Sore Throat Online Treatments for Your Kids
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If your child just woke up with a painful, swollen, or itchy throat, and they have difficulty swallowing, you are not alone. This scenario is an all-too-common occurrence in almost every family household. However, that means it is up to you in these situations to determine whether they warrant a pediatrician visit or you can soothe your child with a warm drink in the morning.
Our board-certified pediatricians, if you take your child to visit them via Telemedicine, can assess your child’s symptoms and provide the right treatment. You will not have to play the guessing game of their sore throat’s severity and get them a kid doctor who specializes in your child’s age range. They can start feeling better sooner than later, and you can rest easy, knowing you took care of their sickness with a busy work schedule.
What causes a sore throat?
The most common cause of a sore throat is a viral infection that causes illnesses such as a common cold, flu, mononucleosis, chickenpox, and other frequent diseases in childhood that produce a cough or sinus infection. Often, when your kid suffers from any of these conditions, they may complain that their throat hurts.
Another frequent cause of a sore throat is a bacterial infection. A well-known bacterial throat infection your kids can get is Streptococcus, otherwise known as Strep Throat. This condition is less common than a viral cause but occurs most commonly in children between the ages of 5-15.
Many additional sore throat causes stem from outside factors, such as dry air or breathing through the mouth and irritants such as smoke and chemicals. They can also strain and yell from exciting playtime, stretching their vocal cords and creating physical discomfort. Finally, if your child is allergic to air pollen, they can catch a sore throat when running or biking outside during the spring and summer.
What are the symptoms of a sore throat?
These symptoms can occur as a result of any of the causes mentioned above. If you are unsure of the cause or do not believe it to be a viral or bacterial infection, you may wish to try at-home treatments before scheduling an appointment with your child’s doctor. Most symptoms caused by external factors that irritate the throat will ease up or resolve with these treatments.
When your child experiences a sore throat, you may visibly see, or your child may complain of the following:
- Pain or scratchy feeling in the throat
- Pain or difficulty when swallowing
- Swollen or red throat and tonsils
- White patches in the back of the throat on tonsils
- Irritated voice box that causes a hoarse voice
What are treatments for a sore throat?
When viruses or irritants produce a sore throat in your child, the issue will usually resolve on its own when the underlying cause runs its course. Therefore, there are many ways you can soothe or treat sore throats at home:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers (making sure to follow the correct dosage for your child's age and weight)
- Gargling with salt water
- Drinking warm liquid such as tea or water with lemon and honey (children under the age of 1 should not ingest honey)
- Eating soft foods or drinking soups
- Breathing in the steam from a shower or using a humidifier to moisten the throat
- Wash your hands and other contaminated surfaces to stop the spread
When should my child see a doctor for a sore throat?
You should seek medical advice from a board-certified pediatrician if you have attempted to soothe the sore throat at home, but your child does not see relief. If you know a bacterial infection encountered your child or they have a weakened immune system, you should call a kid doctor. The in-person or virtual pediatrician can provide treatment in the sore throat early stages so your child can recover quicker.
A good rule of thumb s if your child’s sore throat does not ease after drinking water or warm liquids in the morning, you should contact a medical professional.
If the sore throat originator is a bacterial infection, like Strep, an urgent care pediatrician needs to treat them immediately. Your child’s sore throat, otherwise, will not heal on its own and evolve into rheumatic fever or a worse condition. Again, the sooner your child can get help for their sore throat, the better.
When should my child see a doctor for a sore throat?
When your child suffers from a sore throat, you can visit our board-certified pediatricians virtually so they can diagnose your child while they rest in bed. Our Telemedicine visits allow for at-home recovery so they can recover faster when they are not up for a car ride. In addition, your child can see our pediatricians multiple times with on-demand appointment access if symptoms develop.
Before your kiddo’s sore throat grows into something worse, schedule a video visit when it is convenient with your work schedule. Our kid doctors specialize in assessing their medical history and physical symptoms to determine what they are suffering from. We can help your child’s sore throat disappear so you can save your time off for family vacations and playtime with your little ones.