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SARS Wars
Protecting Your Family
By Teri Brown
Most parents are concerned about their children contracting SARS, though currently in North America the most common place for contracting the disease is at hospitals rather than schools. Dr. Lewis says that very few international or North American cases have been children. "Most cases appear to be in people ages 40 to 60," he says. "The reasons for this are not entirely clear. 
Many cases are in health care workers, and the age distribution may reflect those who work in hospitals, i.e. those most likely to be exposed to contagious patients."
outbreak, they have implemented strict rules about visitors and patients, including allowing only one parent at a time to visit a child, closing all public areas, such as cafeterias, and requiring masks to be worn at all times. They are also reminding the public that this is the time of year that children normally come down with colds and other respiratory illnesses.
"Respiratory infections among children are very common, so parents should not jump to the conclusion that it must be SARS," says Dr. Stanley Read, chief of infectious diseases at the Hospital for Sick Children. "If you are concerned about your child's illness, consult your family physician or health care provider."
Because SARS is so prevalent in the media, the Children's Hospital of Toronto has put together a list of how you can help your child combat any fears they may have concerning SARS: