Sore Throat

     Sore throat is a common complaint in childhood and strep throat is one of the most commonly treated infections.  The “Grandma Fact” that is often repeated is that when you see white areas or “spots” on the tonsils, it is usually strep.  This isn’t true. Strep infection often causes bright red spots on the back of the throat and the roof of the mouth. When there is a lot of white material on the tonsils, the cause is usually mononucleosis, especially when the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged and the fever lasts longer than 3 days..

     Sore throat that comes along with typical cold symptoms is usually viral and will resolve when the runny nose and cough resolves.

      However, a sore throat can be caused by a more serious bacterial infection. If a sore throat or strep throat has been treated with antibiotics, the fever and the pain should improve within 48 hours. If the fever and pain do not resolve or if they come and go, the infection may be more serious. If there is swelling on one side of the back of the throat but not on the other, especially if it moves the uvula (the “hangy-down thing” in the back of the throat) over to one side, the infection is worrisome. If, along with the pain in the back of the throat, there is pain in the neck or swelling in the neck, the child needs to be examined. This is also true if the outside of the neck is tender to the touch. Sore throat with pain on one side that goes up into the head or down to the shoulder can also mean a serious infection. Finally, a child having trouble swallowing, talking or breathing needs to be seen by his caregiver.