A child who recently returned from international travel presents with cough and malaise, accompanied by his father. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Correct answer: C. Provide masks to both and place them in a separate area away from other patients

• A. Standard precautions alone are insufficient when a respiratory infection is suspected; transmission-based precautions are added.
• B. Masking the child alone ignores the father, who has had the same exposure and may be infectious. Proceeding with elective care during an active respiratory illness is also inappropriate.
• C. CORRECT. Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette require SOURCE CONTROL (a mask) plus SPATIAL SEPARATION for anyone with signs of a transmissible respiratory infection. The accompanying adult shares the exposure and should also be masked and separated. Elective dental care is then deferred, and the patient is referred for medical evaluation — with notification of public health authorities if a reportable travel-associated illness is suspected.
• D. Simply dismissing them without evaluation, documentation or referral abandons both the patient and the public health duty.

Note: Source highlighted both 'isolate both' and 'offer both a mask' — in practice these are the same answer: mask AND separate both individuals, then defer elective care.