Parents’ guide to knowing your care options

Any temperature above 38°C is considered a fever. A fever is only a symptom, not a disease. The most common cause is an infection caused by a virus or by a bacteria. 

With a high temperature, a child will feel unwell. They may not want to eat, be a little more fussy than usual and play less, but the fever will typically go away in 3-4 days.

A child with specific symptoms, such as an earache that lasts for more than two days, breathing problems or bladder symptoms along with the fever, should be assessed by their family doctor. As well, babies younger than three months old with fever should be urgently seen by a doctor.

How can a parent help?

Along with rest, make sure they drink enough fluids, even if it’s just sips of water or formula or more frequent breastfeeding. Use medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) if you have them on hand. The right dosage depends on the age and weight of the child.

No fever-reducing medication?

If you are trying to treat a fever without fever-reducing medication, please try these steps:

• Have your child drink plenty of fluids
• Dress them in light clothing
• Sponge them with cool/tepid water

Please note:

• The emergency room does not have samples or take-home medications such as Tylenol and Advil.
• The emergency room cannot expedite referrals to specialists

When to seek help?

Parents should recognize symptoms that may represent a more serious underlying cause for the fever and know when to go to their family doctor or to the Emergency Room if their doctor is unavailable to see them quickly.

The degree of temperature is less important than the associated symptoms. Children with a fever who should be assessed by a doctor – their family doctor or an emergency room physician – as soon as possible include:

• Babies younger than three months. They can get very sick quickly and require an aggressive approach to investigate the underlying cause.
• Children who experience seizures due to a rapid increase in temperatures.
• Children with a fever for more than three days.
• Children whose temperature repeatedly rises above 40°C
• Children with a known chronic medical condition.
• Children with a new rash.
• Children who are clearly quite unwell – lethargic, listless, rapid breathing, not drinking, poor interaction, inconsolable.

Visit HealthLinkBC for more information about fevers.

COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild to severe. Sometimes symptoms start as mild and then suddenly worsen after a few days. Symptoms can include: fever or chills, cough, loss of sense of smell or taste, difficulty breathing, sore throat, loss of appetite, runny nose, sneezing, extreme fatigue or tiredness, headache, body aches, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. Learn what to do if your child tests positive for COVID-19.

Flu symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, extreme tiredness, and cough. Although colds and other viruses may cause similar symptoms, those due to the influenza virus tend to be worse. Fever and other symptoms can usually last 7 to 10 days, with the cough and weakness lasting up to two more weeks. In children, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may accompany the respiratory phase.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory illness in infants. It causes nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing and mild fever. Symptoms peak on the fifth day of illness but improve after. However, a cough may last for three to four weeks. There is no treatment and most infants spontaneously improve. Some may require supportive treatment with oxygen and hydration. RSV may have a more serious impact on infants less than 6 weeks old or those born prematurely.

How can a parent help?

Help your child manage their symptoms by encouraging them to drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest. You can use a humidifier or hot shower to help ease a cough or sore throat. If they have a fever, you can use non-prescription medicine like children’s Tylenol or children’s Advil.

When to seek help?

Seek emergency help for your child if they:

• find it hard to breathe
• have chest pain
• can’t drink anything
• feel very sick
• feel confused

A cold is an upper respiratory (upper chest/throat/head) illness caused by a virus infection of airway passages. You know your child has a cold if they have a runny/stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes, sore throat, cough, aches, sweats, and/or a fever.

Colds are contagious during the first three to four days. Antibiotics will not help recovery because antibiotics cannot cure viruses.

How can a parent help?

With plenty of clear fluids (water, fruit juice, tea, clear soups), and rest, a child often recovers in a few days or sometimes in up to a week or two.

When to seek help?

• Unusual shortness of breath
• Not responding to you
• Child is clearly very unwell – lethargic, listless, not drinking at all, poor interaction, inconsolable

Most colds can be cared for at home or by a family doctor. If you feel your child is very unwell or Fraser Health Virtual Care or 8-1-1 recommends it, a visit to the ER may be appropriate.

Most diarrhea and/or vomiting in children is caused by a virus. Children with gastroenteritis, also known as stomach flu, may experience stomach cramping, fever, fatigue and lack of appetite.

Antibiotics will not help recovery because antibiotics cannot cure viruses.

How can a parent help?

If your child is being breastfed, continue even if the baby is unwell or has diarrhea. Feed them smaller volumes more frequently.

Be sure your child drinks to replace lost fluids. You can purchase Pedialyte (or Lytren/Gastrolyte) from a pharmacy. Older children can also have diluted juice and clear soup/broth.

After 24 hours of just fluids, the diarrhea and vomiting will likely decrease. If symptoms are improving, slowly return your child to their normal diet of formula or easily digestible solid food (crackers, flour chapati/roti, rice cereal, mashed potatoes, plain meat/eggs, applesauce, and bananas).

If the diarrhea is almost gone by day three, return your child to their normal food.

When to seek help?

• No decrease in the diarrhea after 24 hours of just fluids
• Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, severe thirst, no tears when crying)
• No urine for six to eight hours in older children or four to six hours for babies and young children
• Blood-stained mucous or stools
• Starting to appear more sick
• Has bad belly pain that lasts for more than a few minutes at a time
• Is not responding to you

Most cases can be cared for at home or by a family doctor. If you feel your child is very unwell or Fraser Health Virtual Care or 8-1-1 recommends it, a visit to the ER may be appropriate.