A child has a sore throat - possible causes and treatment. What causes a sore throat and high temperature and what to do with such symptoms in a child and an adult? The child has a severe sore throat and fever

Parents should learn to distinguish between the signs of a sore throat in a child and the symptoms of other pharyngeal diseases in order to carry out the necessary procedures at home, before visiting a doctor. Children often suffer from pharyngitis and acute adenoiditis, the course of which resembles tonsillitis. Practitioners note a combination of inflammation of the tonsils with damage to the posterior wall of the pharynx. Imperfect immunity in children, proximity in terms of anatomy and similarity of the epithelium of the respiratory tract organs are the main causes of numerous forms of damage to the pharynx, popularly called “angina”.

The sudden onset of inflammation of the tonsils is the main symptom of tonsillitis and a number of other diseases. However, it is the defeat of the palatine tonsils that ranks first in terms of prevalence among the child population. When a baby refuses food, but cannot explain why, he probably feels discomfort in the oral cavity and experiences a sore throat. If the child speaks well, he will be able to explain that he feels bad, complaining of malaise and “scratching” in the throat.

The first signs of sore throat in children:

  1. sore throat, dry mouth;
  2. excessive mucus or white spots on the tonsils;
  3. sore throat that gets worse when swallowing;
  4. high temperature (above 38.3°C);
  5. thickening of the cervical lymph nodes;
  6. malaise, lethargy, chills;
  7. headache.

A sick child speaks nasally, and there is an unpleasant odor from his mouth. The entire oropharynx, especially the palatine tonsils, are reddened and swollen. Viral sore throats are also accompanied by nasal congestion, sneezing and runny nose. Fever, hardening of the lymph nodes, and rashes are most characteristic of bacterial forms of tonsillitis. Common symptoms include the feeling of a foreign body in the throat and increased sweating of the body. At the same time, digestive disorders and rashes on the face and body may occur.

Palatine tonsils are an important part of the immune system

The lymphatic system continues to develop after the baby is born; Development is generally completed by 3–5 years. Before this age, the palatine tonsils are not yet mature enough, so sore throat in a one-year-old child is a rare occurrence. The infectious process does not develop due to the lack of “material base”. After three years of age, children are at risk for acute and chronic tonsillitis.


Signs of a child's sore throat appear in the form of sore throat, pain, and redness in the throat when infectious agents penetrate the integumentary epithelium of the tonsils. These are oval-shaped lymphoid formations located in the tonsillar niches of the pharynx. They perform the task of filtering and neutralizing pathogenic microorganisms and viruses that enter through the nose or mouth.

Acute tonsillitis is contagious! The infection is transmitted from a sick person to surrounding people through droplets of saliva and mucus when coughing, sneezing, or talking.

You can become infected by using objects and things that have been exposed to infectious agents. For example, streptococci spread up to 3 m from a sick person and persist even when the sputum dries for a week. Therefore, the answer to the question whether a child with a sore throat can go for a walk is negative. A mother who has a sore throat should use a gauze bandage when caring for, feeding her baby, or preparing food.

Sick children and adults should be provided with individual cutlery.

Hot steam, ultraviolet light, chlorine-containing disinfectant solutions, and 70% alcohol destroy pathogenic microbial flora. In ethanol, bacteria and fungi die within 30 minutes. It is recommended to soak your toothbrush in a concentrated solution of baking soda between brushing your teeth. It is advisable to boil the sick person's cup, spoon and fork with sodium bicarbonate.

A child has a sore throat - what are the reasons, what should parents do?

Inflammatory changes in lymphoid tissue are most typical for infectious lesions of the organs of the pharyngeal ring. There are moderate signs of general intoxication of the body, discomfort in the oropharynx. The nature of the infection affects how sore throat manifests itself in children. Pharyngitis, an acute inflammatory disease of the pharynx, usually has a viral etiology. Streptococcal infection provokes a sore throat or acute tonsillitis. The disease leads to inflammation of the tonsils (tonsils). Various viruses and bacteria can cause diffuse damage to the mucous membrane of all parts of the pharynx.


Causes of frequent sore throats (risk factors):

  • body hypothermia;
  • depressed state of immunity;
  • hereditary predisposition;
  • carriage of staphylococcus and streptococcus;
  • poor environmental conditions in the region of residence;
  • chronic diseases of the respiratory system, digestion, heart and blood vessels;
  • low quality food, poor diet, lack of vitamins;
  • chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases (candidiasis, dysbacteriosis);
  • failure to comply with hygiene rules and sanitation requirements in the family or child care facility.

Acute tonsillitis usually begins 10–12 hours after infection.

Experts note the predominant influence of viral infection on the development of pharyngitis and sore throat in children under one year of age (from 12 months to three years). Bacterial forms are usually found in preschoolers 5–6 years old and schoolchildren under 15 years old. About 70–90% of cases of tonsillopharyngitis are associated with infection with adenoviruses, influenza viruses, rhinoviruses, and coronaviruses. The disease is also caused by bacterial agents, pathogens of herpes simplex, rubella, Epshein-Barr, and Candida yeast fungi.

Experts call the pathologically enlarged nasopharyngeal tonsil, localized in the pharynx, “adenoids”. It enters the lymphoid ring of the throat; not visible without special tools. Experts call acute adenoiditis “retronasal sore throat.” The development of the disease can be purulent if a bacterial infection is associated.

Children often suffer from adenoiditis after three and up to seven years of age. Provoking factors are respiratory infections, chronic inflammatory diseases of the nose and throat. What to do if a child has chronic adenoiditis, a constantly nasal voice, and nasal breathing is difficult? Pediatricians, having discovered a chronic form of pharyngeal tonsillitis, recommend removal of the pharyngeal tonsil.

The solution to the problem of what to give a child with a sore throat depends on the nature of the infectious agent.

ENT specialists give patients of all ages who come with complaints of sore throat and sore throat a primary diagnosis of acute tonsillopharyngitis. At high temperatures, children are prescribed paracetamol or ibuprofen in the form of syrups and suppositories. Doctors also recommend which medications to give and manipulations to do at home to relieve a sore throat.

When first examining a child’s sore throat, the pediatrician usually diagnoses acute pharyngitis, tonsillitis or tonsillopharyngitis, without specifying the nature of the disease. The nature of the damage to the pharynx and palatine tonsils does not yet provide grounds for an accurate identification of the pathogen. Specialists obtain information about the infectious agent by studying a blood test and the results of bacteriological culture after performing a swab from the child’s throat.

What type of sore throat occurs in children can be found in the table below.


In addition to the forms listed in the table, there are sore throats that arise as complications of infectious and hematological diseases. The tonsillar process can be acute and chronic, local, unilateral and bilateral. It follows that any classification is a convention. Diffusion of the inflammatory process often occurs; one type of tonsillitis often turns into another.

Distinctive signs of angina in a child with different forms of the disease:

  1. Catarrhal - the tonsils are red, there is no plaque on the back wall of the pharynx.
  2. Follicular - the presence of purulent contents in the vesicles of lymphadenoid tissue, which is why the surface of the tonsils looks granular.
  3. Lacunar - streaks of white or yellowish secretion in the tonsil canals (lacunae) are clearly visible.
  4. Phlegmonous is a severe form, which is characterized by a deep spread of the infectious and inflammatory process.

Common signs of common tonsillitis are pain and difficulty swallowing. To recognize the form of tonsillitis, you need to take a throat swab in the clinic laboratory.

Fungal tonsillitis is caused by a yeast or candida infection. Often this form develops due to too long, improper treatment with antibiotics. The main symptoms resemble lacunar tonsillitis. The most dangerous is diphtheria sore throat, which is caused by Loeffler's bacillus. It is possible to develop croup, in which the respiratory tract of a sick child is closed by diphtheria film.

Catarrhal sore throat

One of the forms of acute tonsillitis begins suddenly after the incubation period. Signs of a sore throat in a child are soreness and “scratching” in the throat, lethargy. Swallowing irritates the inflamed mucous membrane, so babies often refuse to eat and drink. Temperatures are in the range of 37.1–37.5 °C.


Palatine tonsils with catarrhal tonsillitis look swollen and red. There is mucus discharge, without the formation of white or other colored plaque on the tonsils. Treatment prescribed by a doctor and correctly carried out by parents at home will ensure the child’s recovery within 5 days.

In the absence of timely and adequate therapy, complications after tonsillitis in children:

  • diphtheria;
  • meningitis;
  • otitis media, sinusitis;
  • secondary pneumonia;
  • rheumatism, endocarditis;
  • acute cervical lymphadenitis;
  • retropharyngeal abscess, phlegmon of the neck;
  • laryngeal edema, airway obstruction.

The main role in the development of catarrhal form is played by adenoviruses and saprophytic microorganisms in the flora of the pharynx. Normally, the body copes with them, but risk factors weaken the defenses. With pharyngitis, mainly the back wall of the pharynx turns red. When respiratory symptoms prevail, in particular a runny nose and cough, doctors diagnose ARVI or influenza.

Follicular tonsillitis

The child is shivering and there is a sharp rise in temperature to 40°C and above. Swallowing causes excruciating pain in the throat, and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes occurs. Vomiting and loose stools may occur. The child's condition is lethargic, broken, there is no appetite.

The patient's diet should be gentle: soup, broth, puree, pureed vegetables, steamed meatballs and cutlets, tea.

Children under three years of age suffer from catarrhal tonsillitis more severely than children over 3 years of age. It is difficult to bring down a child’s temperature, persuade him to eat and take medicine. The reason is the weakness of the immune system and the rapid increase in intoxication of the body.

After a rapid onset on the second or third day of the disease, yellowish-white follicles become noticeable on the surface of the red, swollen tonsils. If therapy is started in a timely manner, the festering formations open up on their own and the wounds heal. The child recovers in 5–10 days.

Lacunar tonsillitis

The onset is the same as the previous form, only the pain can be more intense and radiate to the ears. The submandibular lymph nodes enlarge and become painful. Pus fills the mouths of the lacunae on the surface of the tonsils. Symptoms of lacunar tonsillitis with adequate treatment of the disease disappear 5 days after the onset of the disease. The immediate cause of follicular and lacunar forms of tonsillitis is streptococcal infection, less commonly staphylococci and pneumococci. In this case, doctors prescribe antibacterial drugs.


If a baby cries for no apparent reason and refuses to eat, it means he has a sore throat. If the child can speak, he will be able to explain his condition. Children under two years old will not be able to tell what is happening to them. Let's consider the topic: a child has a sore throat and fever. How to help, what should be done?

Causes of sore throat

If crying is heard in response to an offer of food, you need to check the baby’s temperature and examine the neck. The first sign of a sore throat is refusal to eat - it hurts the child to swallow, but he cannot explain this. The causes of sore throat can be different - infectious and non-infectious. Sometimes a severe sore throat is accompanied by a fever, sometimes it just hurts to swallow without a fever.

Pain with fever occurs when:

  • sore throat;
  • flu;
  • scarlet fever;
  • pharyngitis;
  • laryngitis.

High temperature always indicates inflammatory processes in body tissues and accompanies viral/bacterial infections. The swollen mucous membrane becomes inflamed, and the child has a severe sore throat. A sore throat can be purulent - then white or yellowish pustules appear on the tonsils.

With a bacterial infection, a child's sore throat appears suddenly, it is accompanied by fever and pain in the head, swelling of the mucous membrane and swelling of the cervical lymph nodes. A viral infection is similar in manifestations to a bacterial one, so only a pediatrician can distinguish the nature of the disease.

Pain without fever:

  • inflammation of the oral mucosa – stomatitis;
  • inhalation of polluted air;
  • too dry air, heat in the room;
  • entry of a foreign body;
  • allergic rhinitis.

Stomatitis can also occur with inflammation in the throat and sometimes accompanied by fever in the body. With stomatitis, white or gray ulcers appear on the oral mucosa. If the baby does not have symptoms of a cold or fever, but has a cough and a sore throat, this may be caused by too dry and hot air in the room. The same applies to inhaling dusty air or tobacco smoke.

Small children and infants have a habit of putting everything in their mouths, so the throat may also hurt due to a foreign body. In this case, the baby will cough and tears will flow. What to do? You need to examine the baby's neck and call a doctor.

Allergic rhinitis is accompanied by copious mucus secretion, which can get into the neck and cause irritation. The allergy is not accompanied by a fever - the child coughs and tears flow.

Angina

If your child has a sore throat, it may be a sign of sore throat or tonsillitis. The disease affects the larynx, the tonsils increase in size. Enlargement of the tonsils is the body’s protective reaction to the penetration of microbes into the lower respiratory tract - bronchi, lungs. In children under three years of age, a sore throat may cause stomach pain.

With tonsillitis, there is a sore throat and a temperature of 39. This is a dangerous disease that affects not only the larynx, but also the internal organs of the body. A characteristic feature is a rash on the tonsils, enlarged lymph nodes (cervical, jaw), hoarseness.

Tonsillitis is caused by bacteria of the coccal group, which are very dangerous for the child. Treatment of tonsillitis is carried out with the help of antibiotics, rinsing with antiseptics - Hexoral, Miramistin and others.

Scarlet fever

This disease is dangerous with complications. A sore throat and fever appear suddenly, although the incubation (latent) period may last several days. The signs of scarlet fever are as follows:

  • temperature 38 and above;
  • rapid heartbeat (tachycardia);
  • vomiting, muscle and bone pain;
  • swollen lymph nodes;
  • red rash on the body;
  • bright blush on the cheeks.

All these symptoms are accompanied by headaches, impotence and lethargy. The larynx becomes swollen, making it difficult for the child to swallow saliva. What should you do if signs of scarlet fever appear? Call an ambulance immediately. Severe cases of scarlet fever are treated only in a hospital.

Pharyngitis

A sore throat and fever can also occur with pharyngitis. With this disease, the nasopharynx becomes inflamed. There are several reasons for the appearance of pharyngitis:

  • untreated caries;
  • enlarged adenoids;
  • hypothermia;
  • avitaminosis;
  • sinusitis.

Pharyngitis is not characterized by a temperature of 37 - the thermometer rises to 39. The disease is accompanied by a dry cough, dry mouth, runny nose, and a “lump” in the throat. Pharyngitis is dangerous due to complications - penetration of infection into the trachea/bronchial tubes/lungs.

Pharyngitis is treated by a pediatrician. This disease can be caused by different types of infection - bacteria or viruses. Therefore, medications are selected to destroy microorganisms of different nature.

Important! At temperatures above 37.5, heating, inhalation and compresses are prohibited.

If your child has a fever, you need to take paracetamol or ibuprofen. Carry out rinsing and inhalation with saline and herbal solutions. It is recommended to rinse the nasal passages with sea salt or prepared saline solutions; the larynx is irrigated with antiseptic solutions.

Laryngitis

This pathology in children is characterized by temporary loss of voice, dry persistent cough, and fever in the child. How to treat fever and sore throat in a child with laryngitis? Gargling with herbs and treating the larynx with healing oils (sea buckthorn, eucalyptus) are indicated. To free the blood from toxins, you need to drink a lot of fluids - compotes, tea, fruit juice.

When you have laryngitis, you need to remain silent so that the vocal cords do not strain. Older children can be offered a healing drink - warm milk with mineral water, a spoonful of soda and honey. The drink is not tasty, but it will quickly relieve unpleasant symptoms and relieve pain.

Help a child

Sick children need careful care. Inflamed glands work in an enhanced mode, freeing the body from toxins. To alleviate the child’s condition, you need to give a lot of liquid - compotes, juices, fruit drinks, tea, mineral water without gas. The liquid flushes out toxins from the blood, helping the body rid itself of toxic substances. The liquid should be given warm - at room temperature.

What else needs to be done? It is necessary to boost immunity with the help of herbal decoctions and infusions. Give your child:

  • raspberry tea;
  • linden infusion;
  • currant leaf tea;
  • rosehip decoction;
  • chamomile flower tea.

You cannot force feed your baby if he refuses to eat. When the swelling of the mucous membrane subsides, the child will ask to eat. The food should be gentle - puree, porridge, soufflé. Solid food hurts the mucous membrane, so don’t force you to eat rough food.

Many parents worry about their child's condition. Very often, adults turn to a specialist with a problem when the child’s temperature is 39. Why does this phenomenon occur and what actions should be taken?

Viruses and bacteria enter the body through the nasal and oral cavities. They may not begin their activity immediately, but after a few days. In medicine, this period of time is usually called the incubation period. Basically, for colds it ranges from one to ten days. It all depends on what microbes caused the disease.

Painful sensations in the throat and heat don't just show up. These two indicators indicate that the mucous membranes have become infected, and the body is trying to actively fight the reproduction and growth of microbes.

Factors that cause such a pathological process are usually divided into two main types:

Colds

The first group includes various colds. These include influenza infection, ARVI, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and laryngitis. Bacterial diseases often cause a sore throat and fever up to 39 degrees.

Also, those children who are infected with HIV may have a sore throat regularly. Often the cause of such symptoms is a secondary type of infection. These include stomatitis or cytomegalovirus.

If so, then perhaps the cause was an allergic reaction. Irritants can be anything: pollen from flowering plants, house dust, medicines, pet hair, food. In addition to all this, there are other symptoms such as a sore throat, redness of the eyes and watery eyes, runny nose and congestion in the nasal passages.

Factors that are not related to diseases

The second group of reasons includes factors that are not related to diseases. This includes the penetration of a foreign object into the respiratory tract in the form of fish bones, food, small parts or dust. They cause irritation and injury to the oral mucosa.

Children may also complain of a sore throat that occurs due to dry air. Low humidity and high temperature in the room puts a lot of stress on the throat.

Acute tonsillitis

If the child has severe pain, the cause may be a sore throat or acute tonsillitis.

The disease can occur as a result of eating ice cream, hypothermia, or sedimentation of bacteria. The disease affects only the pharyngeal region where the tonsils are located. The tonsils perform a special function in the body. They protect the respiratory tract from various infections. When immune function is weakened, the tissues in the oral cavity swell, the tonsils increase in size and become very red. As a result of this, the patient cannot swallow food or saliva normally due to severe pain.

Symptoms of tonsillitis

The main symptoms of tonsillitis include:

  1. Raising body temperature to 39-40 degrees.
  2. Painful feeling in the throat.
  3. Hoarseness of voice.
  4. Redness and swelling of the throat.
  5. Enlarged lymph nodes in the submandibular and cervical region.
  6. The appearance of rashes and plaque on the tonsils.

When the first signs appear, treatment should begin immediately. The thing is that tonsillitis adversely affects the internal organs.

How to treat a sore throat

In childhood? If this disease occurs, then you cannot do without taking antibiotics. According to statistics, in eighty percent of cases, tonsillitis is caused by bacteria in the form of staphylococci or streptococci. Children are prescribed antibacterial agents such as Augmentin or Amoxiclav. In addition to all this, the treatment process includes gargling with various solutions and irrigating the oral cavity with antiseptics in the form of Hexoral, Tantum Verde, Miramistin.

Scarlet fever in childhood

Another disease that causes discomfort in the throat and fever is scarlet fever. In fact, this disease is considered dangerous, as it can lead to complications in a matter of days.

Scarlet fever occurs hidden, and this period lasts from three to seven days. The onset is acute and is characterized by a sharp deterioration in the child’s condition.

Signs of scarlet fever

The main features include:

  1. Temperature rises to 38-40 degrees.
  2. Severe swelling of the back of the throat, tonsils and palatine arches.
  3. Manifestation of severe painful sensations in the head.
  4. The occurrence of tachycardia.
  5. Fever and aching in muscle tissue.
  6. Nausea and vomiting.
  7. Lethargy and drowsiness.
  8. Severe redness of the tongue.
  9. Painful feeling in the throat.
  10. Enlarged lymph nodes.

After the first signs appear, within a few hours the child develops a bright red rash all over the body.

What to do?

What to do with scarlet fever? The first step is to call a doctor at home. If the disease is severe, the child is sent to the hospital.

  1. Maintain bed rest for three to five days.
  2. Compliance with drinking regime.
  3. Strict diet.
  4. Taking antibiotics in the form of Amoxiclav or Augmentin. The duration of the treatment course is from five to ten days.

Pharyngitis in childhood

Pharyngitis refers to an acute infectious disease that leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx. In medicine, it is customary to identify several causes of the disease.

Causes of pharyngitis

These include:

  1. Hypothermia of the body.
  2. Weakened immune function.
  3. Lack of vitamins and minerals.
  4. Presence of carious formations.
  5. Enlarged adenoids.
  6. Sinusitis and sinusitis.

Symptoms of pharyngitis

The symptoms of pharyngitis are quite pronounced and are characterized by:

  1. Severe dryness in the mouth.
  2. The occurrence of a painful feeling in the throat.
  3. Raising body temperature to 39 degrees.
  4. Having a dry cough.
  5. The appearance of a runny nose and nasal congestion.
  6. Feeling of a lump in the throat.

Complications of pharyngitis

Often, patients do not pay attention to the first symptoms and do not take any measures. But often harmless pharyngitis leads to complications in the form of:

  1. Abscess of peritonsillar nature. Occurs as a result of pharyngitis, which is caused by streptococci.
  2. Laryngitis.
  3. Tracheitis.
  4. Chronic bronchitis.

What to do?

Treatment of pharyngitis includes following several important recommendations in the form of:

  1. Taking antiviral or antibacterial agents. It all depends on what pathogen caused the disease. The cause can only be determined by a doctor after an examination.
  2. Use of antipyretics. Since in childhood the temperature often rises to 39 degrees, the child should be allowed to bring down the temperature with the help of Cefekon, paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
  3. Gargle with furatsilin, herbal or soda-salt solution.
  4. Rinsing the nasal passages with sea salt solutions.
  5. Inhalation applications.
  6. Irrigation of the throat with antiseptic agents.
  7. Taking antihistamines. Often, children are prescribed these drugs to relieve severe swelling in the nasal and oral cavities. This includes the use of drops in the form of Fenistil and Zodak or tablets in the form of Tavegil and Suprastin. The dosage depends on the age and weight of the child.
  8. Dissolving tablets for sore throat. Children over three years of age are prescribed Faringosept, Strepsils or Lizobact.

Laryngitis in childhood

Laryngitis is considered a serious disease, especially if it occurs in childhood. Several factors contribute to the manifestation of laryngitis:

Causes of laryngitis

  1. Hypothermia.
  2. Unfavorable situation in the city.
  3. Severe ligament tension.
  4. Advanced pharyngitis or colds.

Laryngitis begins abruptly and is characterized by:

  1. Severe pain in the throat.
  2. Loss of voice.
  3. A cough that is debilitating and dry.
  4. An increase in temperature to 39 degrees.

In medicine, the disease is usually divided into several types:

  • Atrophic laryngitis.
  • Occupational laryngitis.
  • Hemorrhagic laryngitis.
  • Hypertrophic laryngitis.
  • Diphtheria laryngitis.
  • Catarrhal laryngitis.
  • Laryngotracheitis.
  • Tuberculous laryngitis.

What to do?

To eliminate the disease, you need to see a doctor. The treatment process consists of:

  • In gargling with decoctions of medicinal herbs.
  • Drinking heavily. The child should be given as much liquid as possible in the form of fruit drinks, compotes, tea with lemon, honey and raspberries.
  • In lubricating the larynx with eucalyptus or sea buckthorn oil.
  • In sucking mint, sage or lemon candies.

An excellent traditional medicine is warm milk, to which a spoonful of soda, mineral water and honey are added. The taste is not very pleasant. But after two or three doses the patient’s condition returns to normal.

Also, for laryngitis, it is recommended to apply compresses and perform inhalations. But you should resort to such methods only if the child’s temperature is no higher than 37.5 degrees. Doctors also advise speaking less so that the ligaments and pharynx do not experience double stress.

Whatever disease appears in a child, it is necessary to show it to a doctor. Only an experienced specialist can correctly diagnose the disease after a thorough examination.

A slight fever, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and a runny nose are usually called a simple respiratory disease - a cold. In medicine, there is the concept of “ARVI” if the doctor is convinced that the cause of the disease is a viral infection, otherwise the usual “ARI” is diagnosed. Parents should know the difference between diseases that have similar symptoms in the form of a red throat, temperature of 37℃ and a runny nose, and what to do if their child exhibits similar symptoms.

Why does my throat turn red?

Redness of the throat in a 3-year-old child is the main symptom, indicating that inflammation is rampant in the body, the cause of which is increased blood flow to the cells of the tissues of the throat, hence the blood-filled capillaries and vessels and, as a result, redness. If a sore throat is accompanied by an elevated temperature of up to 37℃, the child’s condition should not be ignored.

It is worth carefully observing any changes occurring in the baby, which you should then inform your doctor about at your appointment. Redness of the throat and a temperature of 37℃ in a 3-year-old child are the result of a cold, but if these signs are accompanied by a runny nose and cough, you should visit a doctor in a timely manner to avoid complications.

What reasons?

For 3-year-old children, pharyngitis is a common occurrence - a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the tissues of the pharyngeal mucosa and lymph nodes. These signs are then accompanied by symptoms in the form of enlarged lymph nodes, a strong spasmodic cough, and an increase in temperature to 37℃ or higher degrees.

But a similar condition can overtake a child with other diseases.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a very unpleasant and quite dangerous disease, which is distinguished by its sudden appearance and has a latent period of several days. Accompanied by:

  • temperature 37℃ or more;
  • redness of the facial skin;
  • aches in bones, joints and muscles;
  • enlarged lymph nodes;
  • heart rhythm disturbances;
  • the appearance of a rash on the body.

Such symptoms occur against the background of general fatigue and weakness. The child suffers from the inability to eat food normally.

What to do?

Timely diagnosis and treatment only in a hospital setting will help to avoid dangerous consequences in the form of otitis media, pneumonia, impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver due to the occurrence of purulent processes in them. Parents should closely monitor for signs of illness and consult a doctor immediately.

Angina

A child who has a fever of up to 37℃ and a sore or red throat may be suffering from a sore throat. The disease develops in the respiratory organs and inflames the tonsils, causing them to enlarge. Such modifications are a protective reaction to the entry of pathogenic organisms into the respiratory organs - lungs, bronchi. Children as young as three years old often experience abdominal pain with a sore throat.

Tonsillitis causes fever up to 37℃ and above, which is very dangerous for the respiratory system and the entire body as a whole. The disease is caused by pathogens of the cocci group. A distinctive feature of tonsillitis in children is enlarged lymph nodes and hoarseness.

What to do?

You should entrust the treatment of your child to a doctor, as complications can be very dangerous for the baby’s health. Antibiotic-based medications are prescribed for care; rinses and irrigation sprays are used as auxiliary agents.

The danger of the disease can affect the functioning of the heart and manifest itself in the form of lymphadenitis, asthma, kidney disease and gastrointestinal tract disease.

Pharyngitis

In three-year-olds, fever, red throat or runny nose may accompany pharyngitis. This is a disease that provokes an inflammatory process of the nasopharynx for the following reasons:

  • lack of vitamins in the body;
  • inflammation of the maxillary sinuses;
  • hypothermia;
  • enlarged adenoids;
  • caries.

Pharyngitis is characterized by an increase in temperature to at least 37℃, but this is in rare cases; often the mercury reaches 39℃. The child may have a dry cough, constant thirst due to dry mouth, and a runny nose.

What to do?

If a child has pharyngitis, be sure to show him to a specialist, since this disease is dangerous due to the entry of infectious organisms into the lower respiratory tract and damage to the trachea, bronchi and lungs. Therapy includes the selection of medications whose action will be aimed at destroying microorganisms of viral or bacterial origin. At the same time, the doctor may prescribe antipyretic drugs to reduce the temperature, taking into account the weight and age of the child. Also, procedures for washing the upper nasal passages and irrigating the throat with antiseptic solutions are not prohibited.

Laryngitis

Laryngitis can cause disturbances in the child’s body, which manifest themselves in the form of loss of voice, dry spasmodic cough, and elevated temperature up to 37℃.

What to do?

The disease entails many dangerous conditions for the child, including bronchitis, paralysis of the vocal cords, and purulent inflammation of the larynx. It is important to recognize the course of the disease in a timely manner for therapy to be effective. For this, the baby should be immediately shown to a pediatrician, who will choose the treatment method that is most effective for your child.

How to care for children?

Sick children need careful care. Any inflammation of the tonsils is a sign of the body’s struggle to remove toxins from it. You can help your baby cope with this condition by providing him with plenty of fluids. This will help remove toxic substances from the blood, freeing the body from poisons. Be sure to control the temperature of the liquid - it should be at room temperature.

In the fight against the disease, the child’s body weakens and therefore needs additional help. You can increase your immunity with tea made from currant leaves and rose hips, infusion of linden and chamomile.

Refusal to eat is a sign that the baby’s mucous membranes are still swollen, so you should not forcefully try to feed the baby. The diet should contain only soft food - mashed potatoes, porridge, soup.

Children aged three years are not able to independently gargle. In this case, antiseptic sprays will come to the rescue.

We must not forget that an infection caused by bacteria is much more dangerous than a viral disease. It is impossible to diagnose the disease on your own, so you should not delay visiting a doctor.

Under no circumstances should you resort to self-medication or try to cure a child with antibiotic drugs. They are intended to treat diseases of bacterial origin. Therefore, you should not risk the baby’s health and immediately visit a pediatrician as soon as the child shows the first signs of illness.

If a child has a red throat and fever, then the first thing parents try to do is show the baby to the doctor. A red throat and a high temperature of over 40 in children are the main signs of ailments such as tonsillitis or pharyngitis. These diseases are formed due to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the body. After all, millions of new bacteria enter the body every day along with the inhaled air. The child’s immune system is not yet familiar with these bacteria, so it does not have time to fight them, resulting in diseases.

Main causes of red throat symptoms in children

A red throat and fever in a child are classic signs of acute respiratory illnesses. Moreover, these can be not only respiratory diseases, but also rotavirus diseases (ARI and ARVI). Some of the most common diseases in which the baby develops a fever and a red throat are:

  1. Acute pharyngitis. This type of disease is the development of an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the throat. If the baby’s throat turns red and a fever or fever is diagnosed, which depends on the form of the disease, then doctors immediately suspect pharyngitis. With pharyngitis, people complain of pain when swallowing, and they also refuse to eat food. Redness is observed directly on the surface of the tonsils.
  2. Acute tonsillitis. This disease is popularly called tonsillitis. A high temperature in a child, together with swelling and redness of the tonsils, indicates an exacerbation of catarrhal tonsillitis. The main signs of catarrhal tonsillitis are a transparent coating, and with purulent tonsillitis, the coating is predominantly white with the discharge of pus. The development of inflammatory processes in the tonsils is accompanied by an elevated temperature above forty degrees, the appearance of symptoms of severe pain in the throat, especially aggravated when swallowing. For children of any age, this disease is dangerous, since the lack of treatment can lead to irreversible consequences.
  3. Diphtheria. It is an acute form of an infectious disease, the main symptoms of which are: high fever and red throat, weakness and exhaustion of the body, inflammation of the tonsils. With diphtheria, even if the child has a high temperature, the skin becomes pale. Diphtheria is characterized by symptoms such as increased salivation, a nasal voice, as well as difficulty and rapid breathing. A temperature of 39 and above indicates the development of a toxic form of diphtheria. To treat diphtheria, a special vaccine is required, so you should not give your child various medications that are simply useless.
  4. Infectious mononucleosis. This disease is quite common, especially among children under one year of age. The main symptoms of the disease are very similar to tonsillitis. The child has a temperature of 38 and above, the tonsils swell and turn red, the lymph nodes enlarge, the baby becomes weak and exhausted. The child looks sick, so you should definitely consult a doctor. A reddened throat with mononucleosis can cause complications in such organs. Like the liver, spleen and middle ear.
  5. Laryngitis. The disease occurs suddenly, and the child experiences pain when swallowing, and also feels signs of a foreign body in the larynx. With this disease, the temperature is 37 degrees and can rarely rise to 38. With laryngitis, children complain of cough and headaches. Children's voice becomes hoarse or disappears altogether.

A red throat and high temperature confuse parents, since there are more than enough reasons for the development of these symptoms. It is strictly forbidden for parents to diagnose themselves. To carry out the correct treatment measures, it is necessary to make a diagnosis. Children should definitely call an ambulance, since these diseases often cause a rapid rise in temperature.

Features of treatment

If a child has a high temperature, then the first step is to resort to antipyretics. For children, only children's antipyretic drugs should be used. But reducing a high temperature is not yet a cure for the disease.

It is important to know! The temperature should be lowered if the thermometer reading exceeds 38.5 degrees.

How to treat red throat in children if the cause of these symptoms is a viral infection? Treatment of red throat should begin with a correct diagnosis. If the disease is provoked by signs of acute respiratory viral infection, then treatment begins with local therapy based on gargling, irrigation, and sucking lozenges and tablets. Children under two years of age should not be given lollipops or tablets. Children under one year of age should irrigate the neck with various preparations, if they are approved for infants.

You can gargle with salty warm water. You can prepare a solution for rinsing at home, for which you should add one spoon of soda and salt to a glass of water, then stir thoroughly. The procedure is allowed to be carried out 4-6 times a day. Rinsing should be done immediately after meals and before bed.

For children under 2 years old, gargling is quite difficult, so it is necessary to carry out treatment procedures with antiseptic sprays: Orasept, Hexoral, Ingalipt. Before using antiseptic sprays, be sure to read the instructions for use. The instructions indicate age restrictions that must be adhered to. A child over 5 years old can be given lozenges to dissolve in the mouth:

  • Strepsils;
  • Doctor Mom;
  • Grammidin.

The advantage of treating the throat with lozenges is the stimulation of saliva production, as well as the inhibitory effect on the vital activity of microorganisms. Most drugs not only have an inhibitory effect on pathogens, but also help strengthen the immune system.

Often, the use of local treatment methods does not allow one to overcome the disease, so an integrated approach to therapy is required. For this purpose, both antiviral drugs are prescribed, for example, for acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections, and antibiotics for sore throat. It is very important to take timely measures to treat the developing disease. You should be careful with children, since in addition to the positive effects of medications, the development of allergic reactions to the composition of the drugs can be observed.

Features of the use of antipyretic drugs for children

A red throat and a temperature of 38 indicate the development of the child’s disease. Often, at the first symptoms of the disease, parents resort to the help of antipyretics, without thinking that they are intended directly to reduce extreme fever. To prevent antipyretics from harming your child, you should know how to use them correctly.

Initially, you need to make sure that the thermometer readings are high enough to resort to the use of antipyretics. If the baby's temperature does not exceed 38-38.5 degrees, then the use of antipyretics is prohibited. The body is able to fight the infection on its own, and the use of an antipyretic will only worsen the situation. If a baby’s temperature rises above 38.5 degrees, then you can’t hesitate, you need to use an antipyretic.

Children over one year old should be given antipyretics if the signs of hyperthermia increase and exceed 38.5-39 degrees. High temperature is quite dangerous for a child’s health, especially when it comes to babies and infants. If the baby is sick, then temperature measurements should be taken regularly every 3-4 hours.

Antipyretic drugs should always be available at home so that parents can always turn to their help if the need arises. Antipyretic drugs are produced in various forms: syrups, suppositories, suspensions and tablets. Children can lower their temperature using tablets no earlier than 7 years of age. Each release form has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, syrups and suspensions are quickly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, so the effectiveness of the effect occurs 20-25 minutes after administration. Rectal suppositories have a positive effect 30-40 minutes after use. But it is candles that are recommended for use for infants.

One of the safest types of antipyretics are paracetamol-based drugs. These drugs can be given to children from 2 months. In addition to the antipyretic effect, paracetamol has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Preparations based on paracetamol:

  • Efferalgan;
  • Panadol;
  • Acetalgin;
  • Paracetamol.

If a child has a severe sore throat, then the use of antipyretics based on paracetamol will reduce the signs of pain, but do not forget that the duration of action of the drug is temporary and lasts up to 4-6 hours. Another popular antipyretic drug is ibuprofen. Ibuprofen-based medications can be given to children from 3 months of age. What to do if the temperature rises in a child under 1 month of age? Lighter versions of antipyretics are available for infants, but they can be used as prescribed by a doctor.