For children over age 1, give warm fluids like water, herbal tea with honey, or diluted apple juice. Do not give honey to children under age 1. For some children, cold fluids or popsicles can be soothing. For children over age 4, give throat or cough lozenges or use throat sprays.
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and fluids. Viral sore throats usually go away in 3 to 5 days. If your child has a fever, you can make him more comfortable by reducing his temperature with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You can also give him cool drinks and soft foods that are easy to swallow.
See your doctor as soon as possible if your child's sore throat lasts longer than one week or is accompanied by: Fever. Red, swollen tonsils. White patches or pus on the back of the throat.
Strep throat is most common in school-age children, but anyone can get it. Strep throat can be spread to others. It is contagious. Strep germs hang out in the nose and throat.
Your child should rest at home if persistent sore throat and see a pediatrician to determine if they need treatment with antibiotics for strep throat or recover from the virus with time and rest," warned Dr. Stewart. Keep your child home if: The sore throat is accompanied by fever, headache, chills or a stomachache.
Knowing whether your sore throat is viral or bacterial is usually determined by symptoms. Viral sore throats usually consist of a cough, swelling in the throat, and runny nose whereas bacterial sore throats are typically accompanied with nausea and vomiting, stomach ache, and there is no cough.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses or bacteria, which often come with other signs of infection, such as a fever. Even so, there are other causes of a sore throat that may not present with a fever, including allergies, acid reflux, colds, STIs, environmental pollutants, or even cancer.
A sore throat is often a symptom of: colds or flu – you may also have a blocked or runny nose, a cough, a high temperature (fever), a headache and general aches. laryngitis (inflammation of the voice box) – you may also have a hoarse voice, a dry cough and a constant need to clear your throat.
“Sore throats are very common. While viral infections are the most common cause, severe or persistent pain may be indicative of a more serious problem. If your throat pain lasts longer than 3 weeks or if you are concerned, visit your local doctor.”
Milkshakes, cold drinks, and ice chips numb the throat. Warm broth, tea, or hot apple cider soothe it. If your child is 8 or older, gargling with warm salt water twice a day may help them feel better. Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease pain, too.
How long does a COVID-19 sore throat last? Most symptoms of COVID-19 last anywhere from several days to 2 weeks. But this can vary from person to person. COVID sore throat usually starts feeling better after a week, though it may take a little longer to completely go away.
Ibuprofen is a common painkiller for children. It's often used to treat symptoms of conditions such as colds, flu and coronavirus (COVID-19), teething, toothache, headaches, sore throat and pain from ear infections.
Take a Good Look
You might see white dots or patches in the back of your throat. Your tonsils -- the bumps on either side at the back of your throat -- might be red and swollen, too. These could be signs of bacterial infection like strep throat or oral thrush, or a viral infection like oral herpes or mononucleosis.
A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.
Excess mucus in the throat can lead to itching, irritation, and soreness. Postnasal drip typically increases when a person is lying down. As a result, a sore throat may worsen at night or first thing in the morning. Exposure to certain allergens at night may also worsen postnasal drip and sore throat.
Alcohol and caffeinated drinks like coffee are diuretics, which means that alcohol makes you pee more and can make your body more dehydrated. This is something you want to avoid when sick, so skip these drinks when you have a sore throat.
A sore throat that comes on gradually with a cold or a flu is normal, but a sore throat that develops suddenly and features red spots or white bumps at the back of your child's mouth is likely strep throat, which is an infection caused by streptococcus bacteria.
Not to be given to children under 6 years. If symptoms persist, have not improved, or have worsened after 3 days, or if symptoms are accompanied by a high fever or headache consult a doctor or health care professional.
Sore throats are common at any age and can be one of the first signs of another illness, like a cold, the flu, or mononucleosis (mono). They also can be caused by a strep throat infection, although this is rare in children younger than 2 years old.
Two different germs cause sore throats – viruses and bacteria. They are both contagious and easily spread to others. The germs hang out in the nose and throat. When the infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, the germs go into the air.
Sore throat can be a symptom of strep throat, the common cold, allergies, or other upper respiratory tract illness. Sore throat caused by a virus or the bacteria called group A Streptococcus can have similar symptoms.