Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get the flu shot now or wait?
It’s usually best to get the flu shot as soon as it becomes available in the fall (often September–October in Ontario). That way, you’re protected before flu season peaks, which often happens between late fall and early winter.
👉 Key points:
The flu shot takes about 2 weeks to provide full protection.
Getting it early ensures you’re covered before flu activity rises.
If you wait too long, you risk getting sick before you’re protected.
The vaccine is updated every year, so even if you had it last year, you still need this season’s shot.
✅ Exceptions: Sometimes doctors may suggest timing it closer to winter if you’re young, healthy, and want your immunity to last later in the season — but for most people, earlier is better.
When should I see a doctor for a lingering cough?
Most coughs from colds or flu clear up in 1–3 weeks. But you should book an appointment with your family doctor if your cough:
✅ Lasts longer than 3 weeks
✅ Gets worse instead of better
✅ Brings up blood or large amounts of mucus
✅ Comes with chest pain, wheezing, or shortness of breath
✅ Is accompanied by a fever that doesn’t go away
✅ Affects your sleep or daily activities
Are over-the-counter cold medicines safe?
For adults, most over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu medicines (like decongestants, cough syrups, or pain relievers) can be safe if:
✔️ You follow the instructions on the label
✔️ You check for interactions with any other medications you’re taking
✔️ You avoid taking multiple products with the same ingredient (like acetaminophen)
For children, it’s different:
⚠️ Cold and cough medicines are not recommended for kids under 6 years old because they don’t work well and can have side effects.
✔️ For younger children, doctors recommend rest, fluids, saline sprays, and using a humidifier instead.
✔️ For kids 6+, only give products specifically made for children — and always check the dosage carefully.
👉 If you’re unsure which product is right for you or your child, it’s always safest to ask your family doctor or pharmacist.
Do I need allergy medication in the fall?
Yes — many people still experience allergies in the fall, especially in Ontario. The most common trigger is ragweed pollen, which peaks from late August to October. Mold from damp leaves can also cause symptoms.
✅ You might benefit from allergy medication if you have:
Sneezing, runny or stuffy nose
Itchy/watery eyes
Coughing or post-nasal drip
💊 Options your doctor or pharmacist may suggest:
Antihistamines (reduce sneezing, runny nose, itchiness)
Nasal sprays (help with congestion and inflammation)
Eye drops (relieve itchy/red eyes)
👉 If your symptoms are mild, you may manage with avoiding triggers (keeping windows closed, showering after being outdoors). If symptoms affect sleep, school, or daily activities, medication can help you feel better through the season.
Why do I feel more tired or down as the days get shorter?
As fall turns to winter in Toronto, shorter days mean less sunlight exposure. This affects your body in a few ways:
☀️ Lower sunlight → less vitamin D → can impact energy and mood
🧠 Reduced daylight disrupts your body’s natural clock (circadian rhythm) → you may feel sleepy earlier or struggle to wake up
💭 Some people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression linked to seasonal changes
✅ What may help:
Spend time outdoors during daylight hours
Stay physically active
Consider vitamin D supplements (ask your doctor)
Light therapy or talking to a professional if symptoms feel heavy
👉 Feeling a little more tired or down is common in fall and winter, but if it starts affecting your daily life, it’s a good idea to check in with your family physician.
What is strep throat?
This is an infection caused by a certain type of bacteria. It leads to a sore throat.
Most sore throats are caused by a virus, and are not strep throat. Only about 1 in 10 adults who seek medical care for sore throat have strep throat. But if you do have strep throat, you need treatment with antibiotics.
How can I tell if I have strep throat?
It is hard to tell the difference between strep throat and a sore throat caused by a virus. But there are some clues you can look for.
People who have strep throat often have:
●Severe throat pain
●Fever (temperature higher than 100.4°F, or 38°C)
●Swollen glands in the neck
You might also be able to see redness on the roof of your mouth, or white patches in the back of your throat (figure 1).
People who have strep throat usually do not have a cough, runny nose, or itchy or red eyes. These symptoms are more common when the sore throat is caused by a virus.
Is there a test for strep throat?
Yes. If you think you might have strep throat, a doctor or nurse can easily check for it. They can run a swab along the back of your throat, and test it for the bacteria that cause strep throat.
Do I need antibiotics?
Yes. If the test shows you have strep throat, you need antibiotics. Antibiotics can help reduce your symptoms and keep the infection from spreading to other people as easily.
Antibiotics can also prevent problems that strep throat can sometimes cause. These can happen if:
●The body reacts to the infection – This can cause symptoms like skin rash, joint pain, and even organ damage. In some cases, this can be serious.
●The bacteria spread to nearby areas – For example, this could cause an ear, sinus, or skin infection. It could also cause swelling or abscesses (pockets of pus) in the throat.
You will probably be prescribed antibiotics to take for 10 days. It’s important to take all the antibiotics, even if you start to feel better.
What can I do to feel better?
Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking your antibiotics.
You can also try these things to help relieve symptoms:
●Take over-the-counter pain medicine – Acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) can help with throat pain.
●Use medicated sore throat lozenges or sprays – These can temporarily reduce throat pain.
●Suck on hard candies, ice chips, or ice pops.
●Gargle with salt water – This can sometimes help with throat pain.
●Use a cool mist humidifier – This adds moisture to the air. Some people find that this helps.
●Avoid smoking or being around people who are smoking – Smoke can make throat pain worse.
When can I go back to work or school?
Doctors usually recommend waiting 1 day after starting antibiotics before returning to work or school. By then, you will be a lot less likely to spread the infection to others.
How can I prevent getting strep throat again?
Wash your hands often with soap and water (figure 2). This is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection.
When should I call the doctor?
Call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) or go to the emergency department if you:
●Have trouble breathing
●Are drooling because you cannot swallow your saliva
●Have swelling of your neck or tongue
●Cannot move your neck, or have trouble opening your mouth
●Have signs of severe fluid loss, such as:
•Not urinating for longer than 8 hours
•Feeling very lightheaded or like you are going to pass out
•Feeling weak like you are going to fall
Call your doctor or nurse for advice if:
●Your throat pain is getting worse, or is so bad you cannot eat or drink.
●You develop signs of early fluid loss, such as:
•Dark urine
•Dry mouth
•Muscle cramps
•Lack of energy
•Feeling lightheaded when you get up
●Your symptoms have not improved after 3 days of antibiotics.
●You still have symptoms after finishing the antibiotics.
●You have new or worsening symptoms.
What is a cough?
A cough is an important reflex that helps clear out the body’s airways. The airways include the windpipe, or “trachea,” and the bronchi, which are the tubes that carry air within the lungs. Coughing also helps keep people from breathing things into the airways and lungs that could cause problems (figure 1).
It is normal for children to cough once in a while. But sometimes, a cough is a symptom of an illness or other condition.
A cough is called “dry” if it doesn’t bring up mucus, and “wet” if it does. The sound of a child’s cough can be different depending on if it is wet or dry. Some coughs are mild, but others are severe. A severe cough can make it hard to breathe.
What causes a cough?
In children, possible causes include:
●Infections of the airways or lungs – Often, a cough is related to the common cold. Other infections, including COVID-19, can also cause a cough.
●Having an object stuck in an airway
●Asthma – This is a lung condition that can make it hard to breathe.
●Breathing in smoke or polluted air – These things can irritate the airways. Other things, like dust, mold, or gases, can also cause a cough.
●Other lung problems, including conditions that some children are born with
●Coughing out of habit – This usually goes away when a child is sleeping.
Will the child need tests?
Maybe. If your child sees a doctor, they will do an exam and ask about the child’s symptoms. They might do tests, depending on the child’s age and other symptoms.
There are different tests that doctors can do to see what’s causing a cough. The most common include:
●Chest X-ray
●Tests to check for an infection – For example, the doctor can use a cotton swab to take a sample from the inside of the child’s nose or throat. Then, they do lab tests on the sample.
●Breathing tests – These involve breathing hard into a tube. They show how the lungs are working. Most children 6 years old and older can do breathing tests.
●Bronchoscopy – This is a procedure in which a doctor uses a thin tube with a camera on the end (called a “bronchoscope”) to look inside the child’s airways. If the doctor finds an object stuck in the airway, they can remove it during this procedure.
How can I care for my child at home?
If the cough is from a cold, croup, or another infection, you can:
●Have the child drink plenty of fluids. Warm liquids like tea or soup can help, if the child is old enough.
●If the child is older than 1 year, a small spoonful of honey might relieve their cough and help soothe their throat. Do not give honey to babies younger than 1 year.
●If the child is older than 4 to 5 years, sucking on lozenges or hard candy might help.
●Use a cool-mist humidifier in the child’s sleeping area.
●Keep your child away from smoke and places where people are smoking.
If the cough is from croup, you can try running hot water in the shower to make steam. Sit in the bathroom with the child while they breathe in the steam. It might also help to have the child breathe outdoor air when it is cold out.
There are certain things that you should not do:
●Do not give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children, especially if they are younger than 6 years old. Cough and cold medicines are not likely to help, and they can cause serious problems in young children.
●Do not give aspirin to children younger than 18 years old. Aspirin can cause a life-threatening condition called Reye syndrome in young people.
How is a cough treated?
Treatment depends on the cause of the child’s cough. For example:
●Some infections are treated with antibiotic medicines. If an infection is caused by bacteria, doctors can treat it with antibiotics. Antibiotics do not work on infections caused by a virus, such as the common cold or COVID-19.
●Asthma is treated with medicines that a child usually breathes into their lungs.
●If a child has an object stuck in their airway, the doctor can do bronchoscopy to look for it and remove it.
Doctors do not usually give children medicines that “suppress” or quiet a cough. They don’t usually work well, and they can have serious side effects in children.
When should I call the doctor?
Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
●You can’t wake your child up.
●Your child has trouble breathing, and has 1 or more of the following:
•Can only say 1 or 2 words at a time or cannot talk in a full sentence, or your baby has trouble crying
•Needs to sit upright at all times to breathe, or cannot lie down because their breathing is worse
•Is very tired from working to catch their breath
•Is making a grunting noise when they breathe
•Their skin pulls in between their ribs, below their ribcage, or above their collarbones (figure 2)
Call the doctor or nurse for advice if the child:
●Has a frequent cough and is younger than 4 months old
●Is having trouble breathing, has noisy breathing, or is breathing very fast (figure 2)
●Gets a cough after they choked on food or another object, even if they choked days or weeks ago
●Is coughing up blood, or yellow or green mucus
●Refuses to drink anything for a long time
●Has a fever, and is not acting like themselves
●Is coughing so hard that they vomit
●Has had the cough for more than 2 weeks, and is not getting any better
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