Caring for Children with Respiratory Illness
Most respiratory illness in children, including colds, influenza, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID-19 can be managed at home without the need for prescription medications. However, in some cases, it is important to seek medical care.
Call your family doctor if your child:
- Has a fever lasting 72 hours or longer.
- Has a fever that went away for a day or longer (without fever medication)
and then came back.
- Is unusually irritable and won’t stop fussing, even after treating their fever.
- Has an earache lasting more than 48 hours.
- Is not eating or drinking. Note that it’s normal to eat and drink less when sick. Liquids are more important than food.
- Has special needs that make caring for them more difficult.
Call 911 or go to the emergency department when:
- You are worried that your child is seriously ill.
- Your infant, younger than three months old, has a fever.
- Your child is struggling to breathe or is breathing faster than normal.
- You are concerned that your child is at risk of dehydration or is dehydrated.
Health Connect Ontario has a symptom checker and the option to
chat live with a nurse. You can also call 811 to speak with a nurse, available 24 hours a day.
https://healthconnectontario.health.gov.on.ca/static/guest/symptom-assessment
Covid-19 Testing and Isolation information
Evusheld - what you need to know
Evusheld is a drug that may help prevent you from getting sick from COVID-19.
Evusheld is:
• Not a treatment for COVID-19 or to prevent symptoms if you test positive
• Not a substitute for getting COVID-19 vaccines for people who are able to
get vaccinated
Evusheld is given to people who:
• may not get enough protection from COVID-19 vaccines alone; and
• are at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19
Paxlovid Information:
What is paxlovid? An oral medication for people with mild covid who are at risk for severe outcomes to reduce risk of progression.
Am I eligible for paxlovid treatment?
Where can I get it?
Visit this site for this information
https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-antiviral-treatment
You can also self-refer to the St Mary's Covid Assessment Centre by calling 519-744-3311 ext. 1083
https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/community-assessment-centres.aspx
What to do if exposed to COVID-19?
Covid-19 Self Assessment
Self isolation guidelines for Covid-19
Confused About Covid
The 'Confused about COVID? Family doctors answer your questions' series offers patients and the public trustworthy advice about protecting their health and how family doctors can help.
Getting Your Covid Test Results
Public Health receives all positive results and will contact you directly if you test positive for having COVID-19.You can access your test results:
- Online at Ontario’s COVID-19 test results website
- Online through laboratory portals you are subscribed to (e.g. Life Labs or Dynacare)
- By contacting your primary care provider
- By contacting the Assessment and Testing Centre where you were tested
COVID-19 VACCINES: More information
Health Canada has authorized the first COVID-19 vaccines for use in Canada after a thorough and rigorous review of the evidence to ensure the vaccines meet the standards of safety, quality and efficacy for authorization in Canada. Health Canada will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccines after they are available.
CEP - Centre for Effective Practice
This is an organization supported by family Physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, Ontario medical association, McMaster University, University of Waterloo etc.
See the link below developed by CEP with COVID-19 vaccine information.
https://tools.cep.health/tool/covid-19-vaccines/
Key messages
- Primary care providers and patients can be confident. Standards of safety, efficacy, and quality have not been compromised to expedite the approval of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Health Canada oversight of COVID-19 vaccines will NOT stop at approval. Health Canada will monitor the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness now and into the future.
- Research into the value of mRNA for vaccinations has been progressing for over ten years. Though the new vaccine is the first mRNA vaccine approved for use in humans, mRNA has been successfully used in cancer treatments.
COVID 19 vaccine information from Waterloo Region Public Health Unit
https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/covid-19-vaccine.aspx
COVID 19 VACCINE CLINICS FOR CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY
Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine After-Care
Covid-19 General Information
Public health information on Covid-19
www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/2019-novel-coronavirus.aspx#
https://www.Ontario.ca/coronavirus
https://www.Canada.ca/coronavirus
Covid-19 Symptom Management (after I have been diagnosed with Covid-19)