Self-care guide for infectious respiratory disease (influenza, COVID-19 or RSV infection)

Most people infected with an infectious respiratory disease recover in about 2 weeks without special medical attention. So, in most cases, you can practise self-care at home.

Rest: You probably feel weak and tired. While rest will help you fight the disease, it’s not good to stay in bed all the time. Resume your normal activities as soon as you’re up to it.

Hydrate: This is especially important if you have a fever, which can cause you to sweat and lose fluids. The recommended daily intake is 1.5 litres a day of cold or lukewarm fluids, as you prefer. Avoid alcoholic beverages or those containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or soft drinks, as they can increase urine output and fluid loss.

Take medication to relieve discomfort: You can take over-the-counter medications (if you have no contraindications) to relieve fever, muscle aches, headaches, and other symptoms. Acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) is preferable, but non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (Advil^® and Motrin^®) can be considered. Avoid taking products with the same ingredients, such as Tylenol^® and TylenolSinus^®, at the same time. Be sure to continue taking your usual medications as well. Contact your pharmacist if you have questions about how over-the-counter medications might interact with your prescriptions.

Use home remedies to ease symptoms:

• For a sore throat: Suck on ice cubes or non-medicated lozenges, gargle with salt water (½ tsp salt in 250 ml of warm water), eat soft, cold foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, and ice cream.
• For a stuffy or runny nose: Use saline solution to thin out the mucus discharge. Note that decongestants and saline solution are ineffective against loss of smell.
• Prop yourself up to quiet a persistent cough so you can sleep better.

Encourage your child to rest: They most likely feel weak and tired. Rest will help them fight the disease. They can resume their normal activities as soon as they’re up to it.

Encourage them to hydrate: This is especially important if they have a fever, which can cause them to sweat and lose fluids. They can drink cold or lukewarm fluids, as they prefer. If your child shows signs of dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea, for example, you can give them a rehydration solution sold in pharmacies, like Pedialyte^®.

If they are older than 3 months, give them medication to relieve discomfort: Over-the-counter medication can be used to relieve fever or pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) is preferable, but non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (Advil^® and Motrin^®) may also be an option in certain situations. It’s best to contact a healthcare professional before giving your child an anti-inflammatory. Continue giving them their usual medications as well. Contact your pharmacist if you have questions about how over-the-counter medications might interact with their prescriptions.

Use home remedies to ease symptoms:

• For a sore throat: If your child is over 4 years old, they can suck on ice cubes or non-medicated lozenges. They can also gargle with salt water (½ tsp salt in 250 ml of lukewarm water). Give them cold, soft foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, and ice cream.
• For a stuffy or runny nose: Use saline solution to thin out the mucus discharge. Note that decongestants and saline solution are ineffective against loss of smell.
• Prop them up to quiet a persistent cough so they can sleep better.

You must:

• Frequent hand hygiene.
• Avoid sharing personal items (drinking glasses, dishes, etc.).
• Clean and disinfect your living environment regularly.
• Monitor symptoms and watch for changes in condition.
• Regularly air out your home and room by opening a window (weather permitting).

Not sure if you should see a healthcare provider? See the document If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection or gastroenteritis.

If you have other health questions or experience unusual symptoms, call the Info-Santé 811. A nurse will assess you and tell you what to do.

Also call the hotline if you are pregnant, immunocompromised, or have a specific health problem, as you may need a consultation faster.

Call Info-Santé 811 for your child

Call Info-Santé 811, option 1 if your child has the following symptoms:

• a child aged between 3 and 6 months who was vaccinated more than 48 hours ago:
  • a fever of 38 °C or 100.4 °F,
  • a rectal temperature of 36 °C or 96.8 °F or less
• a child under 2 years of age: 
  • a fever (38.5 °C or 101.3 °F) that has persisted more than 48 hours
• any child, regardless of age:
  • who drinks and urinates less than usual
  • who presents mild to moderate signs of dehydration
  • whose fever is increasing rapidly
  • whose fever returns after subsiding for more than 24 hours
  • who is having a harder time breathing than usual
  • who presents symptoms that worsen or do not improve after 7 days.

Go to the emergency department immediately

You must go to the emergency department with your child immediately in one of the following situations:

• if your baby is under 3 months of age has
  • a fever (38 °C or 100.4 °F) AND has not been vaccinated in the past 48 hours,
  • a fever (between 38.0°C and 39.9°C rectal temperature or between 100.4°F and 103.8°F) that has lasted for more than 4 hours AND is not controlled with anti-fever medication,
  • a fever with a rectal temperature of 40.0°C (104°F) or higher;
• if your child, regardless of age, has one of the following symptoms:
  • a rectal temperature of 36 °C or 96.8 °F or less,
  • a fever that has persisted more than 48 hours AND is not alleviated by fever medication,
  • pale complexion or abnormal skin colouring,
  • more rapid or difficult breathing despite frequent nasal irrigation with saline water,
  • retracting: when the skin pulls below and between the ribs with each of the child’s breaths. Another sign of difficulty breathing is flaring nostrils.
  • difficulty feeding,
  • moderate to severe signs of dehydration
  • no reaction to stimulation, amorphous state and less alert;
• if your child has a chronic illness or a weakened or deficient immune system AND has a temperature over 38.5 °C or 101.3 °F;

If you require immediate help with getting to an emergency department, call 9-1-1.

Additional information

Fever can last from 48 to 72 hours. Keep your child at home until the fever subsides.

Your child might be more irritable than usual. Young children might cry more frequently.

Calling Info-Santé 811 

Call Info-Santé 811 if you are in one of the following situations:

• you are out of breath;
• you don’t know if you should see a doctor.

Same day consultation

You must see a doctor on the same day if you have flu symptoms, COVID-19 symptoms or RSV infection symptoms and also one of the following symptoms:

• persistent or increasing pain when breathing;
• a fever that is getting worse or has lasted for over 5 days.

If your symptoms get worse or do not improve after 7 days, you must see a doctor.

You can get a consultation at a resource near you, such as at a medical clinic or at a CLSC. For further information or to find one of these resources, see the Getting a medical consultation with a health professional page.

Immediate consultation in an emergency department

You must go to the emergency department immediately if you have flu symptoms, COVID-19 symptoms or RSV infection symptoms AND one of the following symptoms:

• persistent or increasing difficulty breathing;
• blue lips;
• severe chest pain;
• persistent or increasing severe headache;
• drowsiness, difficulty staying awake, weakness;
• confusion, disorientation;
• seizures (the body stiffens and muscles contract in a jerky and involuntary manner);
• no urination for 12 hours, intense thirst.

If you require immediate help with getting to an emergency department, call 9-1-1.