Sore throat with respiratory problems in children
A sore throat with cold symptoms usually is not serious and will go away when the cold symptoms are gone. The sore throat may be worse in the mornings, especially if your child has been mouth-breathing because of a stuffy nose. Your child may cry or hold his or her mouth while swallowing the first sips of liquids in the morning. Home treatment is usually all that is needed for this type of sore throat.
A persistent, severe sore throat that causes difficulty swallowing needs to be evaluated by a health professional. A severe sore throat may be a sign of strep throat or tonsillitis. The child may refuse to drink or suck and may drool the liquids out of his or her mouth. Other signs of strep throat or tonsillitis include:
- White or yellow coating on the tonsils.
- Swollen glands in the neck.
- Sore throat that lasts for longer than 48 hours and occurs with a fever.
A sore throat with a bright red sandpaper rash over most of the body may indicate scarlet fever, which is a reaction to a strep infection. Scarlet fever is contagious. A sore throat that occurs with a rash needs to be evaluated by a health professional.
A severe sore throat associated with excessive drooling may mean a serious infection of the opening to the windpipe (epiglottitis). The child will also have difficulty breathing and a high fever. Epiglottitis is rare but is one of the most dangerous airway infections in children. A child with epiglottitis needs emergency medical care. Epiglottitis can be prevented through the use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 25, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
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