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The information provided by The Pediatric Group, PLLC website is information of a general nature and is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be relied on for personal medical reasons and should not be relied upon as providing specific medical advice or for diagnosis or treatment. All information contained on this website is presented as is, without any warranties of any kind, express or implied.
Please note that visiting this website alone does not establish a physician-patient relationship with any physician engaged by The Pediatric Group, PLLC. You should consult your own physician for specific advice for your own personal situation.
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Sore Throat Definition: Sore throat
is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. A sore throat often
makes
it painful to swallow. Sore throats are common. Most of the
time the soreness is worse in the morning and improves as the day
progresses. Like colds, the vast majority of sore throats
are caused by viral infections. This means most sore throats will NOT
respond
to antibiotics. Many people have a mild sore throat at the beginning of
every
cold. When the nose or sinuses become infected, drainage can run down
the back
of the throat and irritate it, especially at night.
Children under the age of 2 years may not know how to
complain about a sore throat. If your
child refuses to eat foods that you know she enjoys, or begins to cry during
feeding, she may have a sore throat. Excessive drooling in a child who has not been drooling may be another
indication of a sore throat.
Some viruses can cause
specific types of sore throat. For example, Coxsackie virus sometimes causes
blisters in the throat, especially in the late summer and early fall. Mono and
the flu can also cause specific viral throat infections. Of severe sore throats, only about 20% are
caused by the strep bacteria. A sore
throat is less likely to be strep throat if it is a minor part of a typical
cold (with runny nose, stuffy ears, cough, and similar symptoms). Strep can't
be accurately diagnosed by looking at the throat alone. It requires a
laboratory test.
Sometimes breathing
through the mouth will cause a sore throat in the absence of any infection.
During the months of dry winter air, some people will wake up with a sore
throat most mornings. This usually disappears after having something to drink.
With a sore throat,
sometimes the tonsils or surrounding parts of the throat are inflamed. Either
way, removing the tonsils to try to prevent future sore throats is not
recommended for most children.
Call our office urgently if- Your child has great difficulty
swallowing fluids or saliva (excessive drooling).
- Your child is unable to open her mouth
completely.
- Your child has a stiff neck.
- Your child has a sore throat and a
temperature of more than 104°F.
- Your child has difficulty breathing or
is making a funny noise while breathing (stridor).
Call our office during regular
office hours if:- The sore throat pain is severe and
lasts more than 2 days.
- A widespread rash develops on your
child’s body.
The sore throat lasts more than 72
hours (even if there is no fever).- Your child is under one year of age.
Home Care: Most sore
throats last 3-4 days. In the meantime, the following remedies may help:
- Children over age 12 months can sip
warm liquids such as chicken broth or apple juice.
- Children ages 2 years and older can try
popsicles or milk shakes.
- Children over age 6 years can suck on
hard candy, such as butterscotch.
- Children older than age 6 years can
also gargle several times a day with warm salt water. (1/2 tsp per 8 oz glass).
- A cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier can
help to moisten and soothe a dry and painful throat.
- An appropriate dose of acetaminophen
(Tylenol) may help relieve pain.
For more information about sore throats in children, check out the NIH website.
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