For the past few weeks, the shelves where parents could easily find children's cough medicine, have sat empty. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Medicine shortages

Prince Albert doctor responds to child medicine shortages

Nov 14, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A Prince Albert family physician is encouraging parents to keep their children home from school if showing any flu-like symptoms.

Michelle James is one of a number of doctors across the city who has seen an influx of young patients as a result of national medicine shortages.

“I think it’s appropriate for parents to actually know if their kid actually has a fever, like feeling a little warm and having a fever are two different things,” she explained.

High demand and supply-chain issues are causing medicine shortages. In Prince Albert, James advised they’re doing okay as a number of pharmacies have been able to compound medications.

She added that it’s important parents are using a thermometer and documenting, as opposed to just medicating because the child has the sniffles. She also encouraged parents to get their kids immunized.

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“And making sure if your kids have any of the symptoms that you don’t send them to school because this is how it’s spreading,” James said.

According to the most recent numbers from the Ministry of Health’s Community Respiratory Surveillance Program, of all the 260 cases of flu in Saskatchewan, 60 per cent are in children ranging from newborn to 19 years. The northeast region had the highest test positivity with 60 per cent of all people tested, testing positive for the flu virus.

Over the past week, a number of parents have used social media to advise on home remedies such as oils. James said those are all fine but won’t bring a fever down

“We don’t want parents to go and do any of their home remedies like if their child has a fever, but simple things like tepid sponging might be an option,” she said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell