Children's hospitals across the country are grappling with a surge of patients due to a 'multi-demic' causing extreme wait times and leading to some parents feeling anxious about what they can do.
The combined effects of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19 have brought the health-care system and staff to a breaking point.
Now, parents are wondering at what point, if at all, they should bring their child to an emergency room.
"Always trust your parent gut," Dr. Lisa Barrett, infectious disease specialist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel on Sunday. "Things that make you worry, really high breathing rates, coughing that keeps them from breathing well, very young children who can't catch their breath, not eating and drinking and not being alert. Those are all times when you really need to go to a hospital."
Barrett said parents should consult local emergency rooms for guidelines on when they should seek medical help. Many hospitals advise parents to call a health-care provider when symptoms are not improving or get worse.
"Many provinces also have a phone line that you can call and get additional advice," Barrett said. "Use all the resources you have at your disposal at the moment…Don't ever, ever ignore signs that I mentioned and check in with extra resources."
Health Canada released a report from highlighting the trend of influenza cases at a national level. Subtype influenza A is the majority (97 per cent) of the cases detected.
"Currently, the weekly number of pediatric hospitalizations being reported is at levels typically seen at the peak of the influenza season,"
A report from , which was the last "typical" year for influenza before the pandemic, explains flu levels across the country were a "similar level to the week prior" that year.
"In week 45, the number of detections of influenza continued to increase," the report says, indicating the positivity rate for influenza was at 3.1 per cent, whereas in 2022 that has risen to 15.8 per cent.
According to Health Canada, Alberta is seeing "widespread" cases of flu with other provinces and territories reporting "sporadic" and "localized" spread. The federal government is calling the rapid and prolonged rates of flu a "national influenza epidemic."
Experts believe the lack of exposure over the last two years from any virus is a reason for the increased number of people getting sick this year.
In the federal government's COVID-19 update on Nov. 10, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njoo said immunity to RSV and other respiratory viruses is particularly low among children who have largely remained in confinement over the past two years due to COVID-19 public health measures.
To mitigate pressure from hospitals, medical experts are urging people to take precautions, including being up to date on vaccinations.
The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) urged Friday for families to be vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19, with Dr. Kevin Chan, chair of CPS's acute care committee saying families should prioritize the flu vaccine.
Other solutions to mitigate the spread of viruses are highly encouraged says Barett, who recommends people continue habits formed over the pandemic.
"The answer is not what we did with COVID(-19) and lockdowns, it is remembering the basics," she said. "It's not glitzy, but it's important."
Barrett highlighted handwashing to curb transmission and for everyone to be vaccinated for both COVID-19 and influenza.
"If you're a family and or people in the community, that are comfortable wearing masks in public places, it's not a perfect tool, but it's an add-on tool," she said. "Also being able to stay home when you're sick. I can't emphasize that enough right now."
Barrett said people should prioritize safety when attending events, like masking and not attending if sick.
"A safer respiratory culture is helpful," Barrett said. "There's no magic bullet around this."
With files from The Canadian Press.
The jury tasked with determining if Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard sexually assaulted a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago began deliberating Friday after nearly two weeks of testimony that saw the singer and his accuser give starkly different accounts of what happened.
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal early Friday morning, sources told Noovo Info.
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal early Friday morning, sources told Noovo Info.
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
The U.S. and British militaries struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, going after weapons systems, bases and other equipment belonging to the Iranian-backed rebels, U.S. officials confirmed.
The fallout from storm damage to a North Carolina factory that makes critical hospital supplies will be felt broadly and could linger, experts say.
Prayer chants and the sounding of traditional ram's horns fill the air in the town of Uman, in central Ukraine, as thousands of pilgrims join an annual gathering to mark the Jewish new year, despite the war against Russia.
President Joe Biden had terse words for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, and said he didn't know whether the Israeli leader was holding up a peace deal in order to influence the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce funding to support French-speaking African countries and initiatives to promote the French language in the Francophonie.
Defence Minister Bill Blair says Israel has the right to defend itself in 'a calibrated and proportional way' following Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on Tuesday.
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
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Legendary singer Paul Simon has said he is 'optimistic' about being able to return to performing live after losing most of his hearing in his left ear.
The jury tasked with determining if Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard sexually assaulted a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago began deliberating Friday after nearly two weeks of testimony that saw the singer and his accuser give starkly different accounts of what happened.
Brazil's Supreme Court said on Friday that lawyers representing social media platform X did not pay pending fines to the right bank, postponing its decision on whether to allow the tech firm to resume services in Brazil.
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A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.
Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north
What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
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The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
A New Westminster senior is out $20,000 worth of gold jewelry after being approached by a scammer outside her home.
Many British Columbians were shaken awake early Friday morning when an earthquake struck in the Strait of Georgia, about 18 kilometres southwest of Tsawwassen.
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by Â鶹´«Ã½ Toronto show.
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A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.
Indigenous leaders say two staff at a Saskatchewan courthouse were told to go home and take off the orange shirts they wore for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
Two police officers in Greater Sudbury required medical attention for injuries they received arresting a man for the second time in just two days.
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Eleven victim impact statements were submitted into court during the proceedings.
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The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
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To enhance inclusivity at Lethbridge Polytechnic, the institution has launched a new accessibility micro-credential.
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A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
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He may not have logged the fastest time or even gone the full distance, but residents of a Newfoundland town agree the goat who unexpectedly joined the local weekend half marathon was the event's undisputed champion.
A mother in a community where the cost of living is one of the highest in the country says grocery prices are 'inhumane' and retailers are putting profits ahead of people’s basic human right to food.
A soccer game in England on Tuesday night drove a spike in online traffic across the Atlantic to a website launched by the Newfoundland and Labrador government.
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