Flu Tips

Many children and adults who go to Montreal emergency rooms during the peak of winter complain of mild flu symptoms, gastroenteritis and fever. The increased number of people seeking help not only furthers the spread of these highly contagious viruses but also puts extreme pressure on emergency departments, which in turn increases wait times for these non-urgent cases. As a result, patients who are triaged as non-urgent will have to wait much longer than usual before seeing a doctor.

The best treatment for these symptoms is to stay at home and get plenty of rest and fluids. Antibiotics have no effect against a viral illness like the flu or gastroenteritis. Antibiotics are medications that fight infections caused by bacteria, while the seasonal and stomach flu are caused by viruses.