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Treatment of sore throat in children 12 years old. Sore throat in children under three years of age: features of symptoms and treatment

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the palatine tonsils is quite common in childhood.

Sore throat in children under one year of age is diagnosed less frequently, but the course of the disease is quite severe.

Making a diagnosis in an infant is complicated by the fact that the child cannot complain, and the symptoms quickly progress.

If you notice signs of a sore throat, you should definitely contact medical care, to avoid serious complications. The main factors provoking the development of sore throat.

The immune system of an infant is not fully formed, and the body with weak defenses can easily pick up viruses and bacteria.

The tonsils in such children are underdeveloped and therefore the infection quickly penetrates this area. The most common causes of sore throat in infants include:

  • Streptococcus and staphylococcus bacteria;
  • Herpes virus, pneumococcus and adenovirus;
  • Candida fungus;
  • General weakening of the immune system;
  • Hypothermia;
  • Contact with a sick person.

Also, the basis for the appearance of this disease may be previous viral infections, malnutrition and lack of hardening in the baby.

The development of the disease in a baby is accompanied by certain symptoms.

The main symptoms of the disease include the following:

  • Sharp pain in the throat, which leads to refusal to feed;
  • The appearance of plaque on the tongue and tonsils;
  • Increased body temperature;
  • Lethargic and drowsy state;
  • Intestinal upset, nausea and vomiting;
  • Hoarseness of voice;
  • Constant crying of the child.

Also, symptoms may have separate manifestations depending on the form of sore throat.

Types of disease

In childhood, the following types of tonsillitis can occur: catarrhal, purulent follicular and lacunar, as well as herpes.

Catarrhal form The disease is characterized by dryness and burning in the throat, pain when swallowing, redness and swelling of the tonsils, and enlarged lymph nodes.

Purulent follicular and lacunar appearance characterized by a significant increase in temperature, severe pain in the throat, redness of the mucous membrane and tonsils, and pustular rashes on the tonsils.

Lacunar variety is a more aggravated form in which purulent discharge spread to the ducts and pockets of the tonsils.

Herpangina manifests itself as headaches, aches and pains muscle tissue, pain in the throat and abdominal cavity, vomiting.

Also herpes virus causes the formation of red blisters on the tongue, palate and tonsils.

Any form of the disease requires medical examination and prescribing appropriate treatment.

Establishing diagnosis

Sore throat in children under one year of age is diagnosed based on research.

The following activities are carried out for diagnosis:

  • External examination of the oral cavity and lymph nodes;
  • General blood analysis;
  • Throat culture to determine the pathogen and sensitivity to drugs.

After the examinations, the doctor prescribes therapeutic therapy, which for infants is recommended to be carried out in a hospital.

Only an uncomplicated form of sore throat can be treated at home.

Rules for caring for a sick baby

For get well soon In addition to the prescribed treatment, the child must adhere to these rules.

Follow a gentle regimen and limit the patient’s contact with other children to prevent them from becoming infected.

Take regular walks in the fresh air. After normalizing the temperature, do water procedures.

During treatment, feed the baby plenty of water using raisin decoction, dried fruit compote, water and breast milk.

Feeding fresh liquid food at the child's request. Regular ventilation of the room and wet cleaning.

Medical therapy

Treatment of sore throat in children under one year of age depends on the type of disease for which a separate treatment regimen is used.

Herpes and viral forms of the disease do not require antibacterial therapy. Over the course of three days, the baby’s immunity itself produces antibodies to the virus, thereby destroying the cause of the disease.

To relieve the inflammatory process, antihistamines are prescribed.

Sore throat of bacterial etiology can only be treated with antibiotics.

Antibacterial drugs of the penicillin series are widely used to eliminate infection.

Such agents have a detrimental effect on bacteria, while the toxic effect is minimal.

These medications include Amoxiclav, Amoxicillin, Flucloxacillin.

These drugs are especially suitable for children due to their rapid absorption and penetration into the blood and body tissues.

In case of severe disease, predisposition to complications or drug intolerance penicillin group Other types of antibiotics are used for treatment.

Such as Ceftriaxone, Azithromycin. Such drugs also have low toxicity and effective effects.

During treatment, medications based on Paracetamol or Ibuprofen are used to lower the temperature.

To restore intestinal microflora from exposure antibacterial agents use Linex or Hilak forte.

For the first seven days after treatment, the baby is examined daily by a pediatrician, and after two weeks, blood and urine tests are performed and an electrocardiogram is performed to exclude complications.

Possible negative consequences

Sore throat is a dangerous disease in which incorrect and untimely treatment can lead to complications in the cardiovascular, bone, nervous and genitourinary system child's body.

When swelling occurs, pain in the joints and chest, consult a specialist immediately. Complications include the following pathologies:

  • Acute form of otitis and laryngitis;
  • Swelling of the larynx;
  • Lymphadenitis in the neck area;
  • Meningitis;
  • Rheumatic diseases;
  • Pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis.

Timely initiation of therapeutic therapy and compliance with all doctor’s instructions will prevent the development of such negative consequences.

Sore throat is a disease caused by infectious microorganisms and causing inflammatory process in the throat. Harmful bacteria or viruses progress more easily in the body during cold weather, in the presence of background pathologies, non-compliance with diet and sleep, and decreased immunity. Children get sick more often than adults - their fragile bodies are more susceptible to infectious agents. If a 4-year-old child is diagnosed with tonsillitis, the doctor will tell you how to treat the symptoms. However, every parent should know the basic methods of treating a childhood disease.

To understand how to treat a sore throat if the child is 4 years old, it is necessary to determine the type and cause of the disease.

Pediatric pathology is of two types: acute and chronic.

The first type of tonsillitis has a pronounced clinical picture. Acute sore throat develops in literally three to four days. Inflammatory processes affect the tonsils. The causative agent of the disease is determined by the nature of the rash in the throat.

Chronic tonsillitis does not manifest itself as clearly as acute tonsillitis. The tonsils are not covered with plaque or rash; accordingly, the disease is often mistaken for a cold or acute respiratory viral infection. There are cases when the transition from one form of the disease to the second is imperceptible. Then the infection remains in the body and can soon flare up with renewed vigor.

Acute sore throat in children provokes the following symptoms:

  • Pain in the tonsils, discomfort when swallowing, sensation of a foreign substance in the throat;
  • General lethargy, constant fatigue, weakness, lack of desire to play;
  • Increased body temperature, sometimes reaching 39 degrees;
  • Refusal to eat, problems sleeping, strange smell from the mouth;
  • General intoxication of the body.

Sometimes the course of the disease is accompanied by a cough with expectoration of accumulated pus.

Upon examination, the doctor notes redness of the back of the throat, areas of the palate and tonsils. Infected areas become covered with purulent plaque. The tonsils may also be enlarged. The lymph nodes located on the neck, behind the ears and under the jaw become hypertrophied. TO side diseases include otitis media, sinusitis, rhinitis.

If there is no pain and fever with chronic sore throat, then the tonsils continue to be enlarged. Their structure becomes loose, the surface is deformed, sticking to the arches of the sky. However, a change in the size of the tonsils does not always indicate a sore throat. There are cases when pathology occurs without viral causes. Similarly, situations of absence of hypertrophy in the size of the tonsils are possible in the presence of infection in the body.

This is why starting a disease and allowing it to develop into chronic stage it is forbidden. It is important to begin treatment for sore throat in a 4-year-old child when the first symptoms of the pathology appear.

In addition, the disease is classified depending on the causative agent of the infection and signs of damage to the throat.

Phlegmanous

Sore throat of the phlegmonous type develops as a complication of the lacunar or follicular form of tonsillitis. The disease manifests itself as inflammation of the tonsils and the formation of areas in their tissues filled with purulent plaque and dead lymphocytes. Pathogen bacteria destroy tissue structure with harmful enzymes released.

The signs and symptoms of tonsillitis in a 4-year-old child are almost similar to those that accompany the lacunar form. Characteristics of the phlegmonous type are an increase in temperature and general severe intoxication of the baby’s body. The child's voice becomes nasal, and speech is no longer intelligible. Eating a toddler is difficult. The baby is trying to put his head in a position that minimizes discomfort from inflammation of the tonsil.

The breakthrough of phlegmon causes an improvement in the child's well-being. However, if, when the pus comes out, it gets into the tissue of the peripharyngeal zone, the disease will become more complicated and purulent streaks will appear. Generally sore tonsils contain up to thirty milliliters of stagnant secretions.

One-sided phlegmonous tonsillitis predominates. Adults get sick more often than children. The course of treatment is approximately two weeks.

Sometimes it is difficult to understand how to treat a sore throat in a child under 6 years of age, since the child is not able to independently identify all the symptoms of the disease. In this case, contacting a doctor is mandatory.

Lacunarnaya

Before treating a sore throat in children 4 years old, you need to check whether it is lacunar.

The form of the pathology is similar to follicular, but the symptoms are more acute. Examining the throat, the doctor notes plaque on the tonsils white-yellow color. One of the first signs is an increase in body temperature. After about four days of infection, the pus is easily separated from the tonsils. As a rule, the child’s temperature then normalizes and the severity of symptoms subsides. However, the signs of the disease do not disappear completely until the lymph nodes shrink.

The duration of the pathology in the absence of complications is a week. Treat children's lacunar tonsillitis quite simple.

Follicular

The follicular form of the disease is characterized by rapid development. Within a day, an infection that enters a child’s body initiates an inflammatory process and produces almost all permanent symptoms. That is why it is so important to know how to treat a sore throat in a child 5 years old and younger.

The main sign of pathology is a sharp jump in body temperature. The mark on the thermometer can rise to 39 degrees. The swallowing process is different acute pain radiating to the ear area. The secretion of saliva increases. Particularly sensitive children experience nausea, vomiting, and even fainting.

The lymph nodes become enlarged and hurt when pressed. There is hyperemia of the tonsils and the presence of yellowish-white purulent plugs on them. The opening of the follicles occurs on the third day of illness. The wounds heal quite quickly. The temperature drops, the symptoms become dull, and the baby’s general condition returns to normal. However, this is not a reason to stop treatment.

The duration of the pathology is one week. How to treat sore throat in children 5 years of age and younger in this form, the doctor will tell you.

Fibrous

Cure a sore throat in a 4 year old child fibrous form possible by noticing the symptoms of the disease in time. The signs almost coincide with the clinical picture of the lacunar and follicular type of pathology.

This form is also called pseudodiphtheria, since the membranes of the tonsils are covered with spots of a whitish film. Even an experienced doctor, without the appropriate tests, can make an incorrect diagnosis and see diphtheria in the symptoms. However, a smear from the tonsil helps identify the disease.

Then the doctor will decide what to give to a 4-year-old child for sore throat.

Treatment

Sore throat is dangerous and unpleasant illness. ethnoscience alone will not cope with the symptoms of the pathology. Seeing a doctor at the first signs is mandatory. Moreover, complications and sharp forms illnesses are treated exclusively in the hospital.

Diagnosis of tonsillitis includes a smear from the surface of the tonsils or pharynx. Laboratory analysis sample allows you to find out which bacteria or viruses caused the inflammatory process. Symptoms, the age of the child, individual intolerance to drugs and techniques affect the therapy prescribed by the doctor.

Herpes and viral forms of the disease are not subject to antibacterial treatment. There will be no effect from the drug, but rather harm to the gastrointestinal tract. Antibiotics destroy only infectious microorganisms. They are the best remedy against bacterial sore throat.

You cannot do anything on your own when choosing antibiotics. Only a doctor can prescribe the appropriate medicine.

Complex treatment will give the greatest effect. Therapy should include drugs of both local and general action. In cases of particularly severe disease, a surgical procedure is required.

The basis of treatment for a bacterial form of sore throat is a course of antibiotics.

The disease caused by streptococcus requires the prescription of penicillins. Doctors prescribe:

  • Augmentin;
  • Amoxiclav;
  • Amoxicillin.

Presence of complications or acute process The course of the disease, as well as the individual intolerance of the sick child to penicillin, exclude drugs based on it. Instead, patients use products from other groups.

It is believed that Macrolides and Cephalosporins provide the greatest resistance to infection. The advantages of medications include their low toxicity.

A 4-year-old child must follow the prescribed course of treatment with antibacterial drugs. The doctor selects the ideal dose of the drug, taking into account the severity of the symptoms of sore throat and the age of the small patient. Treatment with medications lasts from five to ten days. The healing process becomes noticeable already on the third day of antibiotic therapy. In any case, you should not stop taking the medication, even if the symptoms seem to have disappeared and no complications are expected.

Please note that the rules for taking Sumamed are different. An antibiotic of the macrolide group has the ability to settle in the body, thereby prolonging the period of exposure. The course of treatment with the drug is three days. Daily dose– 1 tablet.

In addition to their positive effects, antibiotics have a number of side effects. These include harm gastrointestinal tract. Natural microflora is susceptible to the influence of the drug. Dysbacteriosis develops in the child’s body, requiring separate therapy. To make matters worse, intestinal problems can develop into candidiasis. It is important to prevent the development of consequences. Therefore, the doctor additionally prescribes a probiotic and its use cannot be ignored.

In addition, medication general treatment includes taking antipyretic drugs and antihistamines. You can lower the temperature only when it reaches 38 degrees. Otherwise, the effect of antibiotics will not be noticed.

Local treatment will consolidate the effect of general use drugs.

A child of 4 years old can already use medications of this kind. Of course, it will not be a full-fledged therapy, but it will be perfect as an addition to the main course.

The main procedure is gargling. Antiseptic solutions based on potassium permanganate, furatsilin or peroxide are used. Symptoms of tonsillitis are dulled by herbal infusions. Chamomile, calendula, sage, eucalyptus are used. Homemade saline solution is prepared using salt and baking soda.

Rinsing helps remove plaque and dead tissue from the tonsils. The solutions have an anti-inflammatory effect, rid the throat of germs and prevent the subsequent spread of infection.

Biopax copes well with the symptoms of the disease. Thanks to the antibiotic in the composition and the convenient spray form, the drug acts as quickly as possible. Fusafungin is able to resist pathogenic microorganisms of various types, including streptococci, staphylococci and Candida fungi. Thus, the medicine is effective for bacterial and fungal sore throat. A child aged 4 years should irrigate his throat two to four times a day.

The procedure for lubricating the tonsils is quite popular. Lugol's solution, for example, contains iodine and has an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, even anesthetic effect on infected areas of the pharynx. If the baby is hypersensitive, it is better to avoid the drug - common side effects include the development of allergies. For a 4-year-old child, the medication is prescribed in extreme cases.

It is recommended to avoid compresses on the neck. The method is erroneous and rather harmful. An increase in blood flow when heated worsens the condition of inflamed tonsils and aggravates the course of the disease. A heated infection spreads several times faster.

In any case, the doctor decides how to treat a 4-year-old child’s sore throat. Self-medication can be dangerous.

Treatment methods at home

Alternative medicine can alleviate the condition of a sick baby. However, she will not be able to stop the spread of infection with sore throat. Folk recipes should complement therapy with medications. The use of this or that remedy is subject to agreement with the doctor. Parents should be careful - small children are especially sensitive to the products offered and they may develop allergies.

Methods using the following recipes are effective:

  • Propolis ointment. Wipe the inflamed tonsils with a cotton pad soaked in the tincture. Repeat several times a day.
  • Garlic paste. Grind the purified product. Pour in milk and bring to a boil. Wait until it cools completely. Use a small spoon several times a day.
  • Lemon and honey. Mix citrus juice and honey in a glass. Drink a small spoon every hour.
  • Fig milk. Boil the product in a saucepan, add a few figs to the medicine. Drink the cooled milk. Eat figs.
  • Infusions for rinsing based on herbs. Chamomile, eucalyptus, dill seeds, and sweet clover are effective. Use warm, after cooling first.
  • Foot baths. Add a few tablespoons of dry mustard to warm water. After warming up your feet, put on socks. The procedure is prohibited when elevated temperature body and purulent sore throat.

Complications in children after tonsillitis

The danger of tonsillitis lies not in the main symptoms, but in subsequent complications. Poor or no treatment strengthens the position of the infection in the body and allows it to affect the urinary, cardiovascular, bone and nervous system. Even a recovered child runs the risk of experiencing negative consequences. Doctors strongly recommend supplementing the main course of therapy with tests, an ECG and refusal of vaccinations until complete recovery.

The presence of shortness of breath, swelling, chest and joint pain is a reason to immediately go to the doctor. Frequent manifestation symptoms of sore throat - a sign of it chronic course. An ENT specialist will help determine the causes of discomfort and complete therapy.

Of the negative consequences that develop against the background of sore throat, there are:

  • Laryngitis, sinusitis, purulent otitis media;
  • Lymphadenitis with acute inflammation;
  • Blood poisoning;
  • Meningitis, sepsis;
  • Infection of mediastinal organs.

There are complications that do not appear immediately, but arise after a long period of time:

  • Arthritis of the joints;
  • Chronic rheumatic pathologies;
  • Heart failure;
  • Lesions of the central nervous system;
  • Vasculitis;
  • Myo- and pericarditis;
  • Glomerulonephritis disease;
  • Symptoms of pyelonephritis.

Dr. Komarovsky advises going to the clinic at the first symptoms of a sore throat. You need to hurry not only because the child cannot eat normally due to a sore throat and suffers from a fever. The main danger of the disease is possible development complications and similarity of symptoms of the pathology with scarlet fever, diphtheria, mononucleosis.

The main course of drug treatment should be supplemented with plenty of fluids and bed rest.

Steam inhalations and warming compresses should not be used - they are dangerous for both children and adults.

Therapy is based on a course of medication antibacterial action In most cases. Since there are forms of sore throat that are not of bacterial origin, in some situations the drug is useless.

Among the preventive measures, the doctor advises strengthening the immune system and avoiding contact with those who already have a sore throat.

Sore throat is unpleasant and dangerous disease. It is difficult for a four-year-old child’s body to fight off an infection on its own. However, the correct actions of parents, timely and correct treatment and an immediate trip to the doctor will help the baby recover quickly.

The disease angina was first described in the works of Hippocrates, dating back to the 4th century BC. e. Seven centuries later, Avicenna described how intubation was performed for asphyxia caused by this disease. Unlike adults, angina in children is more acute, since they have a weaker children's immunity controls the presence of pathogenic microorganisms worse.

Reasons why children get sore throat

Sore throat is an infectious disease also known as acute tonsillitis. With a sore throat, the palatine tonsils become inflamed. Sore throat is a fairly serious disease of the whole body, and if the parents of a sick child underestimate it and, due to inexperience, treat it as a harmless cold, and therefore try to treat the baby themselves, without calling a doctor, they risk greatly harming the baby. Sore throat in a child is dangerous due to serious complications from the kidneys, joints, and heart. One sore throat left untreated in childhood can undermine your health for many, many years.

The causative agent of this disease in most cases is streptococcus. Another reason why children get tonsillitis is exposure to staphylococcus or other pathogens, but such cases occur less frequently.

First, the infection penetrates into the oral cavity. This happens, for example, when breathing through the mouth. For some reason ( acute rhinitis, enlarged adenoids, etc.) the child cannot breathe through his nose and breathes through his mouth. With the inhaled air, dust enters the oral cavity, and along with it pathogenic microorganisms. Microbes settle on the surface of the tonsils and begin their activity.

The infection can enter the oral cavity with poor quality food. Also, the causes of sore throat in children can be carious teeth, inflamed nasopharyngeal tonsil (adenoiditis), and inflamed paranasal sinuses.

See what a sore throat looks like in children in the photos below:

The development of angina in a child is facilitated by factors such as poor living conditions, frequent hypothermia, irregular and insufficient nutrition, fatigue, weakening of the body’s defenses due to frequent colds, weakening of the body due to some serious illness, etc. For preventive purposes, it is recommended for children from a very early age.

Types of sore throat in children, signs of the disease and complications

There are three main types of sore throat in children: catarrhal, lacunar, follicular. The least dangerous is catarrhal: with it, only the mucous membrane covering the tonsil becomes inflamed. In the lacunar form, the inflammatory process spreads deeper and covers the lacunae (special depressions in the tonsils). Acute follicular tonsillitis is the most severe, since with it inflammatory changes also affect the parenchyma of the tonsils.

The main symptom of a sore throat in a child is a sore throat of varying severity. When swallowing, the pain intensifies. In a sick child, the picture of general intoxication of the body quickly increases: general weakness, weakness, lethargy, and moodiness appear; the baby complains of a headache; There may be nausea and vomiting. Body temperature rises to 38-39 °C and even 40 °C.

As can be seen in the photo, the symptoms of tonsillitis in children are significantly enlarged, reddened, loose palatine tonsils:

Plaques are found on the surface of the tonsils and in the lacunae. If you try to remove these plaques - with a wooden spatula or a cotton swab - they are removed quite easily, and there is no bleeding of the mucous membrane exposed from under the plaques. Nearby (regional) lymph nodes (submandibular, cervical, supraclavicular, etc.) react to inflammation of the tonsils. They increase, and when palpated, these groups of lymph nodes are painful. Due to the enlargement of the tonsils and swelling of nearby tissues, the patient’s voice changes somewhat - it becomes a kind of anginal.

Another sign of angina in children can be detected by laboratory testing of blood and urine: they show sharp deviations from the norm.

These are very dangerous possible complications tonsillitis in children, such as peritonsillar abscess (also called phlegmonous tonsillitis), purulent lymphadenitis, rheumatism, rheumatic myocarditis. An infection that spreads throughout the body through the bloodstream, reaching the kidneys, can cause the development of nephritis.

How and with what to treat a child’s sore throat at home

Acute tonsillitis is a very dangerous disease, and there is no need to try therapy on our own and exclusively with home remedies. Having suspected the first symptoms of a sore throat in children, treatment should be started immediately. Moreover, at the slightest suspicion that the baby has tonsillitis (as soon as he complained of a sore throat), you need to call a local children's doctor to your home. After examining the child, the doctor prescribes comprehensive treatment. The child must remain in bed. When treating sore throat in children at home, the room in which the child is located must be regularly ventilated.

A sick baby should be provided with a diet rich in vitamins. Particularly important are vitamins A, C, E, which are antioxidants, i.e. themselves are able to suppress the infection. The child is prescribed a gentle diet. This means that he is given only liquid and semi-liquid foods, and certainly warm. Anything spicy, hot, cold, dry, or hard is contraindicated for a child suffering from acute tonsillitis.

In the process of treating a sore throat at home, the child is recommended to drink plenty of warm drinks. On the one hand, warm liquid warms up the tonsils, and on the other hand, heavy drinking increases diuresis and is excreted from the body through urine. large quantity toxins. There is no need to independently determine how to treat a child’s sore throat: the necessary medications should be prescribed by a pediatrician.

Remember that acute tonsillitis is a contagious disease. Therefore, a baby with tonsillitis should not have contact with other children. Items used by a sick child should not be used by other family members. It is very important that a child suffering from this disease has separate utensils. Dishes used by the patient require thorough washing in running water with a brush and detergent and subsequent boiling.

Local treatment of sore throat in children: gargles and tablets for children

Local treatment of sore throat in children consists of inhalations and gargling. Inhalations with soda steam, potato steam (boil potatoes, mash them and breathe in the steam with your mouth wide open) and others are good.

For gargling with sore throat in children, products such as baking soda solution (dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water), sea salt solution (dissolve 1 or 2 teaspoons of dry sea salt in a glass of warm water), furatsilin solution (dissolve in a glass of warm water) 1:5000). Also recommended for gargling with a sore throat in a child are a solution of potassium permanganate (weak pink), an atony solution (0.1%), a solution of hydrogen peroxide (1 tablespoon of peroxide per glass of warm water), a solution of boric acid (per glass warm water - 1 teaspoon of boric acid), etc.

In the process of treating a sore throat in a child, it is important to follow the following rule: in case of acute tonsillitis, gargling 2-3 times a day is not enough, gargling should be done up to 15 or even 20 times a day - only then can you count on the desired effect. Another rule must be followed: you need to alternate rinses. by different means- this increases the effectiveness of rinsing many times over. Periodic irrigation of the tonsils with a 0.05% solution of Levamisole, as well as Interferon, will help you cope with the disease more quickly.

As tablets for sore throat for children prescribed for resorption, the most effective are Faringosept and Falimint. The condition of the nose does not go unnoticed. Sore throat is more difficult to treat if the nose does not breathe and the child is forced to breathe through the mouth. For nasal congestion, certain vasoconstrictors are prescribed; The doctor should also prescribe medicated nasal drops and ointments.

Treatment of sore throat in children: is it possible to apply a compress to a child’s throat?

When treating sore throat in children, many parents wonder whether it is possible to put warm compresses on the child’s throat in case of acute tonsillitis?

Most doctors believe that compresses for sore throat are prohibited for children, and explain their position as follows: warming compresses are nothing more than “deep warmth.” If the compress warms up the tissues surrounding the inflamed and infected tonsils, this causes a rush of blood and lymph to the tonsil area and further spread of the infection throughout the body, which is extremely undesirable, because threatens the development of serious complications.

If a child has a sore throat, it is better to place compresses not on the throat, but on the neck - on the area of ​​enlarged, painful projections cervical lymph nodes- it is possible and necessary to make warm compresses. Usually oil, vodka or semi-alcohol compresses are made.

Now let's deal with “shallow” heat - i.e. with warm drinks and frequent gargling with warm solutions. Exposure to such heat for sore throats is strongly recommended: there is no significant rush of blood and lymph to the site of inflammation (and infection), but the inflamed tonsils themselves warm up to their full depth, and pathogenic microbes die from the heat in large numbers.

At the same time, the so-called symptomatic treatment: if the child complains about severe pain in the throat, give painkillers; if the temperature rises, they give antipyretics, etc. The doctor may additionally prescribe vitamins and B vitamins.

Traditional medicine for the treatment of sore throat in children

The use of traditional medicine methods for sore throat in children helps to significantly speed up the recovery process and avoid dangerous complications. Pediatricians remind once again: use folk remedies for sore throat in children is possible only as additional treatment to doctor’s prescriptions (after consulting with him).

As traditional methods Treatment of sore throat in children is recommended:

  • breathe exclusively through the nose; talk as little as possible;
  • Drink warm tea with raspberries and blackberries, with lemon 3-4 times a day; the fruits of raspberries and blackberries contain a lot of a substance called “natural aspirin”; it helps well with any inflammation; lemons, like other citrus fruits, contain a lot ascorbic acid(vitamin C); this vitamin is able to actively suppress infection (not only bacteria, but also viruses);
  • gargle with an infusion of chamomile flowers: pour 1 teaspoon of dry raw material with a glass of boiling water and leave in a sealed container for 15-20 minutes, strain; use for rinsing while warm; alternate with other rinses;
  • use an alcohol solution of propolis; preparation of the solution: finely chop a small piece of solid propolis (about the size of a thimble) using a knife, place in suitable sizes container and pour 40-50 g ethyl alcohol, leave for at least 24 hours with occasional shaking; propolis is extracted into alcohol, and the wax will settle to the bottom; after a day (or maybe later), drain the alcohol solution of propolis from the sediment; can be stored in a cool place indefinitely; use of the solution: add 5-6 drops to half a glass of warm water alcohol solution propolis (the water will become cloudy and take on the appearance of milk heavily diluted with water); You need to gargle with this aqueous-alcohol solution of propolis several times a day; alternate with other means.
  • gargle with water and honey; preparation of the product: 1 teaspoon of honey is enough for half a glass of warm water, stir; rinse several times a day without swallowing;

How to treat sore throat in children with folk remedies

Here are a few more folk remedies on how to treat sore throat in children, after consulting with a pediatrician:

  • gargle with infusion of sage leaves; preparing the infusion: place 1 tablespoon of dry, crushed leaves in a preheated thermos, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for about an hour, cool, strain; use warm; gargle 4-5 times a day, alternating with other remedies; if you rinse only with infusion of sage leaves, then more often;
  • gargle with fresh beet juice; preparing juice: a sufficient amount of fresh beets needs to be grated, then squeezed out the juice; use warm; for an older child you can add it to a glass beet juice 1 teaspoon of table vinegar (not essence!); small child You can add 1 teaspoon of honey to the juice for rinsing; When rinsing, do not swallow the juice; alternate with other means;
  • In the process of treating sore throat in children, it is good to gargle with an infusion of plantain leaves; preparing the infusion: pour 1 tablespoon of dry, crushed raw materials with a glass of boiling water and leave, well wrapped, for at least half an hour, strain; use warm; An infusion of fresh plantain leaves is prepared in the same way;
  • gargle with a decoction of onion peels; preparing the decoction: pour 1 teaspoon of chopped onion peel into a glass of water and boil over low heat for 5-6 minutes, then leave, wrapped, for several hours, strain; gargle several times a day;
  • gargle Kalanchoe juice; preparation of the product: pass a sufficient number of leaves through a meat grinder, squeeze out the juice, mix it in half with warm water; gargle several times a day;
  • use the following collection: take plantain leaves, calendula officinalis flowers, wormwood herb in equal quantities; preparing the decoction: pour 1 tablespoon of the dry, crushed mixture with a glass of water and boil over low heat for about 15 minutes, cool, strain; gargle 5-6 times a day, alternating with other remedies.

Effective folk methods for treating sore throat in children

And several more effective folk methods for treating sore throat in children at home:

  • take syrup from aloe vera leaves; Preparation of syrup: fill a suitable container halfway with finely chopped aloe leaves (previously washed thoroughly with cold water) and pour granulated sugar to the top, tie the neck of the dish with gauze and leave in a cool place for 3 days, strain (squeeze out what remains); Take 1 teaspoon of syrup for your child 3 times a day before meals; duration of treatment - until complete recovery;
  • drink an infusion of peppermint leaves; preparing the infusion: pour 2-3 dry mint leaves with a glass of boiling water and leave covered for 15-20 minutes, strain; drink warm immediately after preparation;
  • drink an infusion of cinnamon rose hips; preparing the infusion: pour 1 tablespoon of dry, crushed fruits with a glass of boiling water and leave covered for about an hour, strain; drink warm 0.5-1 glass 2-3 times a day; this infusion contains a lot of vitamin C, which, being a powerful antioxidant, actively destroys infection in the body;
  • take fresh onion juice; juice preparation: sufficient quantity onions grind into pulp, squeeze out the juice using gauze; older child drink 0.5-1 teaspoon fresh juice 3-4 times a day;
  • drink an infusion of Scots pine buds; preparing the infusion: pour 1 tablespoon of the raw material with a glass of boiling water and, wrapping it well, leave for up to half an hour, strain; take half a glass 2-3 times a day; alternate with other means;
  • drink slightly warmed marsh cranberry juice several times a day;
  • several times a day, inhale the fumes from freshly prepared onion or garlic through your nose and mouth;
  • take a paste of grated apples, grated onions and honey; preparation of the product: take all ingredients in equal quantities, mix; take 1-2 teaspoons warm 2-3 times a day; alternate with other means.

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Children often get sick from all sorts of colds, including acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis). This is a serious infectious disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets. Unlike a common acute respiratory disease, sore throat is dangerous in its consequences, especially for young children. But there is no need to panic at the first symptoms. If you quickly begin comprehensive treatment of the disease, it will pass without consequences.

Recognizing a child’s sore throat at the very beginning of the disease and contacting a pediatrician are the main tasks of parents. Everything you need to know about tonsillitis will be discussed in an accessible and understandable form in the article. Armed with this knowledge and the doctor’s recommendations, you can quickly and effectively heal your child.

What are the causes and symptoms of sore throat in children?

Acute tonsillitis, popularly called tonsillitis, is an infectious disease of a viral, fungal or bacterial nature. In 95% of cases, the disease is caused by bacteria - streptococci, staphylococci. Rarely, the causative agents are pneumococci, chlamydia, viruses, mycoplasma, and fungi. Once in the child’s body, they actively multiply and cause severe inflammation palatine tonsils and throat tissues. The main affected area is the tonsils, which swell, become covered with plaque and cause severe pain.

A child cannot develop a sore throat just like that, out of nowhere. There must be favorable conditions and specific reasons for this. These include the following provoking factors:

  • weakened immunity due to vitamin deficiency and past illnesses,
  • severe hypothermia of the body,
  • close contact with a patient with tonsillitis or a carrier of infection,
  • nasal polyps, dental caries,
  • chronic respiratory diseases, in particular chronic tonsillitis,
  • surgical intervention in the oropharynx and nasopharynx,
  • thermal, chemical, mechanical damage throat,
  • past acute respiratory viral infection(ARVI),
  • congenital anomalies of the larynx and oral cavity.

You can get a sore throat at any age, but children from 3 to 12 years old are most susceptible to it. During this period, immunity is just developing, so it cannot always resist infections. In addition, constant close contact with children in kindergarten and school contributes to airborne infection. Newborns and infants under 1 year of age rarely suffer from acute tonsillitis. Thanks to the strong immunity received from the mother, the little body is not susceptible to attacks by viruses and bacteria.

You can understand that a child has a sore throat even before the doctor arrives by the following characteristic symptoms:

  • soreness of the throat when swallowing with a tendency to intensify,
  • refusal to eat food and water,
  • lethargy, moodiness or increased excitability,
  • redness, swelling of the throat,
  • enlarged and plaque-covered palatine tonsils, usually on one side,
  • elevated body temperature – up to 39-40°,
  • enlargement and tenderness of the submandibular lymph nodes,
  • hoarseness, hoarseness of voice,
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
  • febrile seizures in infants.

You can distinguish a sore throat from an acute respiratory infection in the first stages by its rapid development. With a sore throat, usually a sore throat and fever appear suddenly and develop rapidly over the course of literally one day or even overnight. In the evening, a child can be active and cheerful, but in the morning they wake up with a fever and crying. Also, coughing, runny nose and sneezing are not typical for tonsillitis. In some cases it may appear small rash on the skin.

Diagnosis of any disease, including sore throat, should be carried out by a pediatrician. He will examine the pharynx for inflammation and purulent plaque, will determine the form of the disease and, if necessary, prescribe additional clinical studies. For a bacterial infection, the treatment regimen includes antibiotics. To select them correctly, you need to do an analysis to determine the pathogen (mouth swab). The result often needs to wait several days, and treatment must begin immediately, so broad-spectrum antibiotics are usually prescribed.

What forms of sore throat occur in children?

Sore throat or tonsillitis is the common name for the disease. But to choose a treatment regimen, it is important to differentiate its type, because different forms of the disease are treated differently. There are four main forms of sore throat - follicular, lacunar, catarrhal, herpes.

Cases of infection of a child with phlegmonous, fibrinous and gangrenous tonsillitis are extremely rare. The first is a purulent inflammation (abscess) of the tissue of the tonsils and peri-almond area. Requires serious and immediate treatment in a hospital setting. The fibrinous form is a complication of lacunar and follicular tonsillitis. The symptoms are correspondingly similar and difficult to differentiate. Gangrenous tonsillitis is an atypical disease of an ulcerative-necrotic nature.

It manifests itself as ulcers on the tonsils with a purulent coating. Only a doctor can distinguish one form of tonsillitis from another after a thorough examination.

How to cure a sore throat in a child

How to treat sore throat in children? It is necessary and important to treat a child’s sore throat from the very first hours of symptoms until complete recovery. The “it will go away on its own” option does not work here. Treatment Komarovsky always says should be comprehensive and prescribed by a doctor. Only a combination of causal and symptomatic therapy gives positive result. A mild form of the disease can be treated at home, but a severe form requires hospitalization in the infectious diseases department of a children's hospital.

With a sore throat, a high temperature always appears. This good sign active fight of the body against the infectious agent. But it is extremely difficult for a child to withstand it, so it needs to be brought down with the help of antipyretics. They must be given strictly according to the instructions and only those that are allowed at a certain age. A universal remedy is Paracetamol. It is recommended for sore throat for children almost from birth. Available in different forms, so it suits everyone. Another antipyretic drug is Ibuprofen. Among other things, it has an anti-inflammatory effect. Both medications can be purchased at pharmacies without a prescription.

How to properly treat viral sore throat? Viral sore throat requires antiviral treatment. Komarovsky recommends using the following drugs: Arbidol, Viferon, Kagocel, Grippferon. The appropriateness of their use in a particular case is determined by the pediatrician. Bacterial tonsillitis can only be cured with antibiotics. They are selected depending on the causative agent of the disease and individual indications. We'll look at them in more detail a little later.

A mandatory addition must be local symptomatic therapy, without which full recovery may take a long time. It's about about gargling, irrigating the throat, sucking lozenges. Rinsing is carried out only if the child knows how to do it. Komarovsky recommends this treatment of sore throat in children at the age of 5-6 years. You can use Furacillin, Givalex, Hexoral, Tantum Verde. The solution is prepared according to the instructions for the drug and must be tested for sensitivity. Parents should ensure that the child does not swallow the liquid, but spits it out completely.

There are quite a few sprays for the treatment of sore throats. Yox, Iodinol, Ingalipt, Miramistin, Chlorophyllipt are considered optimal and proven. They must be used with caution at an early age, because it is this medicinal form may cause laryngospasm in children. Irrigation should not be carried out more than 2-3 times a day, best option– in the morning after meals and in the evening before bed.

From the age of 4, a child can already be given lozenges and lozenges. They have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, relieve swelling and help cleanse the tonsils of purulent plaque. Faringosept, Lizobakt, Septefril, Strepsils are suitable. But you can’t get carried away with such help, because it’s still medicine, not candy. The parent needs to ensure that lozenges are not used more than 3-4 times a day.

The basis of antiseptic treatment for sore throat in children is the removal of purulent plaque from the tonsils. A cotton swab soaked in Lugol will help do this. You need to carefully move it along the mucous membrane of the throat. Stomatidin, Chlorophyllipt and Hydrogen Peroxide can be used in the same way. The main thing is not to damage the tissue with such manipulations and not cause pain to the child. The procedure is very important and necessary, because, in addition to the bactericidal effect, these products help heal ulcers formed at the site of the plugs. And this, in turn, speeds up recovery.

What antibiotics can be given to children?

Sore throat, accompanied by high fever and purulent plaque on the tonsils, requires treatment of children with antibiotics. Despite their harm to the child’s body, the benefits in this case outweigh the negative effects. Without proper treatment, the bacterial infection will spread further and cause serious consequences. Therefore, it is necessary to give a child antibiotics, but only on the recommendation of a pediatrician.

Bacteria are most sensitive to penicillin antibiotics. They are most often prescribed for the treatment of sore throat. They effectively cleanse the tonsils of bacteria and remove general signs intoxication after 1-2 doses. But you may be allergic to them. You can replace it with amoxicillin. The most popular drug in this series, recommended by Dr. Komarovsky, is Augmentin. Due to the presence of clavulanic acid, which enhances the effect of the antibiotic, it is very effective. Intolerance reactions are extremely rare. Analogues are Amoxiclav, Flemoklav.

Macrolide antibiotics are used to treat acute tonsillitis in children. We are talking about Summed, Erythromycin, Zitrolide, Amosin, Flemoxin. The regimen for their administration and dosage, depending on the age of the child, are described in detail in the instructions for each drug separately. Yes and pediatrician when prescribing, it must clearly indicate how to take the antibiotic.

In the pharmacy chain, antibiotics for the treatment of sore throat in children are presented in wide range. Various forms are also available: tablets, capsules, powders, solutions, mixtures, sprays. Depending on the age, the method of administration is selected. Thus, infants up to six months are recommended to use injection solutions. Otherwise, it is difficult to give the baby medicine, and the intestinal microflora will not be affected. At the age of 1-5 years, suspensions are usually prescribed, rarely - intramuscular injections. From the age of 6 years, you can already give tablets or powders for dilution.

How to treat a sore throat mild form? Light form tonsillitis in a child allows the use of a local antibiotic - Bioparox. It is available in the form of a spray, equipped with 2 nozzles for irrigating the throat and nose. Has a little bad taste and smell, so it should not be used before 5-6 years of age; nausea and vomiting may occur. At an older age, the child will be able to tolerate discomfort if the parents correctly explain the benefits of this medicine.

In severe cases, antibiotics are prescribed as intravenous drips. But this is already exclusively within the hospital individual indications.

The course of antibiotic therapy lasts on average from 5 to 10 days. Under no circumstances should it be interrupted, even if all the symptoms of the disease have gone away. This is fraught with relapse of the disease or serious complications. You need to take the medicine exactly at the same time every day. The interval between doses should not be less than 12 hours. The dosage cannot be changed without permission either. Treatment of sore throat with antibiotics must be taken seriously and responsibly. Any changes or unexpected reactions should be discussed with your doctor.

How to treat a sore throat at home

Treatment of sore throat in children is not possible without following the regimen. Under no circumstances should a sick child be taken to kindergarten or school or allowed out for a walk. He is a potential carrier of infection, easily transmitted by airborne droplets. In addition, the body is weakened during illness and requires additional strength to fight the disease. Bed rest is the only thing correct solution in this situation.

It is better to place a child with a sore throat in a separate room, which must be constantly ventilated and moistened. If this is not possible, then household members should constantly wash their hands with soap and use protective masks. A prerequisite for a speedy recovery is a warm drink. It can be tea, fruit drink, compote, juice, broth, plain water. The liquid washes away bacteria from the mucous membrane and relieves fever.

A child's nutrition during illness should be gentle. You should not give anything sweet, fatty or salty. The consistency of the food should be closer to puree so as not to injure the throat. It should also be rich in vitamins. Purees from fruits and vegetables, grated porridges, steamed dishes, jelly, and jelly are suitable.

The easiest way to relieve inflammation and alleviate the general condition at home is to gargle with a salt solution. This method is only possible if the child knows how to carry out the procedure. And this usually happens after about 5 years. You’ll have to make do until then. alternative methods, for example, pain-relieving lozenges or sprays. Preparing the solution is simple: add 0.5-1 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of boiled warm (not hot!) water, stir until completely dissolved. You can rinse 2-3 times a day.

Inhalations are a good help in treating a sore throat, but only when the temperature has already been brought down by taking antibiotics and the signs of severe intoxication have gone away. You can use regular potatoes, boiled until tender. You need to sit the child at the table, cover his head with a towel and make sure that he inhales the rising steam. It is important that he does not get burned and does not do the procedure for too long (7-10 minutes). If the baby complains of discomfort and cries, then inhalations should be excluded from the treatment regimen.

Any herbs (chamomile, sage, coltsfoot, calendula) and essential oils (eucalyptus, mint) are suitable for brewing in boiling water. The principle of inhalation in this way is similar to potatoes. The ideal option is if you have a special inhaler or nebulizer at home. Then the solution is prepared strictly according to the recipe, and the procedure itself is convenient thanks to the attachments.

As an additional therapy, you can prepare tea from raspberries, currants, linden and honey. It has antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. All components must be brewed in boiled water and cool. You need to drink it every two hours, a couple of sips. This product should not be used if you are allergic to any of the components.

Lemon and honey - affordable and effective means in the treatment of sore throat in children. They can be used in any shape, form or variation. This includes tea, a mixture, and a rinse solution. They relieve inflammation well, relieve pain, reduce fever and supply the body with vitamins and nutrients to fight the disease.

How to prevent sore throat

It is not possible to protect a child from contracting a sore throat, but the risk of the disease can be reduced with the help of basic preventive measures. Such preventive measures include:

  • maintaining basic hygiene (washing hands, ventilating the room),
  • rational, vitamin-rich nutrition,
  • timely treatment of throat and respiratory tract diseases,
  • hardening of the body (walking barefoot, wiping, contrast shower),
  • sports (physical education, swimming, cycling),
  • comprehensive strengthening of the immune system,
  • prevention of hypothermia, drafts,
  • isolate from contact with a sick person,
  • constant walks in the fresh air,
  • comfortable (humid and fresh) microclimate in the children's room,
  • Regular visits to the dentist to prevent caries and other diseases of the teeth and oral cavity.

It is much easier to prevent a disease than to cure it later. And preventing acute tonsillitis in childhood will strengthen the immune system and minimize the risk of infection in adulthood.

What precautions should you take?

Parents often wonder what will happen if a sore throat is not treated. I don't want to stuff you so much children's body harmful drugs, torment with all sorts of procedures. And the parents’ wishes are understandable. But, unfortunately, sore throat is very insidious and serious illness. And if you do not engage in intensive and comprehensive treatment, you can greatly harm the child’s health. With incorrect and untimely therapy, complications in the form chronic tonsillitis, glomeluronephritis, heart failure, arthritis, abscess, meningitis will not keep you waiting long.

If the doctor prescribes antibiotics, they must be taken according to the regimen chosen by the pediatrician. They intensively fight bacteria that often accompany a sore throat, preventing them from spreading further. In addition, antibiotics quickly relieve fever, body aches, soreness and swelling of the throat. It is important to choose them correctly according to individual indications. If relief does not occur within a couple of days after starting treatment, this indicates that the medication is not suitable and needs to be urgently replaced.

In order not to kill the child’s intestinal microflora during antibiotic therapy, you need to take probiotics. These can be special “Yoghurt” tablets or regular drinking yogurt. It is advisable to prepare it at home yourself rather than buy it in a store. Don't forget about natural vitamins in the form of fruits and vegetables, which will help the body quickly restore strength after illness.

Sore throat in children and its treatment are entirely the responsibility of the parents. Throughout the illness, you need to be attentive to the condition of your child. At the slightest suspicion of worsening or the addition of new symptoms, you should immediately call a doctor again. What should alert you: deterioration rather than improvement of general condition, swelling of the mouth and throat increases, rash on the face and body, difficulty breathing and snoring during sleep. These conditions may indicate complications or incorrect treatment. Do not hesitate to call the pediatrician again, because the child’s health is more important than any ceremonies.

Some conditions require immediate hospitalization:

  • the child is too lethargic, weak and does not go to the toilet,
  • the pain in his throat is so severe that he cannot drink, eat, swallow saliva and cries constantly,
  • sudden onset of difficulty breathing, excessive salivation,
  • The baby's speech is slurred and unintelligible,
  • a sharp increase in swelling, when it is not even possible to open your mouth.

If any of the listed symptoms appear, you should urgently call an ambulance and go to a children's hospital.

Sore throat and its treatment in children require a qualified medical approach. Self-medication is excluded.

Sore throat (in children) is an infectious disease with an acute course, characterized by intoxication of the body, temperature, inflammatory changes V palatine tonsils and adjacent lymph nodes. In pediatric infectology it is considered as a separate entity. Along with the term “tonsillitis”, “acute tonsillitis” is also used - a syndrome of infectious and somatic diseases in the oropharynx, caused by various reasons.

Both viruses and bacteria can provoke sore throat in children. Moreover, up to 3 years of age, viral origin is more often diagnosed. After 5 years, sore throats of a bacterial nature come into first place. The incidence is seasonal, but for infection to occur, contact with the source or carrier of sore throat or streptococcus is necessary.

Symptoms of various forms of sore throat in children

Sore throats are classified based on morphological changes in tissue. There are primary (caused by ß-hemolytic streptococcus) tonsillitis and secondary (developing from blood diseases and infectious diseases).

They are distinguished from each other by the pharyngoscopic picture (visual examination of the pharynx, mucous membrane of the throat) and symptomatic course. Let's look at some of the most common forms of sore throat in childhood:

  • Catarrhal. Superficial lesion without significant intoxication. On examination there is a noticeable redness of the soft and hard palate. There may be redness and enlargement of only the tonsils. After 1-2 days, either the condition improves, or the sore throat develops into lacunar or follicular.
  • Follicular. It manifests itself as swelling and enlargement of the tonsils; whitish-yellow festering follicles are clearly visible in the epithelium. Outwardly, they resemble millet grain. After maturation, the follicles burst, forming a purulent plaque.
  • Lacunarnaya. It is characterized by severe redness and swelling of the tonsils, with small or large foci of purulent plaque present. Easily removed without bleeding effect.
  • Necrotic. The plaque acquires a greenish-yellow color and becomes dense. When separated, a bleeding surface remains; after necrotization, potholes up to 1-2 cm in diameter are formed. The affected area extends beyond the tonsils.
  • Ulcerative-membranous. A one-sided lesion, manifested in the formation of an easily removable film coating. Low-painful ulcers form under it. Develops in children with hypovitaminosis and immunodeficiency conditions.
  • Diphtheria sore throat. In a localized form, it is characterized by pallor of the skin (in primary angina there is a blush caused by heat), swelling of the tonsils with fibrinous plaque that forms again and again. With the transition of the disease to toxic swelling, it spreads to the subcutaneous tissue of the neck, and then flows, depending on the degree, to the collarbone. The patient has a sweetish-sweet odor from the mouth.
  • Scarlet fever. Streptococcal infection, in addition to a pinpoint rash and a “crimson tongue”, there is a bright redness of the oropharyngeal mucosa in combination with pallor of the hard palate.
  • Herpetic sore throat. Many vesicles that do not merge with each other appear on the palate and arches. After opening them, erosions form.
  • Fungal sore throat. Absent toxic syndrome, point overlaps are revealed white. After their removal, the “varnished” reddened mucosa is exposed. When examining the discharge, yeast mycelium is detected.

The course of a sore throat depends on its severity. There are mild (2-3 days of acute course), moderate (4-5 days of acute course) and severe (bed rest until recovery). We list the common symptoms of acute tonsillitis:

  • Temperature. Its indicators vary from 38 to 41 degrees, and it can increase acutely or gradually, by the 2-3rd day of illness.
  • Intoxication. Headache, sleep and appetite disturbances, chills, muscle pain, vomiting, abdominal pain.
  • Enlarged lymph nodes (from 1 to 5 cm). Their palpation can be both slightly and very painful.
  • Feverish appearance. Blush, dry lips, etc.
  • Plaque on the tonsils and mucous membranes (except for catarrhal tonsillitis), the appearance of vesicles. From purulent, loose, which is easily removed from the tonsils to dense, greenish-yellow, which leaves a bleeding surface after removal.
  • Swelling. With primary tonsillitis, only the tonsils and arches swell. With diphtheria, the oropharynx may swell subcutaneous tissue near the lymph nodes and neck.
  • A sore throat.
  • Bad breath.
  • Catarrhal phenomena (conjunctivitis, runny nose).

Most of the symptoms, except plaque, are the same. Therefore, virological or bacteriological examination. Particularly important correct diagnosis streptococcal tonsillitis, because metatonsillar complications are possible after it.

Causes of sore throat in children

The cause of the sore throat must be established in order not to prescribe unnecessary medications. For this purpose, the doctor prescribes a bacteriological examination of a throat smear. We list the main pathogens of the disease:

  • β – hemolytic streptococcus group A. Pyogenic microorganisms that can cause tonsillitis of varying severity. They attach to the epithelium of the larynx and spread through the lymphatic tract. In 70-80% of cases, the causative agent is Streptococcus Pyogenes.
  • Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The causative agent of diphtheria sore throat secretes a powerful exotoxin, which is responsible for a sharp and severe enlargement of the lymph nodes.
  • Viruses. Coronaviruses, parainfluenza, rhinoviruses, cytomegaloviruses, Coxsackieviruses, etc.
  • Fungal microorganisms. Candida (the culprits of oral candidiasis) and Aspergillus, Penicillium.
  • Mixed flora.
  • Chlamydia, mycoplasma, syphilis pathogens, etc.

Of great importance immune status. If there are unfavorable factors (lack of vitamins, the presence of other chronic diseases, monotonous nutrition, underdevelopment lymphoid tissue), then the risk of contracting a sore throat increases several times.

Methods for treating sore throat in children at home

Often, a sore throat can be treated at home. Mom’s arsenal includes pharmacological drugs approved for childhood and traditional medicine recipes. Their judicious use will help reduce the severity of sore throat and speed up recovery.


Drug therapy at home will also include the organization of special living conditions and therapeutic nutrition. A sick child should be isolated, boiled or baked food should be chopped, because When you have a sore throat, you have difficulty swallowing.

Medicines for sore throat in children

Pediatricians prescribe several medications for children with sore throat. Either an antibiotic or an antiviral drug must be prescribed, which should fight the causative agent of sore throat. In addition, medications are taken that eliminate inflammation of the tonsils and activate the body's defenses.

Antibiotics

For angina, they are prescribed to children to eliminate signs of the disease and prevent complications. They begin taking them without waiting for test results. Release options: intramuscular, intravenous injections, tablets, syrups, suspensions. When streptococcal in origin, sore throats are most effective:

  • Antibiotics - ß-lactates: penicillins and cephalosporins. Suprax, phenoxymethyl penicillin, cefazolin, amoxicillin, cefriaxone, cefuroxime, benzanine-penicillin. Available and safe, but may cause allergies.
  • Macrolides. Spiramycin, midecamycin, azithromycin, roxithromycin. Drugs of choice if the above-mentioned antibacterial agents are ineffective. Indispensable for children with intestinal dysfunction.
  • Lincosamides. Clindamycin, lincomycin. They are rarely prescribed due to the impressive list of side effects.
  • Inhibitor-protected penicillins. Clavulanate, Sultamicillin. Include substances that protect the main components from protective bacterial enzymes.

The course of treatment is 7-10 days. It cannot be interrupted or cancelled, even if your health has improved. This is fraught with complications and relapse. They will not cause harm to the body: they do not suppress the immune system and do not negatively affect the intestinal microflora.

Antiseptics

Irrigating the tonsils provides antiseptics antimicrobial effect, and restore their voice. Release forms: aerosols, solutions, lozenges, drops, lozenges. In childhood, the following are allowed:

  • Hexoral is a spray, tablets and solution that relieves severe pain and destroys fungi and microorganisms. From 4 years.
  • Lyzobact is a resorption agent based on pyridoxine and lysozyme. For children over 3, 2 pcs. up to 4 r. in a day.
  • Bioparox is an aerosol with fusafungine. From 2.5 years, 2 irrigations 4 rubles/day, from 12 – 4 irrigations 4 rubles/day.
  • Tantum Verde - solution, tablets and spray, approved from 3 years. The spray is used to irrigate the tonsils of very young children. The tablets are suitable for schoolchildren who already understand that they need to be dissolved for a long time: the longer, the better the effect.
  • Tonsilgon N – drops/drags plant origin which are held in the mouth. Dosage: preschoolers - up to 6 times a day, 10 drops, schoolchildren - 15 drops. After the severity subsides - 3 rubles. in a day.
  • Cameton is a cooling spray that has an anesthetic effect. From 3 years.

The concentration of antimicrobial substances in antiseptics is low, so after treating the tonsils with them, it is recommended to refuse food and drink for 1-1.5 hours. Remember also that the inflammatory process can develop in the depths of the tonsils, where antiseptics are not able to penetrate. Therefore, they have a temporary and weak effect.

Antihistamines

They are prescribed to children with an allergic reaction to antibiotics, as well as to enhance the antipyretic and analgesic effects. Doctors prescribe:

  • Suprastin is a first-line drug, approved for children from 1 month. Depending on the manifestations, 1 to 3 rubles are prescribed. per day.
  • Zodak is a 2nd generation drug, available in the form of drops and tablets. From 1 year, relieves the condition after 15 minutes.
  • Fenistil - drops, suitable for infants. Effective after 30 minutes.
  • Erius – Syrup, non-causing sedative effect. Allowed from 3 months. Taken for asthma.

Pick up optimal dosage for children. In immunocompromised children, antihistamines may cause excessive active influence medicinal components and provoke side effects.

Antiviral drugs

Treatment of viral tonsillitis necessarily requires etiotropic therapy with drugs that have antiviral activity. Release options: rectal suppositories and tablets. Some of them are also immunomodulators. Popular:

  • Arbidol is a low-toxic antiviral drug for children over 3 years old. Stimulates the immune system and shortens the duration of sore throat.
  • Viferon - rectal suppositories based on alpha-2 interferon. They protect cells from the influence of viruses and stimulate the production of interferon. Allowed from the neonatal period.
  • Acyclovir - with herpetic sore throat, approved for use in children from 1 year.
  • Remantadine is a syrup and tablet that blocks the virus before it enters the cytoplasm of cells. From 1 g (syrup).

When used systematically in children, they can cause a number of side effects: increased excitability, dry mouth, abdominal pain. In this case, the medication is stopped and a new one, safe from the point of view of childhood, is prescribed.

Antipyretics

Intoxication syndrome with angina in children can provoke an increase in temperature. If physical methods Reducing hyperthermia does not have an effect, then non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be given. It can be:

  • Efferalgan - syrup with a pleasant taste and candles for rectal administration from 1 month The syrup does not need to be diluted with water or milk.
  • Tylenol - syrup and chewable tablets from 3 months to 12. Contraindicated in case of intolerance to paracetamol.
  • Nurofen - has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect for 6-8 hours, affects blood clotting, begins to act after 20-30 minutes.
  • Tsefekon - suppositories from 1 month. based on paracetamol, dosage depends on weight.
  • Viburkol - homeopathic rectal suppositories that relieve fever, pain and inflammation. Allowed to be placed every 20-30 minutes. at high temperature. Used from infancy.

For “white” fever, vasodilators are added to antipyretics: no-shpu or papaverine. They can be given orally or administered intramuscularly. The dosage depends on the age of the children. According to indications, a lytic mixture is administered.

Folk remedies for sore throat in children

Traditional medicine recipes for sore throat can only be a component of the general course drug therapy. Moreover, you should pay attention to age (rinsing is contraindicated under 2 years of age) and the possibility of an allergic reaction to one or another herbal ingredient mentioned in the recipe.

Gargling

The purpose of rinsing is to wash away germs from the mucous membrane of the tonsils. At the age of up to 3 years, this procedure is replaced by drinking plenty of water or irrigating the tonsils with harmless solutions and decoctions - sea water, soda, chamomile. The most popular:

  • Decoction of calendula flowers. 1 tbsp. raw materials pour 1 tbsp. boiling water, wait 2 hours and filter.
  • Tincture solution. 1 tbsp. tinctures are dissolved in 1 tbsp. water. Use 3-4 times a day (for children over 4).
  • Beetroot juice. Take water and grated beets in equal parts, leave for an hour, filter and use up to 5 times a day.
  • Phytoncide collection. A collection is prepared consisting of 2 parts of St. John's wort, oak bark, licorice root and 1 part of nettle leaves, tansy flowers, pine buds, and buckwheat herb. 2 tbsp. collection brew 1 tbsp. boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, filter and cool. To rinse, warm it slightly and use ½ tbsp. 3-4 times a day.
  • Blueberry decoction. ½ tbsp. berries are boiled in 2 tbsp. water 30 min.

Frequent rinsing will help you recover faster. The effectiveness of rinsing will increase if, after manipulation, you exclude eating and drinking for 30 minutes.

Compresses on the throat

They can be used for angina only after hyperthermia has subsided. They improve blood circulation, relieve pain and inflammation. Apply them avoiding the area thyroid gland. Moist and warming are considered the most effective:

  • Beetroot. Distribute the grated boiled warm beets between two layers of gauze. Leave for 30 minutes, wrapping your throat in a scarf.
  • Bread. The bread, soaked in boiling water, is placed on gauze and kept, wrapped around the neck in a plastic bag, for 1-2 hours.
  • Cabbage. Boil the cabbage leaf for 1-2 minutes, cool and apply to the neck while still warm. Leave it overnight. You don’t have to boil the leaves, but simply crush the veins and secure them with a bandage in the area of ​​the tonsils.

Compresses should not be applied when purulent processes in the tonsils due to the risk of damage to surrounding tissues. Also contraindications for use are problems with the skin and skin clotting, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases.

Warm drink

Drinking plenty of fluids during a sore throat helps wash away pathogenic microorganisms from the tonsils. In order to understand how often you need to drink, use the formula: 100 ml per 1 kg of weight per day. Any drink should be slightly warmed.

  • Drink to reduce fever. Cranberry drinks, a decoction of raspberry leaves (chamomile, rosehip) or adding raspberry jam to tea, linden tea.
  • Drinks to strengthen the immune system. Fig decoction, rowan tea, drinks with honey or propolis.
  • Still mineral water.

Hot drinks are contraindicated, because... under the influence of temperature, blood vessels expand and microorganisms begin to spread throughout the body at high speed.

How long does the temperature last for a sore throat?

Temperature is an indicator that tells about the severity of the disease. With angina, it can be either subfebrile (not exceed 38 degrees) or hyperpyretic (exceed 40 degrees). Let's figure out what these indicators indicate:

  • From 36.6 to 37.2 degrees. Possible in children with weakened immune systems. To make a diagnosis, a clinical blood test is required to assess the level of white blood cells.
  • From 38 to 39 degrees. It is observed with bilateral and purulent tonsillitis, usually decreases after 3-5 days. It is possible to prescribe antibiotic therapy, continued after its normalization for another 3-5 days.
  • Over 39 degrees. It decreases only after the opening of purulent foci.

An increase in temperature is accompanied by chills, followed by a feeling of heat. It reaches its maximum level by the end of the 1st day of illness, then remains within 37.5-39 degrees. The total duration of hyperthermia is 3-7 days, but when taking effective drugs it is reduced to 2-3. If hyperthermia lasts longer than 7 days, then one should think about complications or misdiagnosis.

Possible complications of sore throat in a child

The main danger of angina is the frequent risk of complications. They can be divided into local (developing within the tonsils) and general (affecting the entire body: kidneys, joints, heart). Let's list them:

  • Peritonsillitis.
  • Purulent cervical lymphadenitis.
  • Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and otitis media.
  • Rheumatism.
  • Sepsis.
  • Myocarditis.

Their treatment sometimes requires emergency surgery and massive antibiotic therapy. Otherwise death possible on acute phase. This is why early and correct therapy streptococcal sore throat.

Indications for hospitalization of a child with sore throat

Sore throat belongs to the category of diseases that a mother can cure at home. However, in some cases, children may need therapy within the walls of the hospital. Indications for hospitalization are:

  • Age up to 3 years, if angina is characterized by severe progression with breathing problems.
  • Severe intoxication (vomiting, convulsions, low fever, confusion).
  • Complications requiring surgery or constant monitoring doctors - rheumatic carditis, abscess, phlegmon.
  • Presence in anamnesis of diseases such as diabetes, kidney failure.
  • Lack of conditions for treatment at home.
  • Lack of positive dynamics in the treatment of angina.

Treatment in a hospital can last 1-2 weeks. If the body copes well with sore throat, then doctors may suggest completing the course intensive care at home under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Measures to prevent sore throat in children

In children's groups, the main measures to prevent sore throat are regular ventilation of the premises, disinfection of cutlery after meals, provision of children with individual bed linen and towels, a ban on attending public events, etc. Considering the fact that there is no vaccine for tonsillitis, it is advisable to carry out the following treatment and preventive measures:

  • Hardening. It is carried out year-round, but only when the child is completely healthy. It may include rubbing the skin with a wet towel, air and sun baths, and playing sports.
  • Dental control. Teeth affected by caries can become a haven for pathogenic microorganisms that cause sore throat. Therefore, after eating, it is advisable to rinse your mouth with antiseptics, especially for those children who are at risk of recurrent sore throat.
  • Control of nasal breathing. Frequent rhinitis and deviated nasal septum can affect nasal breathing. Its violation negatively affects the condition of the palatine tonsils.
  • Climatotherapy. It is planned 2-3 weeks after recovery. May include sea bathing, gymnastics on the seashore, mud applications, balneotherapy.
  • Ultrasound therapy. Inhalation with thermal sea water, brine, exposure to Tonsillor and ENT devices.

If it is necessary to protect children living in the same apartment with a sick child from infection, use medical masks, separate utensils and personal hygiene items. To prevent exacerbation of the disease, doctors prescribe bicilin. Its single administration to preschool children maintains therapeutic concentrations in the body for a month.

Video: treatment of sore throat in a child under 3 years old - Doctor Komarovsky

In this video, the famous children's doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky talks about the treatment of sore throat. He has developed his own recommendations that may help mothers of children under 3 years of age cope with the disease.

Sore throat is terrible for its complications, so treatment of a child must be based on drug treatment. Traditional medicine is not a panacea, but only an addition to the treatment prescribed by a specialist.