyone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, particularly older adults and those with comorbidities. Detecting falling saturation early can facilitate timely escalation into clinical pathways before more obvious respiratory compromise develops.

The pharmacist’s role

Pharmacists remain a key touchpoint for patients navigating winter illness at home. Many patients already use self testing kits such as lateral flow tests or other home testing kits to assess a range of symptoms. Alongside these, pharmacists can guide patients on the appropriate use of thermometers and pulse oximeters, providing reassurance on technique, interpretation and the signs that mandate medical attention. This ensures home monitoring enhances safety rather than replacing clinical judgement.

How to support your customers: practical guidance on home monitoring

1. Temperature monitoring: Temperature monitoring is most effective when patients measure readings at consistent times each day. Morning and early evening checks help establish a clear trend, especially once symptomatic. A reliable digital thermometer is recommended, and patients should record results alongside symptoms or general wellbeing. A sustained temperature above 38 °C, a rising trajectory over 24 to 48 hours or the appearance of concerning additional symptoms should prompt professional review.
   
   
2. Oxygen saturation monitoring: Monitoring oxygen saturation at home can be particularly valuable for patients with COVID-19 or those at increased risk of complications. Resting SpO₂ (peripheral capillary oxygen saturation) values generally remain at 95 percent or above in healthy individuals. Readings below 94 percent or any consistent fall relative to a patient’s baseline could indicate the need for closer assessment.
   Pharmacists can advise on correct technique: patients should rest for several minutes before the reading, warm their hands, remove nail varnish or false nails and allow the device to stabilise before recording. Regular readings throughout the day, and further checks if symptoms worsen, help detect changes early. A fall to 92 percent or lower, or rapid onset of breathlessness, requires urgent medical attention.
   
   
3. Interpreting results and escalation: Patients should understand that temperature and SpO₂ trends are supportive tools rather than replacements for professional assessment. A worsening fever, declining oxygen saturation or the emergence of ‘red flag’ symptoms including chest tightness, confusion, persistent vomiting or difficulty speaking in full sentences should trigger prompt review – patients should call their GP or NHS 111 for further advice.
   Baseline measurements taken when well are valuable reference points and may reveal early deterioration even when absolute values appear acceptable. Consistent monitoring also aids detection of complications such as secondary bacterial infection or pneumonia in non-COVID respiratory illness.

Next steps

As influenza, RSV and COVID circulate simultaneously, trends in temperature and oxygen saturation can provide meaningful early warning signs that support timely intervention. For more information about how to support your patients over the winter and about stocking our Suresign range of self testing kits, please contact us today by clicking here.