Has your little one not eaten since morning? Does he not like to drink milk? Is he just grumpy and not playing? Does he say, "Mommy, my throat hurts" when you talk to him? It's normal for us as parents to get a little worried at times like these. Most of the time, the cause of this can be a sore throat, or as we say, a throat infection. But don't worry. Let's talk about this clearly and simply today.
Why does this sore throat happen? Do I need medicine for everything?
First , let's understand this. About 90% of the sore throats our children get are caused by viruses . Just like colds and flu. So, for a viral illness, giving antibiotics , which kill bacteria , won't help. It won't make the illness go away quickly. If it's a viral illness, you need to give your body some time to fight it off and recover.
However, very rarely, in about 10% of cases, the cause of this sore throat can be a bacterial infection. A special name for this is 'Strep Throat'. Since this is caused by bacteria, it is definitely necessary to give antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.
So how do you know for sure whether it's a virus or bacteria? Only your doctor can determine that. So if you suspect a sore throat , it's best to take your child to a doctor.
What are some simple treatments that can be done at home?
If the sore throat is caused by a virus, there are many things we can do at home to help our child feel better. These things can greatly reduce the child's discomfort.
| Possible care | What happens with that? / Description |
|---|---|
| Giving you a good rest | Rest gives the child's body the strength it needs to fight the illness. It's a good idea to limit running and playing for a few days. |
| Giving more fluids | Give small amounts of water, fresh fruit juice, porridge, and soup frequently. This will stop the throat from drying out and prevent dehydration. |
| Steam Inhalation | Pour hot water into a basin, place a towel over the child's head, and let them breathe in the steam. But be very careful not to burn the child. This will reduce the dryness and pain in the throat. It is also a good idea to use a humidifier to increase the humidity in the room. |
| Giving cold things | Give some ice packs, ice cream, etc. The cold will numb the sore throat for a while and you will feel relief. |
| Hot soup or honey tea | Drinking something warm, like chicken soup, can help soothe a sore throat. A cup of caffeine-free tea with a little honey is also a good idea. However, never give honey to a baby under one year of age, under any circumstances. It can cause a dangerous infection (Infant Botulism). |
| For slightly older children (over 6 years old) | |
| Gargling with salt water | Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle with it several times. This will reduce the swelling in your throat. |
| Lozenges for sore throat | Giving lozenges or a regular hard candy to suck on can help increase saliva production and keep the throat moist. However, be careful when giving these to small children as they can choke. |
When should we definitely see a doctor?
Even if home care provides relief, there are times when we should definitely take our child to a doctor. Be on the lookout for these symptoms.
- A high fever (over 101°F or 38.3°C) that lasts for more than two or three days .
- If the child has difficulty swallowing food or drinks , or if saliva is drooling.
- If you have difficulty breathing or are making strange noises while breathing. This is an emergency. Immediately take the person to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).
- If you have a skin rash along with a sore throat.
- If you open your mouth and see white pus at the back of your throat .
- If the child is unusually sleepy or excessively irritable.
- If the sore throat continues to worsen after 3-4 days without any relief .
If you have symptoms like these, it could be something more serious than a simple virus. So don't waste time and see a doctor.
A word about medicine
Sometimes, over-the-counter painkillers like Paracetamol can help reduce fever and pain. However, they do not cure the disease, they only relieve the symptoms.
Most importantly: Never give your child any over-the-counter medication, especially antibiotics or cough syrups, without first consulting your doctor. Only a doctor should decide what medication to give your child and the correct dose.
Take-Home Message
- Most often, a sore throat in children is caused by a viral infection, which usually clears up on its own within a few days.
- Antibiotics are only needed for bacterial infections like strep throat, and that is determined by your doctor.
- Home remedies such as rest, fluids, and steam inhalation can provide great relief to the child.
- Never give honey to babies under one year old.
- If your child has a high fever, difficulty breathing, or other serious symptoms, see a doctor immediately.
- Avoid giving any medicine to your child without medical advice.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න