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Sore Throat
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While most parents are worried about strep throat when their child has a throat infection, their are also many viruses that cause infections that look very similar to strep. If your child has a sore throat with fever and a red, swollen throat or tonsils with white pus on them, then he should be seen by his physician so that he can be tested for strep throat. If the tests for strep are negative, then your child's throat infection is caused by a virus and antibiotics will not work. Viral infections of the throat usually improve in two to three days without treatment.
- Strep throat: caused by the bacteria group A streptococci. It is most common in children over three years old and begins with a fever, a red, swollen throat and tonsils that can have a white coating of pus, swollen glands, decreased appetite and energy level. If strep throat is suspected as the cause of tonsillitis in your child, your doctor will do a throat swab to confirm that there is infection with strep bacteria. This infection is easily treated with antibiotics, usually penicillin. Your child will no longer be contagious after being on an antibiotic for twenty four hours. It is important to take a complete course of antibiotics to prevent your child from getting rheumatic fever.
- Viral infections: virus that can cause a sore throat include the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections, adenovirus (which can also cause pinkeye at the same time), and others. If your child has pus on his tonsils and his strep test is negative, then he probably has a viral infection and doesn't require antibiotics.
- Mononucleosis: or mono, is a common illness usually caused by the Ebstein Barr virus. It typically infects teenagers and young adults, but also occurs in younger children, who have a much milder illness that is often not recognized as mono. Symptoms of mono consist of a high fever, sore throat, swollen tonsils with pus on them, fatigue, an enlarged spleen, and swollen glands that may be tender.
- Herpangina: usually caused by the Coxsackie virus, causing painful blisters in the back of your child's throat.
- Gingivostomatitis: caused by a herpes virus which can also cause blisters in the mouth.
- Other causes of sore throat can include a peritonsillar abscess or epiglotitis. These conditions are usually associated with a high fever, drooling and severe pain and difficulty breathing. You should seek medical attention immediately if you suspect your child has one of these conditions.
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