No parent likes to see their child in pain, and we all know how irritating a sore throat can be. While not usually dangerous, it’s best to take care of a sore throat quickly.
Best Treatment Options
To take care of your child’s symptoms, you should be able to differentiate between a viral and bacterial infection. Minimize your child’s pain with these tips.
Viral
The most common cause of a sore throat is a virus, which you cannot treat with antibiotics. If your child is suffering from a common cold virus, all you can do is wait it out. To soothe the pain of a sore throat, you can try any of the following:
- Eat cold or frozen liquids
- Gargle with saltwater
- Give ibuprofen as needed
- Warm tea with honey and lemon
Bacterial
A more serious sore throat diagnosis will be strep throat which is a bacterial infection. A doctor can perform a quick swab inside your child’s mouth to test for the bacteria. If the results are positive, your doctor with prescribe antibiotics. If you’re unsure whether your child may need to be tested for strep throat, review the following symptoms:
- No additional signs of a cold such as coughing or a runny nose
- Known exposure to other people with strep throat
- Swollen neck glands
Prevention Tips
The best way to stop the spread of infections, viral or bacterial, is to wash your hands constantly. Teach your child the importance of hand washing to protect them from getting sick. A healthy lifestyle including exercise, plenty of rest, and a balanced diet also helps to prevent illness.
A visit to a pediatric otolaryngology office will help get your child on the path to feeling better. Southwest Idaho ENT has decades of experience treating pediatric ear, nose and throat disease. Give us a call at (208) 336-4368 today!