Sore throat in children

Sore throat is a fairly common problem in children. It usually appears as a result of a bacterial or viral infection. Although sore throat in children most often goes away without complications, sometimes babies need antibiotic treatment. Some causes of sore throat can be life-threatening for a child. How to determine the causes of sore throat in children, how to diagnose them and how to treat them?

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Sore throat - causes

The causes of a child's sore throat depend on his age, season and climate. Viruses are the most common causes of sore throat in children, but bacteria are even more dangerous. Bacteria and viruses are transmitted from one child to another very easily - through dirty hands, with which first a sick and then a healthy child touches a door handle, a phone, toys and even his own nose. Coughing and sneezing can also cause infection.

Other common causes of sore throat that are not related to infection include breathing dry, cold air through the mouth instead of the nose (especially in winter) and allergies (allergic rhinitis). A small percentage of children with sore throat may swallow foreign objects (e.g. toys, coins, food). These become lodged in the throat, esophagus, or airway and cause a sore throat.

It is difficult to determine the cause of a child's sore throat based on visual symptoms alone, which parents may simply not understand. In most cases, medical examinations and laboratory tests are needed, which we wrote about above. Let's look at the causes of a child's sore throat in more detail.

Viruses

There are many viruses that can cause a sore and swollen throat. The most common are those that transmit infection to the upper respiratory tract, causing cold symptoms. Other viruses that cause sore throat include influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus (the cause of mononucleosis).

Viral sore throat

A sore throat caused by a viral infection usually lasts four to five days.

Symptoms

Symptoms that may be caused by a viral infection may include a runny or stuffy nose, irritated or red eyes, cough, hoarseness, pain in the upper jaw, skin rash or diarrhea, and a sore throat. Children with viral infections may also feel chills.

Treatment

During this time, active treatment with antiviral drugs is carried out to reduce the sore throat. The treatment may not eliminate the virus if antibiotics are prescribed. They do not eliminate the sore throat caused by the virus, but only fight bacteria.

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Group A Streptococcus bacteria

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the name of the bacteria that causes strep throat. Although other bacteria can cause sore throats, strep is the most common bacterial infection. Up to 30 percent of children with strep throat get this infection. Strep throat usually occurs in the winter and early spring. It is most common in school-aged children and their younger siblings (ages 5 to 15).

Symptoms

Symptoms of "strep throat" in children over three years of age often appear suddenly and include chills (with a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C)), headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms may be accompanied by swollen glands in the neck, white patches of pus on the tongue, back of the throat and sides, small red spots on the roof of the mouth and swelling of the uvula.

Coughs and colds caused by streptococcus are rare in children over five years of age.

Treatment

Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial infections. They are effective against streptococcal infections. These antibiotics include penicillin and ampicillin, as well as other cephalosporin drugs.

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Acute pharyngitis

Acute pharyngitis, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, affects about 50 percent of all children with sore throats. Acute pharyngitis can occur several times a year.

Symptoms

The first symptoms are a sore throat, which gets worse when chewing or swallowing, and is accompanied by chills and a high temperature. The child may also complain of headache and abdominal pain, sometimes with vomiting.

Acute streptococcal pharyngitis is rare in children under two or three years of age. However, the infection can occur in younger children and causes a runny and congested nose and a prolonged fever (above 100.4 ºF). Children under one year of age may be fussy, whiny, and have a decreased appetite. The infected throat appears fiery red and is often, but not always, coated with a whitish, cottage cheese-like coating on the tonsils and back of the throat. The lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged and very tender.

Treatment

Acute pharyngitis is usually treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin or penicillin-type antibiotics (such as amoxicillin). Children who are allergic to penicillin are given an alternative antibiotic. In young children, antibiotics are usually given as tablets or liquid two or three times a day. Injections are used if the child does not want to take oral medications.

Acute pharyngitis symptoms usually improve within one to two days with proper treatment. However, it is important for the child to complete the entire course of treatment (usually 10 days). If the child does not improve or worsens within three days, a thorough diagnosis is needed.

Scarlet fever

Some streptococcal bacteria produce toxins that cause other diseases. In addition to pharyngitis. For example, scarlet fever may develop after one or two days of chills and a sore throat.

Symptoms

The tongue is initially white, then intensely red. Tiny red dots appear on the lining of the throat and on the soft part above the uvula (the soft tissue that hangs at the top of the throat).

Small pimples that are as rough as sandpaper appear on the neck and upper face, then spread over the entire body. The rash is most noticeable in the folds of the skin, and can even appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The disease usually affects children between the ages of four and eight, with the peak incidence occurring around age ten.

Treatment

First of all, a child with scarlet fever should be isolated for 7 to 10 days. He should not go to school or kindergarten so as not to infect other children.

A sore throat from scarlet fever can be treated with painkillers. Fever can be reduced with a mild painkiller such as paracetamol, its less common name is acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol).

Inflammation is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. These drugs should be dosed according to weight, not age. Headaches can be treated with paracetamol. Penicillin antibiotics are also used to treat scarlet fever.

In addition, parents should make sure that the child does not become dehydrated. Dehydration can occur if the child does not want to drink or eat due to a sore throat. Signs of mild dehydration include dry mouth, increased thirst, more severe dehydration causes decreased urine output, no tears when crying, dry mouth, and sunken eyes.

Symptoms that accompany sore throat in children

If your child has chronic sore throat, it is important to see a pediatrician in a timely manner to prevent further spread of the infection, as well as serious complications – group A streptococcal diseases (for example, rheumatism).

It is difficult for parents to find out exactly what is causing their child's sore throat - a bacterial or viral attack. Then it is better to go to the clinic to establish the correct diagnosis, especially if the child's sore throat is accompanied by one or more symptoms

• The child's body temperature rises to more than 38.3 º C
• The child does not eat and coughs frequently.
• The child had contact with a person who had a sore throat.
• The child has difficulty breathing or swallowing
• The child's voice sounds muffled
• The child exhibits rigidity (stiffness) of the occipital muscles or has difficulty opening the mouth
• Parents have questions or concerns about the symptoms of the disease

Diagnosis of a child's sore throat

If your doctor suspects your child has strep throat, he or she may recommend laboratory testing of your child's blood and urine to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. If your child has no symptoms of a sore throat, laboratory testing of your child's blood and urine is usually not necessary.

There are two types of tests that are useful for diagnosing acute pharyngitis: a rapid test (called a strip test abroad) and a culture test (which checks for bacteria). Both tests require a swab from the child's throat.

Rapid test results are available quickly, within minutes. Bacterial culture results are available within 24-48 hours. Further treatment depends on the child's illness and does not require antibiotics.

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When should you see a doctor if your child has a sore throat?

Do not send your child to the doctor at the first mild signs of a sore throat. Wait a day or two, if your child does not feel bad yet, use throat sprays, for example, Ingalipt, Kameton. Observe in what direction the disease develops. If your child has acute symptoms: severe sore throat, high temperature, chills, call a doctor immediately.

A child who has symptoms of dehydration should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible to determine whether active treatment is needed.

Methods of treating sore throat

Oral rinses

Gargling with salt water is a great way to relieve a child's sore throat. A very useful recipe is to dilute 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle with the water, but do not swallow it. Children under six years of age do not know how to gargle properly, so other means can be used for them, such as sprays.

For gargling, you can use soda diluted in warm water or brewed sage. This is very effective in reducing inflammation of the child's throat.

Sprays

Aerosols containing anesthetics are good remedies for treating a child's sore throat. However, the component of such anesthesia, benzocaine, can cause allergic reactions in some children. Therefore, if signs of an allergy occur - skin rash, sore throat after using the spray, itching, holding your breath - you should consult a doctor to change the treatment.

Throat Lozenges

Pleasant-tasting lozenges are sometimes recommended to relieve a dry, sore throat. But doctors do not recommend lozenges for children under three or four years old, who may choke on them. If the child is older than three or four, lozenges may be used in combination with other medications, such as antibiotics.

Warm teas

Tea with honey, viburnum or lemon can relieve sore throats in children. Teas have another useful role – they prevent dehydration, because with all types of sore throats you need to drink a lot of liquid. Teas will be just this warm liquid. Honey is not recommended for children under 12 months due to the risk of allergies. Teas can also be herbal. They can be brewed with chamomile, plantain, calendula or sage.

Precautions for sore throat

• Throw away your child's old toothbrush that he or she used before the illness. Buy a new toothbrush as soon as you start treating your child with antibiotics. After the course of treatment, your child will need a new toothbrush again. This will protect the throat from infection from the old toothbrush.
• When visiting a dentist, you need to ensure that the instruments that the doctor uses to examine the child’s oral cavity are disinfected.
• All family members or friends who come into contact with the child should be checked for illnesses, especially sore throats and colds.

To keep your child's throat healthy and to make sure that sore throats occur as rarely as possible, you need to constantly take care of prevention, and then going to the doctor will become a rarity.

Prevention of throat diseases in children

Hand washing is an important and very effective way to prevent the spread of infections that cause sore throats in children. The child's hands should be washed as often as possible with warm water and soap and rubbed for at least 15 to 30 seconds. Particular attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the nails, the skin between the fingers and the wrists.

Alcohol-based wipes are a good alternative for hand sanitizing when you are out and about. The hand sanitizer wipe should glide over the entire surface of your hands, fingers, and wrists until it feels dry. Hand wipes are readily available, inexpensive, and portable, making them easy to carry in your pocket or purse.

It is important to wash your child's hands after coughing, sneezing or running nose. Teach your child to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with their fingers - this can prevent infection.

When coughing and sneezing, use tissues to cover your child's mouth and nose. These used tissues should be thrown away immediately.