Sore Throats

Tonsillitis is when the tonsils are swollen mostly due to infection. This can be viral or bacterial. Take your child to the doctor if he or she has a bad sore throat. Some sore throats that aren’t treated can lead to other problems like abscesses, kidney problems, or rheumatic heart disease. The doctor may take a throat culture to find out what is wrong. The doctor may give your child antibiotics if the sore throat is from strep or some other bacteria.

Swollen Glands

Asthma

Signs, Symptoms & Causes

There are 2 kinds of sore throats:

• Bacterial sore throats usually cause a high fever, headaches, or swollen neck glands. But sometimes children with bacterial sore throats have no other problems. Strep throat is one kind of bacterial sore throat. Antibiotics can help cure a bacterial sore throat.

• Viral sore throats are more common. They may or may not cause the same problems as a bacterial sore throat. You can’t cure a viral sore throat with antibiotics.

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Questions to Ask

SEE ALL CHILDREN'S HEALTH ARTICLES

Question 1

Is the sore throat very bad, and is it very hard for your child to swallow or breathe?

Get medical care without delay. If symptoms are life threatening go to the ER or call 9-1-1. Don’t call 9-1-1 or use the ER if symptoms do not threaten life. Ask your doctor ahead of time where you should go for a problem that needs prompt care, but not emergency care.

Question 2

Does your child have any of these problems with the sore throat?

• Fever.

• Swollen or sore neck glands.

• Headache. Ear pain or tugging at the ears.

• Bad breath. Doesn’t want to eat. Throwing up. Stomach pain.

• Your child can’t open his or her mouth all the way.

You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.

Question 3

Are there bright red or white spots at the back of your child’s throat? Or is there a white or yellow film over the tonsils?

You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.

Question 4

Does someone else in the family have strep throat? Or does your child get strep throat often?

Call your doctor or health care provider and state the problem. He or she can decide what you should do.

Question 5

Has your child had the sore throat more than 3 weeks?

Call your doctor or health care provider and state the problem. He or she can decide what you should do.

Use Self-Care:

You can probably take care of the problem yourself if you answered NO to all the questions. Use the “Self-Care” measures that are listed. Call your doctor if you don’t feel better soon, though. You may have some other problem.

Self-Care

Try these tips for your child’s sore throat pain:

• Have your child gargle with 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1/2 cup of warm water. Do this every few hours. Only do this with children over 6 years old.

• Give your child warm drinks like tea and soup. The tea can be plain or with honey. (Don’t give honey to a baby under 1 year old.)

• For strep throat, give cold foods and liquids, like popsicles and frozen yogurt.

• Keep your child away from secondhand smoke.

• Use a cool-mist vaporizer in the room where your child spends most of the time. Clean it every day. Use distilled (not tap) water.

• Feed your child foods that are soft and/or cold. The food should be easy to swallow. Don’t give your child spicy foods.

• Have your child suck on a piece of hard candy or a cough drop if he or she is 5 or more years old. You can give corn syrup to a younger child.

• For pain and fever give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure to give the right kind and dose for his or her weight. (Note: Do not give aspirin. Aspirin and other medicines that have salicylates have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome.)

• Don’t use throat sprays. Some throat sprays have benzocaine. Benzocaine bothers some children.

This website is not meant to substitute for expert medical advice or treatment. Follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s advice if it differs from what is given in this guide.

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