By Nathalie Vallerand

1. My child has a fever. Should I be worried?

Not necessarily. “Fever is a defence mechanism that fights infection by raising body temperature. It’s a sign that your child is ill, but a fever is not worrying in itself,” explains Dr. Hugo Paquin, emergency pediatrician at CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal.

If your child is under 3 months old, Dr. Paquin recommends seeing a doctor as soon as the fever appears (rectal temperature of 38°C or higher). He points out that at this age, babies have not yet received all their vaccinations, and their immune systems are still developing. “This means infants are more fragile,” he says.

If your child is over 3 months old and in good general health, you can give them acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol, Tempra) and monitor them at home. But if the fever lasts more than 72 hours, you should seek medical advice.

Learn how to take your child’s temperature: Fever in children (available in French only)

2. My child has a cold and doesn’t feel well. How can I help them feel better?

• Rinse your child’s nose often with a saline solution to clear blocked sinuses. “This prevents mucus from building up. It will help your child breathe easier,” says Valérie Gagnon, nurse clinician and infectious disease advisor at Santé publique du Bas-Saint-Laurent.
• Give them plenty of fluids to keep them well hydrated. Congested children may have difficulty drinking, so try offering them small amounts of fluids often.
• Focus on quiet activities and make sure your child gets enough rest.

Learn more:

• Colds and flu in children
• Stuffy nose in children (available in French only)

3. My child has a really sore throat. What can I do to help?

Many common illnesses, such as colds and flu, can cause a sore throat. “But if your child has sudden, severe throat pain when swallowing that isn’t accompanied by other cold symptoms or a cough, it could be group A streptococcus or another bacterial infection,” says Gagnon.

This type of infection is often accompanied by a fever, tender lumps on the neck, and white spots on the tonsils or in the back of the throat. Some children also experience headaches, stomachaches, nausea, and vomiting. Bacterial infections require antibiotic treatment. If you suspect a bacterial infection, you should consult a health care professional.

Ways to soothe your child’s sore throat:

• Offer water, crushed ice, or cold, soft foods like yogurt, ice cream, fruit purees, or cottage cheese. For children aged 1 or older, a spoonful of honey before bedtime may help.
• Children aged 4 or older can suck on lozenges containing honey, lemon, eucalyptus, or medicinal herbs such as mint or linden. Medicated lozenges should be avoided. If in doubt, consult a pharmacist.

For tips on prevention: Sore throat

4. My child is coughing and breathing noisily. What should I be looking out for?

Common in children and highly contagious, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) usually causes cold-like symptoms, such as a stuffy nose, sore throat, chills, fatigue, or cough.

It can, however, cause bronchiolitis. This illness, which mainly affects babies under 1 year old, is usually benign. But in babies 6 months or younger, symptoms can be more serious, according to Dr. Mathieu Blanchet, emergency pediatrician at the Centre mère-enfant Soleil in Quebec City.

“Bronchiolitis often starts with a runny nose and cough, then wheezing appears around the third day,” he describes. “Breathing becomes laboured and faster; their skin sinks between or under their ribs on inhalation; they become less energetic; they drink less.” If you notice these signs in your child, seek medical advice.

Prevention and treatment: Bronchiolitis

5. My child is pulling on their ear. How can I tell if it’s an ear infection?

Ear infections, also called otitis, are common in young children. “If your child is pulling or rubbing their ear, telling you it hurts, suddenly seems to have trouble hearing, has a fever or poor appetite, and is more irritable than usual, there’s a good chance they have acute otitis media (a middle ear infection),” says Dr. Blanchet. “Ear infections can be so painful that sometimes, they even cause vomiting.”

Ear infections often clear up on their own, so antibiotics are not always necessary. You can reduce your child’s pain and fever by giving them acetaminophen (e.g., Tempra, Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil) if they are older than 6 months. You can also apply a warm cloth or magic bag to their ear. However, you must consult a doctor or specialized nurse practitioner promptly if your child:

• Is under 6 months old
• Is over 6 months old and has a fever of 39°C or higher, or that lasts more than 48 to 72 hours
• Has symptoms that last more than 48 to 72 hours or that become worse
• Is having trouble hearing or cannot hear
• Has a red and swollen back of the ear
• Refuses to eat or drink
• Has fluid or blood draining from the ear

Find out more about treatment and prevention: Otitis media (available in French only)

6. My child has a stomach bug. How can I tell if they’re dehydrated?

The signs of dehydration—dry mouth and tongue, pale complexion, irritability, lack of energy, drowsiness—can be hard to spot. But there are two more obvious signs to watch for: reduced urine output and darker-coloured urine.

“The younger the child, the greater the risk of dehydration,” says Dr. Blanchet. When babies 6 months or younger are wetting fewer diapers than usual, there’s cause for concern. I recommend going to the emergency room. The baby will be looked at by a nurse and if there’s evidence of dehydration, a solution can be rapidly administered.”

If your child is over 6 months old, see a doctor the same day or go to the emergency room if one or more of the following applies:

• Stomach bug that lasts more than 5 days
• Vomiting 6 or 7 times a day
• Refusing to drink or vomiting right after drinking
• Not peeing for more than 6 to 8 hours (if under age 2) or for more than 8 to 10 hours (age 2 or up)
• A bad stomachache
• Blood in their stool
• Dark, sunken eyes, generalized weakness
• Sunken fontanelle (soft spot) on an infant

7. My child’s eye is red and sticky. Should I apply an antibiotic ointment?

Your child probably has conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the membrane that covers the eye. Conjunctivitis can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection.

• Viral conjunctivitis: “Both eyes are usually affected, and the infection will clear up on its own within 24 to 48 hours,” says Dr. Blanchet. Medication isn’t necessary.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis: Only one eye is affected. “The infection should clear up quickly, but if it lasts longer than 48 hours, you can apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to your child’s eye,” says Dr. Blanchet. Talk to a pharmacist for more information.

To soothe itching, wet a clean washcloth with lukewarm water and apply to the eyelid of the affected eye. Then clean the secretions with another corner of the washcloth.

Learn more: Conjunctivitis

Prevention through hand-washing and vaccination
Get into the habit of washing your hands and your child’s hands at key moments: after being in a public place; before and after eating; after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose; after using the bathroom; or after touching something dirty. “Teach your child how to wash their hands and encourage them to do it often,” says nurse clinician Valérie Gagnon.

You should also wash your hands before breastfeeding or feeding your child; after changing their diaper; and before, during, and after meal preparation.

Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up to date for protection against many contagious diseases (e.g., whooping cough, pneumococcus, rotavirus gastro).

Learn how to wash a baby’s hands: Hand washing (available in French only)

8. What can your pharmacist do?

There are several things your pharmacist can do to help you care of your little one when they’re sick. Here are a few examples:

• Assess their overall condition. Based on the description of your child’s symptoms, your pharmacist can help you decide whether or not it’s time to consult your doctor. “We also advise parents on over-the-counter medications and other ways to relieve their child’s symptoms,” says Alexandre Chadi, pharmacist and clinical assistant professor at Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Pharmacy.
• Calculate the correct dose of medication. To optimize the effect of an over-the-counter medication, the pharmacist can calculate exactly what dose to give your child, based on their weight.
• Modify a medication. Is your child unable to swallow pills? Do they hate the taste of an antibiotic? Your pharmacist can change the formulation of certain medications to make them into a liquid, for example, or to add an appealing flavour. “We have plenty of tips to share with parents, such as mixing medicine with apple sauce,” says Alexandre Chadi. Always check with your pharmacist before adding medication to anything.
• Give vaccinations. Pharmacies offer vaccination against influenza (the flu) and COVID-19 for babies 6 months and older.

Learn more: Do you know what your pharmacist can do for you? (available in French only)

9. When should I call Info-Santé 811?

“When your child is sick and you’re wondering how to help, or whether it’s best to consult a health care professional, Info-Santé 811 is your best resource,” says Valérie Gagnon, nurse clinician and infectious disease advisor at Santé publique du Bas-Saint-Laurent.

This free help line, open 24/7, 365 days a year, can connect you with a nurse to talk about your child’s condition. Dial 811 and select option 1 to access a priority line for parents.

10. Should I go to the emergency room or see a doctor the same day?

Take your child to a hospital emergency room if:

They are under 3 months old, have not received a vaccination in the last 48 hours, and have the following symptom:

• A fever of 38°C or higher (rectal temperature). “With children this young, it’s often necessary to carry out tests to figure out what’s wrong. That’s why it’s better to go to the emergency room than to a clinic,” explains Dr. Hugo Paquin, emergency pediatrician at CHU Sainte-Justine. At the emergency department, you’ll also get test results faster.

They have one or more of these symptoms, regardless of age:

• Fever of 40°C or higher
• Deteriorating overall condition: difficult to wake up, drowsy, weak, showing signs of dehydration (very infrequent peeing, no tears when they cry)
• Seizures
• Difficulty breathing
• Diarrhea with blood in the stool
• Vomit that is greenish in colour or contains blood, or vomiting that lasts more than 4 hours

Consult a doctor the same day if:

• Your child is over 3 months old and has had a fever for more than 72 hours
• Your child is 2 or older, has not been vaccinated, and has had a fever for 3 to 5 days (depending on their overall condition)
• Your child’s overall condition deteriorates and their fever rises to between 39°C and 40°C

For more advice, check out our Health section.

Source: Naître et grandir magazine, November–December 2025 Research and copywriting: Nathalie Vallerand Scientific review: Dr. Anne-Claude Bernard-Bonnin, pediatrician, CHU Sainte-Justine

Photos (in order): GettyImages/Antonio_Diaz, GettyImages/FatCamera, GettyImages/ozgurcankaya, GettyImages/RealPeopleGroup, GettyImages/Milan_Jovic, GettyImages/FatCamera, GettyImages/FatCamera