Sore throats and your child

India

Children are often getting sore throats and they can be brought on by a variety of reasons, one of them being the common cold.

If you have a baby or a very young child they will be unable to tell you that their throat is sore. If this is the case then watch out for signs such as irritability, an unwillingness to eat or drink and a slightly raised temperature.

Tonsillitis and Pharyngitis could also be behind your child’s sore throat. These infections mainly occur between the ages of 3 and 9. At this stage in their lives, children have a poor immune system and they are less able to fight off the germs that can cause these infections. If your child suffers from a sore throat very often then sometimes the doctor may opt for your child to have the tonsils removed to help stop the area becoming infected in the future.

If your child does not want to eat then don’t force them to. Make sure to keep their fluid intake high and try to encourage them to eat things such as ice cream and flavored ice cubes.

If your child develops vomiting or diarrhea then seek the advice of a medical professional.

Older children may benefit from the use of throat lozenges which contain a mild anesthetic to help relieve the pain.