Virtually every child and adult gets a sore throat once or twice a year. What should you do when this happens? Could it be strep throat? How can you tell? Should you go to the doctor? Should you just call your doctor and ask for medicine over the phone?
Here is the Dr. Sears guide to diagnosing and treating sore throats in children.
CAUSES OF SORE THROAT 
- Viruses : By far, the most common cause of sore throat is any one of a large number of viruses, none of which are treatable with antibiotics. These viruses can cause high fever and very painful sore throat. They can feel just as bad or worse as strep throat.
- Colds and coughs : The common cold virus can cause a sore throat in addition to its many other symptoms. Coughing can also irritate the throat, and so can post-nasal drip from a cold.
- Strep throat : This is caused by the strep bacteria, and is treated with antibiotics.
- Coxsackie virus (hand, foot, and mouth disease) : This is a virus that causes high fever and painful canker sores on the throat, cheeks, gums, or lips. Click on mouth sores for more info on this.
- Allergies : Allergies do not cause sudden sore, painful throats. They can, however, cause chronic mild throat irritation.
At-home treatments:
- Pain reliever. Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen can help significantly. Click on them for dosing. Use both together for extreme pain.
- Throat lozenges.
- Gargle warm salt water : Mix 1/4 to 1 Tsp salt with 8 ounces warm water. If you can get your child to do this, it works great!
- Anesthetic throat gargle : Chloraseptic can work well, but only if your child is old enough to not swallow it.
- Tea : Some herbal teas with honey or lemon may help.
1 comment:
You may try Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (ninjiom-hk.cwahi.net). i know alot of people use it, its also non alcoholic, though it's effectiveness is not as good as alcohol based cough medicine, but it's still good to use on not so serious scratchy throat.
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