The medical information and advice in this article was provided and reviewed by a licensed TELUS Health nurse practitioner.
With the annual transition towards the cold winter days comes the inevitable cold and flu season. The number of cold and flu cases decreased in 2020 as people stayed home from work, school, and social events to help curb the spread of COVID-19, but cases have since gone back up. This year, we are seeing a positivity rate of over 5% in flu cases1, and doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics, and emergency rooms are struggling to keep up with the demand from patients.
Did you know? 80% of cold and flu cases are caused by viruses, not bacteria, which means they will not respond to antibiotics.
Virtual care is a convenient, accessible way to get care without needing to travel to a clinic, without needing an appointment and without needing a family doctor. However, virtual care is not exempt from the pressures of increasing cold, flu, and COVID-related cases: we, too, are seeing a sharp increase in demand2 for care.
As you consider where to seek care for your cold and flu and other respiratory symptoms, it can be helpful to know what can be addressed virtually and what requires an in-person assessment so that you can choose the avenue that best supports your needs.
Below are some examples of symptoms that can be addressed virtually and others that can’t, as well as ways to stay healthy and worsening symptoms that may require immediate attention, as per our TELUS Health Virtual Care clinical team.
Coughs are common with upper respiratory infections. Virtual care can help establish the expected duration of your symptoms, offer guidance in self-care treatments, and prescribe you medications (such as inhalers, nasal sprays or antibiotics, when clinically appropriate). Clinicians can also indicate whether there are any over-the-counter medications that could help soothe your cough.
Ways to help.
Adequate hydration can thin out oral secretions, helping reduce the cough for you and/or your child. Additionally, having a humidifier in your bedroom can help with overnight coughs.
When to seek urgent care.
A physical exam may be required when a cough is paired with abnormal breathing, when it causes chest pain or when it lasts beyond the expected period. During that exam, the healthcare professional will listen to the lungs and determine if imaging is necessary.
Signs that a cough needs to be assessed urgently:
Nasal congestion and sinus pressure are common symptoms of colds and the flu, due to the membranes lining your nasal passages becoming inflamed and irritated. In an effort to flush out what is causing the irritation, our body begins to make more mucus, which can in turn lead to congestion.
Sinus pressure and congestion can present as a few different things, such as:
A virtual care consultation can help provide you with self-care advice for sinus symptoms, prescriptions for nasal sprays or antibiotics (when clinically appropriate), as well as suggest which over-the-counter medications may help control symptoms.
Ways to help.
You can help ease sinus pressure and congestion by keeping your nasal passages moist. Some ways to do this include:
When to seek urgent care.
Signs that a sinus pressure / congestion needs to be assessed urgently include:
A fever, which is a rise in the body’s temperature, is usually caused by an infection. Although fevers can be uncomfortable, they are a sign that the body is fighting off that infection.
A fever is defined as a body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Forehead, oral or ear thermometers can be used in adults, while children under the age of 2 should have their temperatures checked with a rectal thermometer for accuracy.
Note that there are many different types of thermometers you can use to measure temperature, so make sure you read and follow the instructions that come with the one you have.
Fevers can often be assessed virtually, and your clinician can help guide you through self-care instructions, tell you what to watch for, help determine the appropriate dose and frequency of antipyretics to help reduce your fever, and either prescribe you medications to control symptoms or suggest over-the-counter medications that may help. Healthcare professionals can also virtually provide guidance in terms of infection control measures, contagion period, and helping reduce the risk of others contracting the illness.
Ways to help.
If you have a fever, focus on resting and drinking plenty of fluids. You should also avoid caffeine and alcohol.
For adults and healthy children over 6 months of age, a dose of weight-based acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) may help reduce the fever and the discomfort associated with it. Your virtual care provider can help confirm the appropriate dose of each medication, which is also available on the product monograph of the bottle for your reference.
When to seek urgent care.
Signs that a fever needs an urgent physical exam include:
The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. In cases where a sore throat is caused by a virus, the sore throat will resolve on its own over time.
Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat that is caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications.
To assess the situation and whether you need antibiotics, your virtual care clinician will ask you a series of questions and ask you for clear photos of the affected throat. They can also support you with pain medications (both prescription and over-the-counter, as needed), medicated throat gargles, self-care recommendations and guidance for observation and “red flags”.
Ways to help.
There are a few things you can do to help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts, including:
When to seek urgent care.
You should consult urgently if you experience any of the following in addition to your sore throat:
Congestion associated with colds and flus can lead to pain and pressure in the ears. Middle ear infections currently cannot be assessed or treated virtually because clinicians cannot look at the eardrum without an otoscope to confirm the diagnosis. Ear discomfort often goes away on its own and doesn't need medical attention, so in many cases pain control is all that is needed while your body fights off the infection.
To help avoid ear infections, make sure your child washes their hands well and often, especially if they are near other sick children. Also keep your child away from secondhand smoke and make sure they get a flu shot every year.
Ways to help.
Your virtual care clinician can help guide which of the interventions below are most appropriate for you:
When to seek urgent care.
Signs that an earache needs an urgent physical exam include:
There are a number of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause gastrointestinal (GI) infections. Pathogens can be spread through contaminated food or water, or via person-to-person transmission. Children specifically can also get infected when they touch virus-contaminated objects and then put their fingers in their mouths.
In most cases, self-care measures are the recommended treatment and your virtual care professional can help recommend the best course of treatment. They can also determine whether a prescription or over-the-counter medication is appropriate for your symptoms
Ways to help.
When to seek urgent care.
You should seek urgent in-person care if you notice any of the following:
Exanthem is a medical term that describes a widespread rash. A viral exanthem rash accompanies a viral infection, such as a cold and flu, and causes spots, bumps or blotches on the skin. It may be accompanied by additional viral symptoms such as fever, fatigue and body aches.
The viruses that cause viral exanthem rashes are contagious and can spread easily from person to person. It is important to be especially careful around those who are pregnant and people who are immunocompromised (those with compromised immune systems), and your virtual healthcare professional can let you know when you or your child can go back to work, school, daycare or other activities around people.
An exanthem can also accompany a bacterial infection, or it may be a reaction to a medication.
A clinician can virtually help identify the cause of the rash, suggest an oral or topical medication/creams to reduce itchiness (e.g. hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion), indicate the contagious period, and provide you with instructions for self-care and signs of deterioration to watch for. They can also suggest ways to reduce scratching, which can cause scars or skin infections, and may occasionally order a blood test or a swab of your nose or throat to identify the virus.
Ways to help.
When to seek urgent care.
You should seek in-person care when you notice any of the following symptoms:
We are all susceptible to catching a cold or the flu, but there are things that can be done in a preventive manner to stay healthy:
If you experience any of the following, or if someone you are with has these symptoms, you should seek in-person care as quickly as possible. These are considered emergencies, which are not appropriate for virtual care.
The cold and flu season can be challenging, whether you are sick or caring for someone who is unwell. Speaking to a healthcare professional on TELUS Health Virtual Care can help obtain answers about what you or your loved one are experiencing, but remember that many symptoms of colds and the flu can be alleviated with rest and drinking lots of fluids. Also remember to seek urgent in-person care for symptoms listed above, without first seeking care virtually.
Sources
1. Canada is seeing an early rise in flu cases. Is a 'tidal wave' of infection coming? CBC News
2. Canadian health-care system struggling amid 'multi-demic' of flu, COVID-19 and RSV. CTV News