Saskatchewan is witnessing a sharp increase in emergency room visits among children aged one to four years suffering from respiratory-like illnesses.

Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said it is likely that COVID-19 is the cause, as there is a mild influenza infection in the province, and vaccines against the coronavirus have not yet been approved for children under the age of five.

Shahab said, "Any symptom of a COVID-like illness in emergency rooms - where you may not have been tested in every case - is likely to be COVID-19."

The latest data issued by the Ministry of Health, dated February 19, showed that preschool children visit emergency rooms at a weekly rate of 110 patients per 1000. This was higher than the average rate - 87.5 patients per 1000 visits - in the six previous weeks for the same age group.

Children aged one to four years were almost three times more likely to visit the emergency room compared to all age groups combined.

Saskatchewan no longer publishes daily COVID-19 data, but issues a weekly epidemiological report that includes COVID-like illnesses in emergency rooms.

Shahab said this is a way to track how much infection is transmitting in the community, as Saskatchewan no longer performs extensive PCR testing on people with severe symptoms.

He added that any child under the age of five with fever, rapid breathing, or not eating properly should be taken to emergency care.

Meanwhile, Dr. Aisha Kurji, a pediatrician in Saskatoon, said the Omicron variant affects children's airways, and in some cases, can cause diabetes or pancreatitis.

Kurji added: "Most children who get COVID are not significantly affected by the illness, that is correct. But not all children." "Sometimes, healthy children end up in the emergency room or come to the hospital."

She said hospitalized children suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, and croup – an infection in the upper airway that obstructs breathing and causes severe coughing.

The length of their stay varies. Some children come for oxygen to help breathe, while some end up in intensive care.

Kurji advised parents to take their children to the hospital if they experience dehydration or do not urinate regularly, breathe rapidly, or have difficulty breathing, especially if they are drowsy or lethargic.

Responsible health authorities in the province will continue to monitor COVID-like illnesses throughout the spring and fall seasons.

Kurji said: "We know that children under five have not yet been vaccinated, so we cannot give them the same protection that we can provide for ourselves and can provide for older children."

"It is important to know what is happening with them, and this is something we probably need to take some different decisions to keep them protected."

Saskatchewan lifted all public health orders on Monday, including the self-isolation requirement if the virus test result is positive.

Kurji said people can keep themselves and others at risk healthy by continuing to wear masks and being fully vaccinated, including taking the booster dose.

Edited by: Dima Abu Khair