Sore Throat in Toddlers
Your toddler is a sponge for illnesses, bacteria and viruses. She may come to you one day, indicating that her throat hurts and she doesn't feel well. Your parental antennae go up when your little one complains of illness. Knowing the causes of a sore throat, how to treat it and what your doctor may diagnose are all important.
CAUSES OF SORE THROAT
If your toddler has been exposed to environmental irritants, such as cigarette smoke or other allergens, she may react with respiratory symptoms and a sore, irritated throat. If she tends to fall asleep with her mouth open, the air going back and forth past her throat can dry it out and make it feel sore. Your toddler may have come into contact with a virus causing upper respiratory illness, which is causing her sore throat. If she is running a temperature, she may have tonsillitis -- which can be either bacterial or viral. Streptococcus, or strep, can also cause a painful throat. If your little one still tends to explore with her mouth, she may have picked up strep from another child.
SYMPTOMS
You may notice other symptoms of illness in your child. These can include runny or stuffy nose and fever. When you touch the sides of her neck, you might feel some swelling at the sides of her throat. If you have not taken her to the doctor and she begins to get worse, she may cry or indicate she's in pain when she tries to swallow -- fluids or saliva. She may also develop a rash on areas of her body. If she has a hard time breathing, it's time to call the doctor for an appointment.
SORE THROAT CARE
Treatment depends on what the doctor diagnoses. If the illness is viral, your toddler will not receive a prescription for an antibiotic; this medication is not effective against viruses. The doctor may tell you to give your child acetaminophen, with the dosage based on her weight. Ask the doctor about a numbing spray to help temporarily relieve the throat pain. Children under 6 years of age should not take antihistamines or decongestants -- they are not very effective. Do not give her throat lozenges, as these are choking hazards for toddlers. Have your child get plenty of rest -- keep her quiet. Allow her to drink plenty of water and warm fluids like broth or chicken soup. Check with your doctor about giving your child an herbal tea.
CALL THE DOCTOR
A throat flecked with pus that looks swollen and bright red needs to be seen by your doctor right away, especially if the child has a fever higher than 103 degrees F. If your toddler cannot swallow or breathe easily, call the doctor -- she might have come down with epiglottitis. The doctor may say she needs emergency room treatment. Epiglottitis is an infection of a small area of the throat that keeps foreign substances from going down the windpipe.