A sore throat is one of the most common diseases a young child can have. It could present either as mild soreness or more severe pain. In cases of mild sore throat, the symptoms are usually due to a common cold and usually leave without any medication. Not all sore throats are mild though, some need quick medical intervention in order to prevent your child from being in too much discomfort for a long period of time. AFC Urgent Care Waltham provides quality pediatric care for non-life-threatening conditions, seven days a week.
Illnesses That Are Indicated by A Sore Throat
We already know that a sore throat could be a symptom of the common cold, there are however other diseases that have sore throat as a presentation, and they include:
1. Peritonsillar Abscess: This is a condition where excess pus accumulates in the throat and tonsils. Symptoms will include redness, pain and of course, a very bad sore throat.
2. Stomatitis: This is a viral infection which leads to the formation of sores in the child's throat and mouth. Stomatitis usually resolves itself after a while, but medication is highly recommended for children because the pain in the throat makes them eat and drink less, and this could lead to malnutrition.
3. Strep Throat: This is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus. It is one of the most common bacterial infections in infants. Children that come down with this have symptoms of fever, sore throat, headaches and in more severe cases, stomach discomfort and vomiting.
When is it Time To Contact A Doctor?
1. If you notice your child is finding it harder to breathe or their breathing pattern has changed, then you must seek immediate medical care.
2. If your child refuses to eat you will need the help of a doctor to prescribe the appropriate medication to prevent the child from becoming malnourished.
3. If your child has a high-grade fever that doesn't come down even after the use of medication then you might want to get the child checked by a doctor.
4. If the pain is unbearable that the child doesn't stop crying.
5. If the child starts vomiting you have to seek immediate help because it might mean the infection is progressing rapidly.
Home Remedies For a Child With Sore Throat
As stated earlier, most of the symptoms associated with a common cold and sore throat will disappear on their own after a few days. There are however some ways you can make your child more comfortable while they recover.
1. Give the child treats such as candy and ice cream. It is essential for them to drink something even if they don't want to eat to prevent dehydration.
2. Use mild pain medication like Acetaminophen.
3. You can make use of a humidifier which will assist in keeping the child's throat moist.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Waltham for Pediatric Care
There are some things a child just must go through while growing up and a sore throat is one of those things. It hardly ever causes any serious harm to the child, but it must still be monitored very carefully. If you notice your child has any of the symptoms listed in the article, then it might be a good decision to pay a visit to the hospital as soon as possible. For acute conditions, like RSV or an ear infection, visit AFC Waltham.
