Sore Throat Soothe the Scratchiness
SORE THROAT Soothe the Scratchiness
Rare is the child who manages to get through the cold and flu season without at least one sore throat. So when your child comes to you complaining of scratchiness or hurting when he swallows, don't be alarmed. Because many sore throats are the result of viral infections, they typically last just a few days and then disappear on their own, says Lucinda Halstead, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences and the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
''Remedies for these viral sore throats are simply aimed at relieving the temporary symptoms,'' says Dr. Halstead. ''But if your child's sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics will need to be prescribed.''
That's why a call to the doctor is in order when a sore throat appears. There is always the risk that it is caused by streptococcus bacteria, the germ responsible for strep throat and tonsillitis. Your doctor will need to take a throat culture to rule out this more serious ailment.
If it turns out that your child's sore throat is just the result of a run-of-the-mill viral infection, you can try these home remedies to bring soothing relief.
Try a mouth-watering remedy. '' You want to induce salivation, which can be done with cough drops, Life Savers or--for older children--medicated lozenges,'' says Russell Steele, M.D., professor and vice chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. This will help reduce pain and also wash away waste material generated by the inflammation process, he says.
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| When to See the Doctor Though most sore throats in children turn out to be minor pain that soon gets better, the experts recommend that you call your physician as soon as your child starts complaining about it. '' Your doctor can determine if there's something serious, like a strep infection, causing the symptoms,'' says Russell Steele, M.D., professor and vice chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. ''Once that's ruled out, he may recommend home treatments.'' Even then, however, you should monitor your child's condition closely and call your doctor back if: * The pain lasts more than two to three days. * The child refuses to drink. * The child is running a fever higher than 101°. * You notice white patches in the back of the child's throat. * The child's voice is affected. * The child is experiencing breathing or swallowing difficulties. |
Serve a long, cool drink. ''Offer your child something cool to drink,'' suggests Dr. Halstead. ''Ginger ale or some other soda is often best, but let it go flat before serving. If it's too bubbly, it can 'burn' the child's throat. Carbonation can be very irritating.''
Hold the O.J. '' You don't want to give a child with a sore throat beverages that are too acidic--they can feel like sandpaper,'' says Dr. Halstead. So don't offer orange, pineapple, grapefruit or tomato juices until your child is feeling better. ''On the other hand, apple juice is excellent,'' she says.
Spoon out some cold comfort. Here's some ''medicine'' your child certainly won't mind taking. ''Ice cream works better than anything to soothe a sore throat,'' says Dr. Steele.
But you might want to let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. ''Anything that's too cold can be uncomfortable going down,'' says Dr. Halstead. However, if your child asks for something icy and can tolerate it, go ahead and give it to him. ''Some kids love icy cold things like Popsicles when they have a sore throat,'' she says. ''It all depends on the child.''
Go back to the bottle. Even if your baby is old enough to be drinking from a cup, you might want to go back to a bottle for the duration of the sore throat. ''A bottle is ideal because it washes the back of the throat and keeps it wet,'' says Dr. Steele. '' You can fill it with anything the child will drink.''
Moisten up the dry air. ''Some sore throats can be caused by mouth breathing, especially while sleeping,'' says David N. F. Fairbanks, M.D., clinical professor of otolaryngology at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and spokesperson for the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Often the problem is compounded by excessively dry indoor air.
Placing a humidifier or small mist vaporizer in your child's room may help. ''Just be sure it's close enough that the child is actually breathing in the mist,'' says Dr. Fairbanks. ''Otherwise you really are not raising the humidity significantly.'' ( But be sure to clean the humidifier or vaporizer frequently, following the manufacturer's instructions.)
Put a painkiller to work. ''Acetaminophen [Children's Tylenol] can help soothe a mild sore throat,'' says Dr. Halstead. Check the package directions for the correct dosage for your child's age and weight. If your child is under age two, consult a physician. Dr. Steele says older kids might also benefit from an over-the-counter throat spray formulated to deaden sore throat pain, such as Vicks Children's Chloraseptic Spray.
