World Health Day: 5 Most Common Illness in Australia
Posted by Eve Pace on 21st Mar 2025
What "Healthy Beginnings and Hopeful Futures" Means for Mothers and Babies
World Health Day is 7 April. The focus of the global campaign is "Healthy Beginnings and Hopeful Futures," focusing on preventable maternal and newborn health complications.
Why Maternal and Newborn Health Matters
The statistics are alarming:
- 300,000 women lose their life to pregnancy or childbirth,
- around 2 million babies lose their life in the first 12 months - globally.
(World Health Organisation, 2025)
These statistics are confronting, yet important to know in order to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths worldwide.
Healthcare in Australia
Despite the strong and universal healthcare system in Australia, various illnesses can impact families.
Below are 5 of the most common illnesses affecting children in Australia.
- Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
- Caused by viruses like rhinovirus.
- Symptoms include runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, mild fever.
- Children can get 12 colds a year, as the body builds up immunity to each unique virus. - Gastroenteritis (Gastro)
- Caused by viruses like rotavirus or norovirus.
- Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps.
- Highly contagious.
- Important to support hydration.
- As vomit is expelled via the mouth and nose, saline spray and Snotty Boss suction helps to clear nasal passages in seconds. - Ear Infections (Otitis Media)
- Often follow a cold, due to the blockage of eustachian tube between nose and ear.
- More common in babies and toddlers due to shorter eustachian tube.
- Clearing the nose regularly during times of congestion keeps the eustacian tube unblocked and can reduce the risk of ear infections. - Croup
Croup is a viral illness that causes swelling of the voice box and windpipe - creating that seal-like sounding cough. Although the symptoms aren't usually life threatening, severe cases of croup can cause difficulty breathing. - Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
- Caused by coxsackievirus.
- Symptoms include fever, sore throat, rash on hands and feet, mouth ulcers
- Highly contagious and children can remain infectious for weeks even after the blisters subside (via saliva and poo stools) so diligent handwashing is vital.
How Can We Help?
Our business was founded to support good health for all families. Our range of certified products can assist with diagnosis and treatment.
Nasal aspirators, thermometers, vaporisers and balms can support clear nasal breathing, which is an essential step in recovery.
Other ways you can support the cause this World Health Day is to spread awareness by using the hasgtags #HopefulFutures and #HealthForAll or making a small donation to the WHO Foundation.
The World Health Organisation has more here.
Every mother deserves a safe pregnancy and birth, and every baby deserves the best possible start in life.
As we celebrate World Health Day in 2025, let’s give gratitude for the health care we enjoy in Australia and come together to raise awareness and support this worldwide campaign for better health care.
Disclaimer: We are not health care professionals. Please seek independent medical advice from your trusted practitioner.
