Â鶹´«Ã½

Health

    • Tylenol shortage contributing to kids' hospital crush: ER nurse

    Share

    As hospitals in Canada struggle with an influx of children dealing with respiratory illnesses, the ongoing shortage in children’s Tylenol is only complicating the problem, experts say.

    Fevers that may have been handled at home with the proper over-the-counter medication are now driving concerned parents to take their kids into emergency rooms that are already dealing with children who are seriously ill.

    “It’s the Tylenol and Advil shortage that’s making (some families) come to ERs, come to hospitals,†Eram Chhogala told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview.

    “They go to the stores, pharmacies and there's nothing there, then that's when they come into the emergency department in hopes of obtaining (...) medication.â€

    In the last few weeks, children’s hospitals and health-care professionals have been sounding the alarm about children coming down with respiratory illnesses.

    Some hospitals are operating at or over 100 per cent occupancy, being seen “above expected levels for this time of year,†according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

    This influx in respiratory illnesses isn’t caused by the ongoing shortage in children’s Tylenol — but Chhogala, a registered nurse in Toronto, says that shortage is exacerbating the issue.

    Because she works in the emergency department, she sees a mixture of adult and pediatric patients, but she says the recent uptick in children being brought into the ER with respiratory symptoms is clear.

    These patients include those experiencing significant illness with influenza, COVID-19 and a common childhood respiratory infection called RSV, she says, but some of the children with fevers in the ER are there because worried parents didn’t know what to do amid “the lack of access to Tylenol and Advil in a lot of the stores and pharmacies and so forth.

    “It’s really caused a high influx of patients coming in,†she said.

    Fever is an ordinary part of the immune response for many viruses, and isn’t something to panic over on its own. But with trusted medication vanishing from the shelves, many parents feel stranded.

    Pharmacists and hospitals began to raise flags about a supply issue with liquid Tylenol and Advil in early summer, with Health Canada confirming that there was a national shortage. The shortage has only increased since then, with the Ontario Pharmacists Association stating in September that liquid and chewable forms were growing scarce.

    While supply chain issues are believed to be a contributor to the issue, in Health Canada’s most recent update they state that “unprecedented demand†is the key source of the shortage.

    TYLENOL SHORTAGE CONTRIBUTING TO CRUSH

    In the summer, health professionals began to advise parents to ask their family doctors for a prescription for children's Tylenol if they were unable to locate any on the shelves at their local drug store, in the hopes that this could help them access a supply that hadn't yet been exhausted in regions running low.

    However, many families are now ending up in the ER as avenues to find this over-the-counter medication are growing slim, Chhogala says.

    "Because there's not very much access to walk-in clinics or family doctors, they just … come to the ER, because they don't have access to Tylenol or Advil or children's Motrin,†Chhogala said.

    Even pharmacies attached to hospitals are running out of Tylenol.

    “The other day, I walked into the hospital’s pharmacy, just to grab something to drink, and I saw that the shelves were just empty. And there were families in there looking for Tylenol and there was nothing,†Chhogala said.

    “So they come in [to the ER] because they're hoping … that we can basically administer the Tylenol or Advil in the emergency department.â€

    Tylenol is a brand name for acetaminophen, while ibuprofen is marketed under the brand names of Advil and Motrin. It's not necessary to get a prescription to obtain this medication, but emergency departments have their own stock that is separate from that in the pharmacy to ensure that those in emergency need can have access.

    Children’s Tylenol and Advil can be used to help lower a fever and make a sick child feel less discomfort as their body battles the virus.

    “Advil and Tylenol have one role. And that's to make a child more comfortable,†Fahad Masud, a pediatric emergency doctor at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, told CTVNews.ca on Friday.

    He explained that parents shouldn’t worry that the presence of a fever alone means they have to scramble to find medication to lower it immediately — fever by itself won’t cause worse illness and many fevers will clear up as the illness improves. But it’s never pleasant for the patient.

    Chhogala said she and her colleagues have heard of patients having a fever for “more than maybe four or five daysâ€, during which time the parents were not able to find any Tylenol or Advil over the counter to address it.

    With staffing shortages still plaguing Canada’s health care system amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tylenol shortage exacerbating the increase in children in the hospital is just adding more strain to workers.

    “With nursing staffing shortages, it's quite a heavy load on our end, just because there's so many patients and where do we put them to be seen?†Chhogala said.

    “When you have a high number of patients to a low number of nurses, providing quality care is something that becomes [difficult]. And you want to be able to provide the best quality care for patients and their families out there.â€

    WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

    Parents who are concerned that the flu could lead to their child being one of many in an overcrowded hospital should think of prevention first, Chhogala said.

    They should start with the basic health measures that not only help fight COVID-19, but served to keep cold and flu levels down the past two years: wearing masks and thorough hand washing.

    “That's something that's very, very important,†she said.

    If a child does fall ill, parents should monitor their symptoms carefully.

    If there is no Tylenol or Advil available over-the-counter in drug stores in their region, parents can try asking their family doctor, check in at walk-in clinics or try virtual care services that may be able to provide guidance.

    If these options have been exhausted, a child who appears to be very ill and has a high fever should be brought to the ER to receive treatment, Chhogala said.

    However, identifying the difference between a very sick child and one with milder symptoms can help fight the numbers clogging up ERs and pediatric hospitals.

    Chhogala said that she looks at the child’s symptoms as well as how high their fever is.

    “Monitor the child's symptoms in terms of are they looking lethargic, are they having changes in behaviour or altered mental status,†she suggested. “Increasing their fluid intake, that's something that's really important, because a lot of fluid intake can assist with keeping the child hydrated, and alleviating a bit of the fever symptoms.

    Other symptoms denoting a more serious illness include the child looking very dehydrated, with lips that are turning blue or are dry and sticky.

    She considers a fever below 38.5 C to be a low-grade fever that likely wouldn’t require medication, while a fever of 40 C or higher would cause her to recommend the parents seek medical care.

    However, Masud said that the number itself is not the point — a child who is very ill with a respiratory illness will have symptoms beyond a fever.

    “[In general] the number of your temperature doesn’t tell you who’s more sick or less sick,†he said. “There’s kids who are sometimes running around with a fever 40-point-something, which I’m amazed by, but it doesn’t matter because the height of the temperature is not an indication of the height of seriousness. It's more how the child looks.â€

    An eight-year-old who is lethargic, won’t eat and has had a fever of 38.7 C for two days is likely sicker than an eight-year-old on day three of a fever of 39.5 who is alert, talkative and not having trouble staying hydrated, Masud said.

    He also stressed that a child with flu symptoms who is struggling to breathe needs to be seen by a doctor.

    The only time that a fever alone is enough to prompt an ER visit, Masad said, is if it is in a child younger than three months old.

    “If it's somebody below three months with a fever of 40, I wouldn't even ask you what the next part of the scenario is because it's full stop, they need to go to [the ER],†Masud said.

    Chhogala acknowledged it’s difficult for parents to know what to do at this time, “where we have a shortage of Tylenol.

    “Just because it was so readily accessible before and now … there’s pretty much nothing left.â€

    Tylenol shortages may make parents want to stock up, but it’s important not to take more than your fair share.

    “Just be mindful that if there's Tylenol that's reintroduced on the shelf, not to take so much Tylenol for your own self,†Chhogala said. “You need to be considerate of other families that are out there that maybe don't even have access to even one bottle.â€

    She added that it’s a “very unprecedented and scary time for a lot of people,†stressing that health-care professionals just want to help as many people as possible.

    “We're doing our very best in the emergency departments to accommodate all families, all children, we do see everybody, and we welcome anyone who really does require to come in to be seen by a doctor,†she said. “But please bear with us and please be patient, we are doing our very best to do as such, because we do genuinely care and we do genuinely want everyone to receive the care that they deserve.†

    Correction

    A quote by Fahad Masud was mistakenly typed to say a three-month-old child or younger with a fever of 30 C should be taken to an emergency room. He in fact said a fever of 40 C.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    Canada

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

    • The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province’s police watchdog.

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair’s family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale—Langley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • LIVE

      LIVE

      Thousands of people are gathered in downtown Vancouver to observe the city’s 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • A suspect was arrested for allegedly brandishing a knife outside a Vancouver elementary school on Friday – just as the young students were heading home for the day.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada’s largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • A man believed to be in his 40s has been rushed to a trauma centre following a stabbing in downtown Toronto.

    • Calgarians will be observing Remembrance Day at a number of different ceremonies across the city, including at the Hangar Flight Museum.

    • Getting out to the mountains is even easier with a new bus route from a growing Germany-based service.

    • A home in the northeast Calgary community of Saddle Ridge was damaged in a fire on Sunday.

    • Crowds gathered in Ottawa and eastern Ontario on Monday to honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of Canada.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • A 36-year-old Montreal man who was out on bail after allegedly uttering death threats to a woman is now accused of murdering her on the South Shore.

    • With fewer interments and rising maintenance fees, the money for Canada's largest military cemetery will run out in three to four years.

    • Montreal Metro passengers can now flag a safety concern by texting a new phone number launched by the STM.

    • LIVE @ 10:45 A.M. MT

      LIVE @ 10:45 A.M. MT

      Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • WEATHER

      WEATHER

      This is shaping up to be one of the warmest Remembrance Days in the past decade, at least, for temperatures.

    • Maritimers will stop Monday to remember those who have served, and continue to serve, in Canada's armed forces for Remembrance Day.

    • A Cape Breton senior recalls her life in German-occupied France, and her mother’s death, during the Second World War.

    • Thousand of people gathered at the Menin Gate in the Ypres, Belgium for Monday’s Remembrance Day Ceremony.

    • Remembrance Day is today, and a number of ceremonies are taking place around the province to honour those who gave their lives to serve our country.

    • A pillar in Canada’s history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • There will be two ceremonies taking place in Regina for Remembrance Day, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book ‘War Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.’

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • During conciliation, more than 40 registered nurses reached a deal with their employer on a new three-year collective agreement the union said includes fair wages, hours of work and improved benefits.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • A Barrie man is at the centre of an alleged $2.2 million stolen used car scheme.

    • Environment Canada issued a weather alert for Barrie, Collingwood and surrounding areas, alerting residents about the wicked winds that are expected to pick up to 80 kilometres per hour in the afternoon hours.

    • Barrie residents gathered on Monday to honour Canada’s veterans and pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for the country.

    • Representatives of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, military representatives, wreath bearers, government officials, and members of the public will attend the Cenotaph at City Hall Square for the outdoor service.

    • Windsor Paralympic champion, Danielle Campo, has been crowned the number one Inspirational Speaker of the Year for 2024 at the Inspirational Speaking Finals.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year’s host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • It was just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down when the Shaft Bottom Boys of Sudbury broke a world record for 'Deepest Concert Underground.' Now, more than four years later, a Timmins band is looking to take the title.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at Â鶹´«Ã½. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½