How to Care for Your Child During Respiratory Virus Season

Having a sick child can be scary. Know what symptoms to watch for, how to provide care and comfort at home, and when to seek help — it’s all part of providing good Kid Care! At an emergency department, the sickest patients are always seen first. Less sick patients will have to wait for care.

Depending on your child’s symptoms, you may be able to provide care at home, or be seen faster by your doctor, at a walk-in clinic or urgent care, nursing station or health centre. When deciding where to go, consider these cold and flu symptoms to determine whether your child needs emergency care.

	Emergency	Not an Emergency
Breathing Problems	in respiratory distress, having difficulty breathing, breathing faster than usual pale skin with blue lips wheezing, not responding to medication	nasal congestion and cough mild wheezing that is responding to medication and there is no difficulty breathing
Fever	in a child less than three months old immune system or chronic health problems difficult to wake or excessively sleepy fever ongoing for more than five to seven days neck stiffness with vomiting and sleepiness unable to walk or weakness of arms or legs fever with a new rash	in healthy and vaccinated babies older than three months in children who are generally well on its own a high fever does not require a trip to emergency
Vomiting or Diarrhea	in a child less than three months old repeated vomiting and unable to keep down any fluids signs of dehydration (no tears, has a dry mouth or sunken soft spot) or if no urine is passed for 12 hours vomiting with blood	vomiting or diarrhea less than three or four times per day ongoing diarrhea after the “stomach flu” as this can last for up to two weeks see a doctor if there is bloody diarrhea or recent travel out of the country

Emergency

Not an Emergency

Breathing Problems

in respiratory distress, having difficulty breathing, breathing faster than usual

pale skin with blue lips

wheezing, not responding to medication

nasal congestion and cough

mild wheezing that is responding to medication and there is no difficulty breathing

Fever

in a child less than three months old

immune system or chronic health problems

difficult to wake or excessively sleepy

fever ongoing for more than five to seven days

neck stiffness with vomiting and sleepiness

unable to walk or weakness of arms or legs

fever with a new rash

in healthy and vaccinated babies older than three months

in children who are generally well

on its own a high fever does not require a trip to emergency

Vomiting or Diarrhea

in a child less than three months old

repeated vomiting and unable to keep down any fluids

signs of dehydration (no tears, has a dry mouth or sunken soft spot) or if no urine is passed for 12 hours

vomiting with blood

vomiting or diarrhea less than three or four times per day

ongoing diarrhea after the “stomach flu” as this can last for up to two weeks

see a doctor if there is bloody diarrhea or recent travel out of the country

Not sure where to go?

In an emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
Call Health Links – Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257
Visit Shared Health’s “Where to Go” page for a list of health services in your community.

For more information visit KidCareMB.ca.

Vaccination

All children in Manitoba aged six months and older can get COVID and flu vaccines. Keeping your kids up to date on vaccinations can prevent them from getting sick. There are many locations across the province where they can be immunized, and we have an online map to help you find a spot that is convenient.

Book Now at Manitoba.ca/vaccine or Protect Our People MB

Fevers

Fever is not dangerous. It is the body’s natural response to infections and actually helps to fight infection. Higher temperatures do not mean the infection is more serious and a fever on its own does not require medical attention in most children.

You do not need to treat fever with medicine. Cool your child by dressing them in light clothing, offering extra fluids and keeping the room cool.

*Children under three months of age and those with chronic health conditions should be seen if a fever develops. See Kids Fevers: What to know, when to get help.

A Dose of Prevention Goes a Long Way!

A house: Stay home - Keep sick kids at home to slow the spread.
A hand and drops of water: Hand washing - Teach your kids to wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.
A figure coughing into a tissue: Cough - cover your cough or sneeze.
A mask: Masks - consider wearing a mask when indoors in crowded locations.)

Need Advice?

Health Links – Info Santé can help 24/7. Call 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257

In an emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

Visit KidCare!

Kid Care – How to Care for Your Child During Respiratory Virus Season

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How to Care for Your Child During Respiratory Virus Season

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Vaccination

Fevers

A Dose of Prevention Goes a Long Way!

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