Parent Guide: Sore Throat
A sore throat often comes with a cold. Most sore throats are caused by viruses. An antibiotic will not help a sore throat caused by a virus.
Some sore throats are caused by bacteria called Streptococcus. Strep throat most often occurs during the fall and winter, in children between the ages of 5 and 12.
Your doctor cannot tell if a sore throat is strep throat just by looking at it. A throat swab will show whether the sore throat is caused by bacteria or a virus.
- If the sore throat is part of a cold, it is most likely caused by a virus and a throat swab is not needed.
- Your doctor might take a throat swab to show whether the sore throat is caused by bacteria or a virus. The test results are usually ready within 48 hours.
- If the test results are negative, the sore throat is likely caused by a virus. Antibiotics will not work.
- If the test results are positive, your doctor might decide to prescribe an antibiotic.
- Other family members do not need to be tested unless they are sick.
Symptoms:
- Pain in the throat, pain when swallowing
- Fever
- Swollen glands in the neck
Treatment:
- Offer plenty of fluids such as water or juice. Warm clear fluids such as soup make the throat feel better.
- Give acetaminophen for pain and fever (see "Fever").
- For children six years of age and older and adults, throat lozenges may relieve symptoms. Younger children should not be given lozenges because of the danger of choking.
- For older children and adults, gargling with warm salt water will make the throat feel better. Mix 1/2 tsp salt with 250 ml (8 oz or one cup) warm water. Gargle for 10 seconds. Spit out salt water and repeat. May be done 4 - 5 times per day.
- Your child can go back to normal activity when feeling better.
See your doctor if. . .
- If the sore throat continues for 2 - 3 days with no other symptoms of a cold such as watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose.
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