Sore Throats

While most parents are worried about strep throat when their child has a sore throat infection, there 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 then he should be seen 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 (including mono) of the throat usually improve in 2 – 3 days without treatment.

Some things you can do to make your child with a sore throat more comfortable include:

• Use pain or fever relievers
• Have them drink plenty of liquids
• In older children use throat lozenges or throat pain sprays
• Have them gargle with warm, salty water