About this topic
Swelling at the back of your childs throat is called pharyngitis. Swelling of your child's throat and tonsils is tonsillopharyngitis. Both of these may be caused by an infection or allergy. Both are commonly called a sore throat. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- Have your child rest the throat by not talking or singing too much.
- Have your child try to gargle with a mixture of 1 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of warm water 2 to 3 times a day.
- Children over 5 years of age may suck on hard candy or cough drops.
- Use a cool mist humidifier to help your child breathe easier.
- Keep your child away from those who are smoking.
What follow-up care is needed?
- The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If your child has many tonsil infections, your the doctor may give you an option to take the tonsils out. Talk to your child's doctor about this.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Prevent infection
- Help with pain
- Lower fever
- Help nasal stuffiness and runny nose
- Ease throat soreness with lozenges or sprays
- Treat swelling ¢ ˆ ’ this may be steroids for very bad cases
Give your child drugs as ordered by the doctor. Do not allow your child to skip doses or stop when feeling better. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
Your child may need to rest at home for 1 to 2 days or until feeling well. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
If your childs throat feels too sore to eat solid foods, offer juice, milk, milkshakes, or soups. Talk to your doctor about what diet is proper for your child's condition. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Heart problems
- Kidney problems
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Teach your child to wash hands often. Be sure to wash after blowing the nose or taking care of others with a sore throat.
- Do not let your child share utensils and drinking glasses with someone who has a sore throat. Wash these objects with hot, soapy water.
- Do not let your child share foods or drinks with others while they are sick.
- Teach your child to throw away used tissues right away, then wash the hands.
- Get your child a new toothbrush after signs are gone or your child is done with the antibiotics.
- If your child is a toddler and puts toys in the mouth, clean the toys using soap and water.
When do I need to call the doctor?
Go to the ER or seek care right away if your child has: ‚
- Signs of a very bad reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Not able to swallow spit (drooling).
- Very bad headache, stiff neck, chest pain, or feels like throwing up
Call your doctor if your child has: ‚
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, mouth sores.
- Large, painful lumps in the neck
- Skin rash, cough, ear pain, or whitish to yellow blisters in the back of the throat
- Coughing up or blowing yellow, green, or bloody mucus from the nose
- Very bad pain in the throat and your child cannot eat or drink anything
- Health problem is not better or your child is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my child's pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child has trouble breathing or swallowing or has large painful lumps in the throat.
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/sheets/sore_throat_sheet.htmlhttp://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/tonsillitis.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚