Sore throat in children
What Causes a Sore Throat?
A sore throat is mainly caused by an infection, which can be viral and bacterial. The infection spreads easily among children because they often play together, exchange toys and touch each other's hands. Children with a sore throat caused by a virus often do not need medical aid and/or any specific treatment, but if patients have a sore throat caused by bacteria, they need to see their pediatrician and get a prescription. They may have a strep infection, which requires special examination and treatment.
How Can You Distinguish Whether a Child's Sore Throat is Caused by a Strep Infection or a Virus?
In general, distinguishing between the two infections is not easy, but there are some clues:
Children with a sore throat caused by a virus have additional symptoms:
- Runny nose
- Watery and/or itchy eyes
- Coughing
- A change in the timbre of the voice
- Sore throat
Children with a sore throat caused by bacteria do not have a runny nose, cough or watery eyes. They often have enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and are mostly 3-4 years old or older.
Does My Child Need Antibiotics?
If the patient has a viral infection, it is not necessary to take antibiotics (even if there are whitish spots on the tonsils), as antibiotics do not work on the virus. At this time, only symptomatic treatment is necessary - plenty of fluids, pain relief, and temperature normalization. The need for antibiotics arises only in case of a streptococcal infection. During a visit to the pediatrician, a throat swab will be taken to confirm the streptococcal infection - a bacteriological or rapid test, after which your pediatrician will decide whether antibiotic therapy is necessary. The course of treatment is ten days.
What Can We Do to Help My Child?
There are different methods available:
- Medication - acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen will help relieve pain. The dose is determined by weight and agreed with your pediatrician.
- Children, aged 4-5 years may be given tablets, preferably mint flavored. Children 6-7 years of age and older can be given throat gargles.
What Is the Prognosis?
Children recover from viral infections within a few days, even without further intervention. But in the case of streptococcal infection, antibiotic therapy is necessary, as untreated streptococcal infection can cause rheumatism (a rare condition that affects the joints and heart), as well as glomerulonephritis - kidney damage.
When Can a Child Return to School Or Nursery School?
If your child only has a sore throat, they can return to school as soon as they have no complaints and is active. If your child also has a fever, it is advisable to return to school after a period with a normal temperature of at least 24 hours.
How Can I Protect My Child from Reinfection?
Streptococcal as well as viral infections are very contagious and are mainly transmitted by coughing, sneezing and hand-to-hand contact with an infected person. You should wash hands with running water and soap and then treat them with an antiseptic solution, avoid visiting children and avoid contact with sick people. Teach and explain to children that they should avoid unhealthy people and not touch them too often.
When Should a Pediatrician Be Called If My Child Has a Sore Throat?
A sore throat is a common complaint in children and may go away on its own, but sometimes it is a sign of serious illness.
Call the pediatrician if your child has a sore throat and:
- Fever >38.4
- Not eating or drinking properly.
When Should I Call an Ambulance or Take My Child to the Emergency Room?
- The child has trouble breathing and swallowing
- Increased salivation
- His neck is stiffened or swollen
