When Does Your Childs Sore Throat Warrant Medical Attention
Unless the pain makes it difficult for your child to breathe, its a good idea to wait a day to see if the symptoms go away, get worse, or stay the same. If symptoms persist, take your child to a doctor.
At your visit, your doctor will most likely do a strep test to diagnose or rule out strep throat. If the strep test is negative, and the doctor can rule out other health issues, youll be sent home with instructions to keep your child comfortable and hydrated while the cold passes.
If symptoms persist or worsen, or new symptoms like an earache develop, you should bring your child in to see the doctor again. Additionally, if your child has a fever of 101 or higher, ear pain, or is drooling, you should make a doctors appointment.
If your child has a sore throat and youd like to be examined by a pediatrician, call Liberty Pediatrics to schedule an appointment, or you can make one online through this website.
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What Else Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have a sore throat and headache, ask your healthcare provider:
- Do I need any tests?
- Could these symptoms be a sign of an infection?
- What can I do to feel better?
- What should I do if the symptoms dont go away in a week?
- What medications can I take to help?
- Do I need a strep test?
- Will antibiotics help?
Sore throat and headache are common symptoms. Often, theyre signs of a viral or bacterial infection. For a viral infection, you most likely wont need medications. The virus will clear up on its own in about a week. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers to feel better. Your healthcare provider may want to check for signs of strep throat or meningitis, which need treatment. If you have a sudden high fever, neck stiffness or other worrying symptoms, see your healthcare provider.
Sore Throat Or Strep Throat Viral Or Bacterial
Sore throats come in two varieties: viral and bacterial. The most common cause of a sore throat is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu, and usually goes away on its own. A sore throat, often accompanied by fever, headache, stomachache or rash, may indicate bacterial strep throat and requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications.
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Pharmacy First Scotland: Sore Throat Treatment From Your Pharmacy
If you have a sore throat you can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy. Find your local pharmacy on Scotland’s Service Directory.
You don’t usually need to get medical advice if you have a sore throat however your pharmacist may advise you see your GP if:
- your symptoms are severe
- you have persistent symptoms that haven’t started to improve after a week
- you experience severe sore throats frequently
- you have a weak immune system for example, you have HIV, are having chemotherapy, or are taking medication that suppresses your immune system
If they’re not open, you should phone the NHS 24 service
If you have a persistent sore throat , you should see your GP who may refer you for further tests. This is because your sore throat may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Some possibilities are described below.
Visit your nearest accident and emergency department or call 999 for an ambulance if you have severe symptoms such as:
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- current or past stomach problems, such as a stomach ulcer
- current or past liver or kidney problems
Children under the age of 16 should never be given aspirin.
Take painkillers as necessary to relieve your pain. Always read the manufacturers instructions so you do not exceed the recommended or prescribed dose.
When To Seek Medical Care
Talk to your doctor if you or your child have symptoms of sore throat. They may need to test you or your child for strep throat.
Also see a doctor if you or your child have any of the following:
- Difficulty breathing
Since bacteria cause strep throat, antibiotics are needed to treat the infection and prevent rheumatic fever and other complications. A doctor cannot tell if someone has strep throat just by looking in the throat. If your doctor thinks you might have strep throat, they can test you to determine if it is causing your illness.
Anyone with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they no longer have fever AND have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours.
If a virus causes a sore throat, antibiotics will not help. Most sore throats will get better on their own within one week. Your doctor may prescribe other medicine or give you tips to help you feel better.
More aboutC. diff
When antibiotics arent needed, they wont help you, and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from mild reactions, like a rash, to more serious health problems. These problems can include severe allergic reactions, antibiotic-resistant infections and C. diff infection. C. diff causes diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage and death.
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Sore Throat Remedies And Self
Over-the-counter medications might help, such as lozenges or throat gargles that contain local anaesthetic. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid products that contain iodine . Your pharmacist can give you more information.
Eating soft foods such as ice cream, ice blocks or jelly, can help.
To ease a scratchy throat, try gargling with warm, salty water or drinking hot water with honey and lemon. Warm or iced drinks and ice blocks may be soothing.
Avoid foods that cause pain when you swallow. Try eating soft foods such as yoghurt, soup or ice cream.
It is important to stay well hydrated so drink plenty of water. If you have an existing medical condition, check with your doctor about how much water is right for you.
Keep the room at a comfortable temperature and rest and avoid heavy activity until symptoms go away.
Smoking or breathing in other peoples smoke can make symptoms worse. Try to avoid being around people who are smoking. If you are a smoker, try to cut down or quit. For advice on quitting smoking, visit the Quit Now website.
Find out more about self-care tips if you have a high temperature .
How Is A Sore Throat Diagnosed
Your doctor will do a physical exam. They will look at the back of your throat. Your doctor may swab the back of your throat. This is called a throat culture. It is done to collect a sample of bacteria. This also is used in a rapid strep test. This is a quick test to diagnose strep throat. The test wont tell if your sore throat is caused by something other than strep. The results of a throat culture takes between 24 and 48 hours. If your doctor thinks you may have mono, they will probably do a blood test.
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When Should I See A Health
If you have a sore throat and are unable to swallow liquids, you need to be seen as soon as possible. If you have been exposed to someone with strep throat who has not completed their antibiotics and is considered contagious, and now have symptoms, you should see a provider within two days. If you have a sore throat and have not been exposed to strep throat, see your provider if your symptoms have not improved after seven days of home care.
Sore Throat Swollen Glands With No Fever What’s Causing It
First lets take a look at what swollen glands are. This is a condition known as lymphadenopathy, in which your lymph nodes fill with fluid and swell. Your lymph nodes are little organs that are shaped like a bean and their job is to clean out your lymph fluid. You have them all over your body, but the ones in your neck are very easily felt. They help stop the spread of infections and other diseases like cancer.
The fluid is lymph and contains white blood cells, water, fat, and protein. As the blood filters through the lymph nodes, it collects any infectious or cancerous cells and destroys them. When your lymph nodes contain something infectious or cancerous, they swell.
If you develop painful lymph nodes this is called lymphadenopathy. When you have a sore throat, swollen glands,without a fever, you may just have a mild virus if you show other symptoms includinga runny nose, cough, and feeling tired.
If you dont have any other symptoms, you should get checked by your doctor if it doesnt clear up in a week or so.
Causes of Sore Throat Swollen Glands No Fever
This is almost always a response by your immune system that it is fighting something off. It isnt too uncommon to have these symptoms without fever and still have:
- Skin or tissue infection near the swollen gland
- No cause at all
However, there are a few causes that can concern doctors. These include:
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Mononucleosis
- Swollen lymph nodes
Tuberculosis
HIV
Leukemia
Hodgkin Lymphoma
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Sore Throat Swollen Glands No Fever
Sore throats and swollen gland are no fun! Usually, when you wake up with a sore throat and your glands are swollen, and fever starts, then you are sure you have caught a cold, the flu, or even strep throat. Any of these have other symptoms likeheadache, fatigue, coughing, and body aches. If you have strep you take antibiotics and it goes away in just a few days. A viral illness has to run its course over the next 2 to 7 days. When you have a sore throat, swollen gland but no fever you may start to worry something is wrong. Especially if you dont have any other symptoms and it lingers on for more than a week. This article will help you understand some of the causes for this.
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Sore throat pain is severe and not better 2 hours after taking ibuprofen
- Large lymph nodes in the neck
- Pink rash that’s widespread
- Sinus pain around cheekbone or eyes
- Fever lasts more than 3 days
- Fever returns after being gone more than 24 hours
- Age less than 2 years old
- Close contact to a person with Strep within last 7 days
- Sores on the skin
- You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
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Preventing A Sore Throat
As sore throats are caused by bacterial or viral infections, they can be difficult to prevent.
If you have a sore throat caused by an infection, you can help prevent the infection spreading by practising good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean and free of germs.
What Is A Sore Throat
A sore throat means that your throat hurts. It feels irritated or scratchy. You may feel mild discomfort or a burning pain. A sore throat may feel worse when you swallow. Possible complications from a sore throat include ear and sinus infections. Another complication is an abscess near your tonsils.
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Strep Throat: When To Suspect
- Symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.
- Cough, hoarseness, red eyes, and runny nose are usually not seen with Strep throat. These symptoms point more to a viral cause.
- Scarlet fever rash is highly suggestive of Strep throat.
- Peak age: 5 to 15 years old. Not common under 2 years old unless sibling has Strep.
- If you think your child has Strep, call your doctor.
- Your doctor will do a Strep test. If the test is positive, they will start treatment. There is no risk from waiting until a Strep test can be done.
- Standard treatment is with antibiotics by mouth.
How To Protect Others
- Good hand washing is VERY important! Clean your hands and your childs hands often with soap and water. Wash for 15 to 20 seconds, or the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song . If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be used. Rub hands until dry.
- Make sure to wash your childs drinking glass and eating utensils in hot soapy water before others use them.
- Give your child a paper bag and have them put their used tissues in this bag. Moisture from the childs nose and mouth is contagious.
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When To Call The Doctor
- Start pulling at their ears.
- Have a sore throat that lasts more than 3 days.
- Have trouble breathing.
- Start drooling, can’t talk, or voice gets muffled.
- Can’t eat or drink.
- Younger than 3 months of age – 100.4° Fahrenheit or 38° Celsius or above.
- Older than 3 months of age
- 104° F or above.
- Above 102° F for more than 2 days or it keeps coming back.
- Treated to bring their fever down, but it hasnt worked.
HH-I-121 11/89, Revised 5/22 Copyright 1989, Nationwide Childrens Hospital
Some Cancers And Cancer Treatments
Painful swallowing isn’t likely to be cancer. But it can be a symptom of throat and esophageal cancers. You might feel pain when swallowing as a tumor grows and the passageway gets narrower.
If you’ve had this symptom for a while and you’re starting to feel like you need to eat soft food in tiny bites, see your doctor. You may need to get an imaging test of the upper part of your digestive system.
Some treatments for various types of cancer can also make it hurt to swallow. Chemotherapy or radiation to the head, neck, or upper chest can inflame the lining of the mouth, throat, or esophagus. Other symptoms include dry mouth or swelling. If you’re having these problems while you get your cancer treatment, try eating softer foods, blender drinks, soups, and purees. Also, cold foods can be soothing, while very spicy foods can hurt more. This pain should stop soon after you’re done with your cancer treatment.
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Sore Throat Can’t Swallow What To Do
Pharyngitis or sore throat is a common issue usually caused by an infection. Sometimes, soreness is the only symptom of an infection in the throat, but it is possible to experience other issues such as mild cough, a hoarse voice, headache, fever, fatigue and swelling of the glands in the neck as well. Soreness in your throat can be so severe that you may not be able to swallow anything. This makes many people wonder how to deal with the sore throat that prevents them to swallow. While soreness usually goes away in about a week or so, you can take certain steps to make your condition more manageable.
How To Treat A Sore Throat Yourself
To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts, you can:
- gargle with warm, salty water
- drink plenty of water
- eat cool or soft foods
- avoid smoking or smoky places
- suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets but do not give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.
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Living With A Sore Throat
Easing the pain of a sore throat is all you can do beyond treatment. The best remedies include:
- Take over-the-counter pain medicine. This includes brand names such as Tylenol, Motrin, and Aleve. Do not give children younger than 18 aspirin. Aspirin may cause Reyes syndrome. This can be fatal.
- Gargle with warm salt water. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of water and stir.
- Suck on an over-the-counter throat lozenge. Hard candy works too.
- Eat a popsicle.
- Use a humidifier in your bedroom. Move it to other rooms you spend time in.
- Drink liquids to keep your throat from getting dry. Also, this helps prevent dehydration.
How Do You Feel And Why
Viruses cause many sore throats in both adults and children. A runny nose, cough and hoarseness are usually viral infections. Antibiotics have no effect on viral infections, but your doctor may suggest over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen and throat lozenges to alleviate the pain.
Common infections causing a sore throat might result in other signs and symptoms, including:
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How Do You Diagnose A Sore Throat
History and physical examination are the most important tools in diagnosis. When epiglottitis or occasionally croup is suspected, neck X-rays may be helpful. A blood count and antibody test may be helpful when mononucleosis is suspected to confirm the diagnosis.
A throat swab to check for a strep throat infection is useful in selected cases. The so-called “rapid strep” test is sometimes unreliable, however, so often a doctor prescribes antibiotics based on the history and examination alone. A throat culture is a more reliable test, but the results take 24 hours to return. Treatment with antibiotics can be either initiated on a delayed basis or discontinued if begun already based on this final result.