Sore throat – the inside story

You notice that your child is not as talkative as she usually is, and when mealtime comes, she would rather have the food anywhere else but near her mouth. Chances are she may be having a sore throat. A sore throat is painful and causes discomfort, sometimes coupled with itchiness in the throat. It is very common among children, who mostly get it twice a year.

The incubation period (the time your child contacts illness to the time he feels sick) is about three to ten days depending on the cause of the sore throat.

Causes
Most sore throats are caused by viral infections. These viruses cause a high fever and a painful throat and they do not respond to treatment with antibiotics.

Common colds and coughs can also cause a sore throat-when throat organs are irritated by the viruses, causing either a cold or a cough. Congestion, caused by flu may make your child to breathe through the mouth and as a result, bring dryness and soreness to the throat.

The strep bacterium also causes a sore throat, though it is uncommon in children below three years. This is treated by antibiotics.

Allergies to certain environmental changes such as the cold season can cause a sore throat too. In this case, the soreness is mild but can become chronic if not addressed early.

Objects stuck at the throat such as bones may also cause a sore throat.The bacteria or virus infections are transmitted through saliva when the one infected coughs, or through close interaction with the infected person, such as sharing their personal items.

Symptoms

• High fever with a temperature of  more than 37C
• Pain when swallowing or coughing
• White patches of pus at the back of the throat
• Excessive drooling in an infant or young child
• Scratchy, hoarse voice
• Swollen neck glands
• Inability to eat or drink
• Headache
• Irritation and redness of eyes
• A rash around the neck and the chest
• In severe cases, the child has a stiff neck or difficulty opening the mouth and diarrhoea.

Note: The difference between a strep throat and other causes of sore throat is that a strep throat presents no other symptoms besides sore throat and fever. If there are multiple symptoms such as those mentioned above, then there is a high likelihood that it is not strep.

Treatment
At the first sign of a sore throat, you may not need to see your child’s doctor unless your child is below two years. So initially, you may give warm salty water for your child to gurgle, a painkiller, throat lozenges or herbal teas with honey and lemon. If symptoms persist after a day of treatment, consult your paediatrician.

Disinfect his personal items and replace his toothbrush once he has started his antibiotics and after he is through with the treatment.

Encourage your child to drink warm water or any beverage that is unsweetened, as lack of intake of fluids to avoid pain may cause dehydration.

A sore throat lasting for more than two weeks without heeding treatment may be a sign of a serious condition, which calls for immediate attention.

Safeguards
There are several ways to keep the infection from spreading to other children:

• Report any infection that seems not to clear after 48 days of treatment to the doctor.
• Maintain hygiene and good sanitation. Teach your children how to wash their hands and use a handkerchief when coughing or blowing the nose to avoid spread of germs.

END: BL 30/6